Relations with foreign powers Flashcards
What were Henry’s aims in foreign policy?
No grand plans to assert Eng power -> more concerned with maintaining good relations and defence.
-No intention of restarting Hundred Years War with Fr
-He sought to maintain positive relations with foreign powers to ensure:
-national security
-recognition of Tudor dynasty
-defence of Eng trading interests
What was the situation in Brittany?
-Duke of Brittany sheltered H7 from Yorkists
-Independent from Fr
What were the events of England and Brittany’s foreign policy?
-1487 Fr invaded. Looked like Fr would gain complete control
-1489 H called Eng Parli to grant extraordinary revenue to raise an army because:
a) obligations to Bretons
b) fear of potential threat to Eng security if Fr control Southern channel
-1489 Tr of Redon = Duchess Anne pay for small Eng army. H also tried to strengthen his position by an alliance to Max who has married Anne by proxy - did not want Fr to have Brittany
-Eng army sent to Brittany but Anne surrendered and married Fr king Charles
-Eng army marooned, Max lost interest and Warbeck made things worse by seeking Fr help for his claim to Eng throne
-1492 - H launched invasion of Fr = gamble:
a) late in campaigning season
b) agents (spies) told him that Charles more interested in invading Italy would want a quick settlement
= it worked
In what ways was foreign policy with Brittany a success?
-Showed diplomatic skill early in his reign, when he was still insecure at home
-1492 Tr of Etaples:
1. Charles agreed to withdraw support for Warbeck
2. Fr pension - pay costs of the invasion
-H7 managed to defend national and dynastic interests and improved finances
-Led to a cordial period in Anglo-Fr relations
-Eng reputation wasn’t damaged
In what ways what foreign policy with Brittany unsuccessful?
-Eng armies did not win any main engagements
-Brittany now a Fr satellite - southern shore of Eng channel except Calais was Fr
-Failed to restore Eng glories
What was the situation in Scotland?
-Hostile to Eng - independent country
-Natural alliance to Fr due to ‘Auld Alliance’
-H7 was concerned that if James III refused to accept him as king of Eng, there could be problems in the N, where Yorkists still had support
What were the events of England and Scotland’s foreign policy?
-1486 - H quickly arranged a truce with Scot but James died 2yrs later. James IV succeeded but only 15yrs old
-Nobles who governed Scot = hostile to Eng
-1495 James came of age and welcomed Warbeck into his court - received a Scot pension and marriage to James’ cousin
-This is a potential threat to H but to make it worse James encouraged PW to cross border in 1496 with army - failed to stir rebellion but James made his intentions clear
-1496 H prepared to raise an army v Scot
-1497 Parli secured grants of £120,000 and loans of £50,000. James was alarmed at prospect of Eng invasion and quickly agreed to peace
In what ways was foreign policy with Scotland a success?
-1497 - Truce at Ayton = Anglo-Scot relations improved and ended Scot support for PW
-1502 Tr of Perpetual Peace = more formal treaty. H eldest daughter Margaret to marry James IV 1503
-H is successful in ensuring the security of the Tudor dynasty and achieving recognition from Scot
In what ways was foreign policy with Scotland unsuccessful?
Decision to invade Scot prompted the Cornish rebellion 1497
What was the situation in Burgundy, Netherlands and the Holy Roman Empire?
-Burgundy = imp for Eng exports thr’ ports e.g. Antwerp/Burges
-Therefore imp for commercial reasons for good relations to be maintained
-BUT Marg of B = problem - widow of Duke of B and sister of EdIV and RIII = always supporting Yorkist
-Maximillian (her step-son) became HRE 1493
-1494 Max’s son Philip became ruler of N’lands/Burgundy
What were the events of England’s foreign policy with Burgundy, Netherlands and Holy Roman Empire?
-Relations between Eng and B deteriorate due to Max and Phil offering PW support
-H started trade embargo (banning trade with B) showing H was prep to sacrifice commercial interest for sake of his dynastic interests
-Relations improve after PW left B
-1496 H and Phil of B agreed the Intercursus Magnus = ended trade embargo - restored normal trading relations
-1504 Isabella of Castile died = led to succession struggle between Ferdinand and Juana (his daughter who was married to Phil of B)
-Juana and husband set sail for Sp from Burgundy in Jan 1506 but forced to take refuge in Eng after shipwreck.
-H was able to take advantage of his guests’ situation by the Tr of Windsor
-1506 TRoW = new trade agreement Intercursus Malus - much stronger trading deal for Eng:
a) Agree to hand over E of Suffolk
b) Proposed marriage alliance between H and Philip’s sister
In what ways was foreign policy with Burgundy, Netherlands and Holy Roman Empire a success?
-1496 Intercursus Magnus = major commercial treaty between Eng and Burgundy: allowing Eng merchants to trade freely with all of Burgundy except Flanders
-By 1509 Eng merchants shipping more than half cloth exported to Europe
-1509 60% more cloth exported than at start of reign
-1506 Tr of Windsor = successful got E of Suffolk back through diplomacy
H7 improved Eng trade and security
In what ways was foreign policy with Burgundy, Netherlands and Holy Roman Empire unsuccessful?
