Henry VIII Foreign Policy

Question 1

Describe Henry’s foreign policy between 1509 to 1514.

Answer 1

Henry pursued an aggressive foreign policy, particularly against France, which put him at odds against his father’s councillors who wanted him to continue peaceful relations.

Question 2

[1509 - 1514]
What is some evidence of an attempt to continue peaceful relations?

Answer 2

The Renewal of Treaty of Étaples in 1510. It gave England the French Pension from 1492 (Extraordinary Revenue)

Question 3

[1509-1514]
What are some events that confirmed Henry’s aggressive policy? [NOT including the First French War]
How successful were they?

Answer 3

1511 - Henry joins the Holy League against France, this is successful for Henry as he is able to keep up with the big guns of Europe and appear as a hero to the pope - who wanted to reduce French control in the Vatican.
1512 - The Navarre Affair. Henry sends 10,000 men to France to support Ferdinand (Of Spain)’s conquest of France. Henry is used as a distraction - unsuccessful as it is a major embarrassment and confirms that England is a minor power.

Question 4

What were Henry’s aims for foreign policy?

Answer 4

Honour and Glory
To be named King of France
To make England a major power in Europe.
International Recognition

Question 5

[1509-1514]
What were the events and what is the significance of the First French War?

Answer 5

Battle of the Spurs in 1513. England captures Tournai and Therrouane which allows for Wolsey to negotiate the Treaty of Saint-German-En-Laye to get Henry to be paid for giving up his claim to the French Throne.
Henry loses the French Pension from Treaty of Étaples.

Success - International Recognition, Honor and Glory.

Question 6

[1509-1514] What and when was the Battle of Flodden?

Answer 6

1513 - Response to attack on France - Auld Alliance (Scotland and France) 10,000 Scottish troops killed, James IV dies it enhanced the image of the English army but weakened the Scottish.

Question 7

Why couldn’t Henry exploit the Scottish situation in 1514? What did this cause?

Answer 7

He was bankrupt and unable to continue his aggressive foreign policy. He was forced to liquidate his assets to fund the invasion in Scotland and France - nearly causing a rebellion in Yorkshire due to high taxes.

Question 8

Describe Henry’s foreign policy during 1514 to 1526.

Answer 8

Henry was bankrupt by the end of 1514 and couldn’t continue his aggressive foreign policy - England remained a minor power in Europe compared to France and Spain and Henry significantly overestimated the power of English Troops.

Question 9

[1514 - 1526]
What happened in 1517 that isolated England?

Answer 9

Henry saw Francis I (The new king of France) as a personal and diplomatic rival. Therefore he attempted to make an alliance against him with Charles V of Spain however he was rejected by Charles who sought peace with France in the Peace of Cambrai - isolating England.

Question 10

[1514 - 1526 ]
What and when was the Treaty of London? What was its significance?

Answer 10

Treaty of London was orchestrated by Wolsey against the Ottoman Empire. It was a call for Europe to live under peace ; 24 countries signed ending England’s isolation and bringing instant fame to Henry. (England at the centre of European diplomacy.)
Wolsey was made Papal Legate

Question 11

[1514 - 1526]
What happened in 1519 that exacerbated tensions in Europe?

Answer 11

Charles V of Spain also ascended to the throne of the Hapsburg Empire - Emperor of the HRE. Commanded a vast empire and inherited the imperial claim to Milan which was currently controlled by France. Bringing Charles and Francis into conflict - ending the peace of cambrai.

Question 12

[1514 - 1526]
What and when was the Field of the Cloth of Gold - was there any significance?

Answer 12

Little to no diplomatic significance.
1520
Francis pursued Henry out of fear of Charles V - England agreed to return Tournai for a French Pension and the removal of the Duke of Albany from Scotland to keep Anglo-Scottish relations cordial.

Question 13

[1514 - 1526]
Who was the Duke of Albany?

Answer 13

Regent of Scotland - had close ties to France and reinstated the Auld Alliance.

Question 14

[1514 - 1526]
What and when was the Treaty of Bruges? What was its signficance?

Answer 14

1521
Wolsey negotiated it with Charles V, with the possibility of : improving relationship with the Pope, gaining land in France and a marriage between Charles V and Mary (I)

Question 15

[1514 - 1526]
What and when was the Second French War? Was there significance to it?

Answer 15

1522 - 1525
Earl of Surrey invaded Northern France to minimal effects resulting in Wolsey having to call for more money for the grand invasion of France in the following year. Charles V did not support Henry as he was focused on Italy. Cost a fortune.
1524 - Wolsey goes behind Henry’s back to make peace with France.

Question 16

How much money did Henry spend on fighting wars between 1511 and 1525?

Answer 16

£1.4 million
His annual income was only £110,000 a year

Question 17

[1514 - 1526]
What and when was the Battle of Pavia + Significance?

Answer 17

1525
Charles V crushed France at the Battle of Pavia causing him to repudiate his marriage contract with Mary as he did not need it anymore. England once again isolated and made to play third fiddle.

Question 18

[1514 - 1526]
What did the breakdown of Anglo-Imperial Relations lead to in 1526?

Answer 18

Henry pursued a pro-french foreign policy. He offered support to the League of Cognac, coupled with the King’s great matter exacerbated tensions with Charles V.

Question 19

[1514 - 1526]
What effect did the King’s great matter have on foreign policy?

Answer 19

Catherine of Aragon was Charles V’s aunt, making him Henry’s enemy as he did not want to see his aunt humiliated. The fact that Henry failed to resolve it diplomatically showed the extent to which England remained a minor power in Europe.

