Henry VIII: foreign policy Flashcards
Overall…
1509-1514 = young H8 follows aggressive foreign policy driven by desire for war with Fr.
1514-1526 = no clear theme - alliances made and broken
1527-1540 = defensive policy because of power of Charles V and the Great Matter.
1540-1547 = return to aggressive driven by desire for glory against Fr.
Early aims
- win military glory - esp Fr.
- make Eng major player in international affairs.
FP 1509-1514
-Began with conflict of interests between H8 and some councillors inherited from H7.
-Councillors sought a continuation of peace.
-H8 signalled intentions to pursue war by commissioning translation of life of H5 - famous warlike predecessor.
1510 - Holy League
H8 entered alliance with Sp, HRE and Pope AGAINST Fr ->
H8 used by father in law Ferdinand & HRE Maximillian.
1512 - 1st invasion of Fr
H8 sent 100,000 soldiers to SW Fr but defeated as Sp failed to support ->
Achieved nothing, H8 = naïve - used by Ferdinand as diversion while Sp attacked Navarre.
1513 - 2nd invasion of Fr
H8 led force to NE Fr, won Battle of Spurs, captured towns of Tournai and Therouanne ->
Little more than a skirmish but claimed in propaganda as stunning victory.
1513 - Battle of Flodden
James IV of Scot (allied with Fr) crossed border with substantial force, defeated by smaller Eng army led by veteran soldier Earl of Surrey, James IV + much of Scot nobility killed , throne = infant James V with H8’s sister Margaret as regent ->
Happened whilst H8 in Fr, did little to build on advantage from Flodden.
Results 1509-1514
- huge drain on Eng finance
- trouble in Yorkshire were resentment against taxation - almost rebellion.
- lost Fr pension (Treaty of Etaples which H7 won).
- insignificant gains in Fr - Tournai sold back to Fr 1519.
- failed to take advantage of weakened Scot position.
- possible further campaign of 1514 abandoned when Ferdinand & Maximillian made peace with Fr, H8 = isolated.
+ peace with scot till1542.
+ W showed skill by recovering lost Fr pension, negotiated marriage alliance between H8 younger sister Mary & Louis XII (king of Fr), short lived.
FP 1514-1526
-inconsistent
-H regarded Francis of Fr as personal & political rival
-Charles V accession as HRE & Sp king changed balance of power in Europe - affected H8’s actions in fp.
-Eng = minor power - could not compete with Fr & Sp, H8 run out of money to continue warlike foreign policy.
-H8 over estimated Eng power -> W forced to make policy based on false assumption.
-Auld Alliance (Fr & Scot) remained strong - Eng relations with one affected relations with other.
1517 - Treaty of Cambrai
Charles V (new king of Sp) and HRE Maximillian agreed to Treaty of Cambrai with Fr ->
H8 left dangerously isolated.
1517 - Arrival of Duke of Albany in Scot
DoA = heir presumptive to Scot throne (first in line BUT could be displaced by new heir with better claim), mber of Fr nobility, appointed Regent to Scot throne ->
Attempt by Francis I (Fr) to undermine Anglo-Scot relations, & H = alarmed as see DoA as Fr agent, threat minimised due to divisions amongst Scot nobles, H8 shown to be incapable of exploiting divisions/weaknesses in Scot AGAIN.
1518 - Treaty of London
Personal achievement by W, origins in peace negotiations between Eng and Fr but widened to become non-aggressive pact between Eng, Fr, Spain & HRE, friendship between Eng & Fr continued - Eng returned Tournai & Fr paid Eng pension as compensation & Fr agreed to keep Albany out of Scot = peaceful border between Eng & Scot ->
W emerged as leading diplomat in Western Europe, eventual conflict suggests treaty = meaningless but NOT IN SHORT TERM because:
1. diplomatic coup for W
2. led to Pope appointing W as papal legate.
W at height of power and prestige as H chief minister.
1520 - Field of Cloth of Gold
Meeting between H8 & Francis I, lasted over 2wks in Fr near Calais a town held by Eng, pavilion set up for each king - lavish event, H beaten by Francis in wrestling match, event cost H8 approx. £15,000 ->
Reinforced positive relation between Eng & Fr but nothing really achieved diplomatically, Fr were concerned re growing power for Charles V, more willing to be on good terms with Eng.
1521 - Treaty of Bruges
Conflict arose between Francis I & Charles V, W negotiated treaty with Charles ->
Shows inconsistency of fp.
1522 - War with France
Eng armies invaded N Fr in 1522 & 1523 ->
Gained very little but proved costly - parliament reluctant to grant extraordinary revenue.
1525 - Battle of Pavia (Italian wars between Fr & Sp)
Charles V defeated Fr at Pavia, H8 suggested joint Eng & Sp invasion of N Fr to gain territory, no surprise Charles does not agree, controversy over Amicable Grant = no support for this ->
Fact that H8 tried to benefit from Charles’ successes = naïve
Consequences:
1. H8 had to back down = ego bruised.
2. W domestic prestige never really recovered.
1526 - League of Cognac
End of Eng 7 HRE/Sp alliance - W & H8 change to be more pro-Fr, Eng join league of cognac with Fr and Pope in attempt to counterbalance Charles’ power in N Italy ->
Not good time to be against Charles V bearing in mind H8’s ‘Great Matter’.
Results 1514-1526
+ 1520 Treaty of London for W
- 1517 Treaty of Cambrai - dangerously isolated.
- Field of Cloth of Gold - nothing achieved diplomatically.
- 1522 War with Fr - costly, achieved little.
- 1525 - controversy over Amicable Grant, no support for Fr invasion, H8 had to back down.
- 1525 onwards - great matter now had complications in fp, not even skilful W could resolve. This was not good time to be on poor terms with HRE, eventually would bring down W, make H object of suspicion to whole of Catholic Europe.
FP 1527-1540
-Clear that Charles V was the dominant player in Europe, made Henry’s attempts to annul his marriage with Catherine more difficult as he was Catherine’s nephew.
-Marriage & alliance became unnecessary when relations between Charles & Francis broke down, making H8’s position more secure.
1527 - Sacking of Rome
HRE sacked Rome leaving Pope a virtual prisoner of Charles V ->
Made great matter even more difficult to achieve.
1527 - Treaty of Amiens
H8 & W forced by weak position to make alliance with Fr against HRE, W put pressure on Charles V by imposing a trade embargo with Burgundy BUT Charles retaliated which led to unemployment & social problems in Eng, W had to back down ->
W trying but failing to restore Pope’s diplomatic independence.
1529 - Peace of Cambrai
Charles V defeats Fr and peace is agreed in which Fr have to give up ambitions in Italy ->
Reinforces papacy’s political dependence on HRE, Charles V now dominant, fall of W - failed to solve Great Matter.
1523 - French Alliance
H8 made alliance with Fr in attempt to improve position and put pressure on Charles to support H8’s marriage annulment, break with Rome horrified Catholic powers ->
Tactic failed, alliance = not v. useful as Francis pursued marriage alliance between son and Pope’s niece, Catherine de Medici.
1536 - Pressure on Henry reduced
C of A died, AB executed = possibility of new alliance with HRE, Fr & HRE renewed fighting reduced threat to Eng.