Question 20

Describe Henry’s foreign policy from 1527-1540

Answer 20

England remained a minor power in Europe as Henry was increasingly isolated due to his domestic policies - the reformation.

Question 21

[1527-1540]
Who did Henry make an alliance with in 1527 (and against whom)?

Answer 21

With France against HRE.
Treaty of Amiens
This was to try and put pressure on Charles to let Henry’s annulment go through.

Question 22

[1527 - 1540]
What did Wolsey do in 1527 to try and put pressure on Charles V? What did it cause, why did he do this?

Answer 22

He placed a trade embargo on the HRE. Resulted in widespread unemployment and depression.
Wolsey was trying to resolve the King’s Great Matter diplomatically.

Question 23

[1527 - 1540]
What is an example of Charles V consolidating his power over the French?

Answer 23

1529 - Battle of Landrio

Question 24

[1527 - 1540]
What did Charles V do in Rome and why was this bad for Henry?

Answer 24

The sack of Rome 1527. Extremely brutal and put the Pope directly under the power of Charles. Henry had no possibility of resolving his great matter as the Pope could be killed by Charles if he agreed to the annulment. Pope’s political dependence on Charles.
Extremely unsuccessful - England a minor power.

Question 25

[1529 - 1540]
What happened in 1538 that was majorly unsuccessful for Henry?

Answer 25

Henry was excommunicated from the Catholic Church. The Pope called for a catholic crusade against England, his catholic subjects no longer had to be loyal to Henry (Potential Rebellion) and the Treaty of Nice was signed between Francis and Charles agreeing to cut ties with England.
French troops sent to Scotland. Potential Invasion. Never came to fruition as the relationship between Francis and Charles once again broke down.

Question 26

Describe Henry’s foreign policy between 1540 and 1547.

Answer 26

Reverted back to his aggressive foreign policy that characterised his early years ; perhaps by a desire to create a united British Isles, to achieve Military Glory or to punish James V for harbouring rebels, marrying French princesses or ignoring pressure from Henry to break with Rome.

Question 27

[1540 - 1547]
Why was it expected that James V would reject a truce with Henry?

Answer 27

He actively pursued a pro-french foreign policy, marrying Mary of Guise and Madeline of Valois (French noblewoman and princess respectively).

Question 28

[1540 - 1547]
When was the battle of Solway Moss? + Significance

Answer 28

1542,
James V of scotland dies and his daughter, Mary Queen of Scots [ 1 week old ] is left on the throne. It was an immediate military success for England.

Question 29

[1540 - 1547]
Describe the events following the Battle of Solway Moss.
What were the Rough Woo’ings? Why did they occur?

Answer 29

Henry could have taken advantage of the weakness of Scotland but his aim was to invade France, he therefore tried to arrange a marriage between Edward and Mary QoS in the Treaty of Greenwhich but this was heartily rejected by the Scots.

As a result Henry sends the Earl of Hertford into Scotland in 1543, raids are carried out in Edinburgh, Leathe and St.Andrews - Buildings burnt indiscriminately and people killed. Antagonising Scotland greatly.

Question 30

[1540 - 1547]
Was Henry’s later foreign policy towards Scotland a success or a failure?

Answer 30

It was unsuccessful, he failed to establish peace with Scotland or receive any glory as he had no power there and only antagonised the Scots further.

Question 31

[1540 - 1547 ]
Describe the third French War.

Answer 31

1544
Henry makes an Anglo-Imperial alliance with Charles V. However Henry betrays Charles ( presumably as revenge for the Navarre Affair) and captures Boulogne for himself. Charles is fed up with Henry and signs the Treaty of Crépy with Francis. England was once again under pressure after France sends troops to Scotland with the possibility of invading England.

Nevertheless, French fail to recapture Boulogne and they sign the Treaty of Ardres in 1546 - Henry kept Boulogne and was promised the renewal of payments of pension money from the French, if all of it was paid Henry would return Boulogne.

Question 32

[1540 - 1547]
How many men did Henry lead to Calais in 1544?

Answer 32

48,000

Question 33

[1540 - 1547]
How much did the Third French War cost?

Answer 33

£2,000,000

Question 34

[1540 - 1547 ]
How did Henry finance the Third French War?

Answer 34

Mass sale of monastic lands, debasement of coinage, large scale borrowing on the Antwerp money market.

Question 35

Describe Henry’s foreign policy towards Ireland and its effects.

Answer 35

Earl of Kildare Rebellion, English Authority imposed but not fully because of a lack of money.

Question 36

What were some of the overall successes of Henry’s foreign policy?

Answer 36

The First French War
The Battle of Flodden
The Battle of Solway Moss *Sort of
The Treaty of London
The Capture of Boulogne

Question 37

What was the major downfall of Henry’s foreign policy?

Answer 37

Expenses, Henry never had enough money this led to rebellions and an inability to exploit situations.

Question 38

What were some of the overall failings of Henry’s foreign policy?

Answer 38

Excommunicated - Catholic Crusade
Almost invaded twice
England remained a minor power in Europe
Peace of Calais
Sack of Rome
Henry’s domestic policies affected his foreign policy.

Question 39

What is some proof that England was a minor power in Europe?

Answer 39

Peace of Cambrai - 1517
Sack of Rome - 1527
Unable to resolve Great Matter Diplomatically
No major allies / alliances
Failed to make marriage alliances
Navarre Affair 1512
Treaty of Greenwich 1543