-Trade embargo = unpopular with London and E coast merchants
-Trading in Intercursus malus was never implemented - returned back to Intercursus Magnus
What was the situation in Spain?
-Becoming united under Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile
-H wanted friendship with Sp to counter balance Fr power in Europe
-He correctly predicted Sp would = great power
What were the events of England’s foreign policy with Spain?
-1489 Tr of Medina del Campo:
a) both offered mutual protection in attack
b) agreed not to harbour rebels/pretenders
c) mari alliance between Arthur and Cath of A agreed 1499 (took place 1501)
-1502 unexpected death of Arthur complicated relations with Ferdinand
-H suggested Cath should marry prince H but reluctant to agree - little need for Eng alliance and mari would need papal dispensation (permission from Pope seen as though Cath had been married to his brother) would cost money
-1504 H7 lost enthusiasm for mari when death of Isabella made Ferdinand less signif political figure
-During resultant succession struggle between Juana (Cath of A sister) and Ferdinand, H7 chose to support Juana
-1506 Juana and husband P of Burgundy shipwrecked forced to take refuge in Eng - took advantage with Tr of Windsor = H7 recognised Juana and Philip as rulers of Castile, strengthening their claim to Sp throne
-P of B’s death soon after his arrival in Sp = disaster for H7. Ferdinand able to claim Juana gone mad with grief and became regent of Castile
In what ways was foreign policy with Spain successful?
-Tr of Medina del Campo = H7 finest fp achievement as gave him international peace and security for dynasty
In what ways was foreign policy with Spain unsuccessful?
-Marriage arrangements did not go smoothly
-Ferdinand was reluctant as long as PW threatened H7 dynastic stability
-Argued over Cath dowry (payment made by bride’s family to husband)
-P of Burgundy’s death = disaster for H7
-Ferdinand in control of Aragon and Castile leaving H7 isolated and outsmarted by major European monarch
-Ferdinand made sure marriage between Prince H and Cath would NOT take place in H7’s lifetime
What was the situation in Ireland?
-H7 power only lay in the Pale - area around Dublin
-Rest of Ireland lay with Chieftans (nobles() - most imp ones = Fitzgeralds (Geraldines) or Butlers
-E of Kildare (leader of Geraldines) = dominant - Lord Deputy in Ireland since 1477 - feared by H7 due to Yorkist sympathies supported Simnel, crowed King of Ireland 1486, supported PW 1491
What were the events of England’s foreign policy with Ireland?
-Kildare’s actions forced H to act:
1. Stopped relying on Irish and attempted more costly approach of ruling through an Englishman backed by armed force
2. Apted son H as Lieutenant of Ireland and Sir Edward Poynings as Deputy
-1495 Poynings Law:
a) all Irish laws had to be approved by Eng crown
b) attempted to implement Eng law in Ireland
In what ways was foreign policy with Ireland successful?
-Poynings initially successful in est royal authority through bribery and threat of force
-1496 Kildare switched sides and decided to serve H loyally thereby securing submission of various Irish chieftans
-By 1500 H had secured some level of peaceable and cheap auth over Ireland - Kildare able to use his office to rebuild his family fortune made him eager to support H and in this H was fortunate that Kildare was so amenable
In what ways was foreign policy with Ireland unsuccessful?
-The new method of ruling Ireland = too expensive for H7
-Made worse 1495 when PW returned to Ireland
-H forced to recall Poynings and instead depend on cheap option of Kildare as his deputy
How did issues with succession seem before 1502?
-Seemed there would be no problems with succession to H7
-1486 his wife Eliz gave birth to son Prince Arthur
-1491 another son Prince H
-Arthur received education deemed fitting for a prince and heir - set up with own court at Ludlow in Shropshire
Give further explanation of Henry’s children
- Had 4 children that survived childhood - Arthur, Henry, Margaret and Mary
- 1503 1yr after Arthur died, H7 wife died after giving birth to 8th child Katherine who also died
- Arthur’s unexpected death April 1502 increased insecurity for Tudor dynasty - raised issue of what might happen if H7 was to die when prince H still child
- Precedent of EdV not encouraging
- Complicated by fact once again Yorkist claimant E of Suffolk = gaining influence
Explain how Henry VII survival jeopardised the Tudor dynasty?
-Dynasty depended on H7 survival UNTIL Prince H old enough to rule (1502 10 yrs old)
-H7 deteriorating health = continuous cause for concern from key advisors
-H7 recognised need to dispose of threat from E of Suffolk (Edmund de la Pole)
–>H7 was lucky in regard to this as:
-1506 Juana and P of Burgundy = forced to take refuge in Eng
-Gave H7 opportunity to press P of B and father Max to hand Suffolk over to H7
How did the uncertainty amongst Henry’s key followers jeopardise the Tudor dynasty?
-Much jockeying for position
-Evidence of growing split between those officials associated with Council Learned (esp Empson and Dudley) and other key advisors (esp Bishop Fox and Sir Thomas Lovell)
-They were looking to position themselves effectively once H7 healthy finally failed and ensure they remained powerful/close to King
What other factors jeopardised the Tudor dynasty?
-Still fears about Suffolk and his brother Richard de la Pole (aka the White Rose)
-H7 feared D of Buckingham (descendant of EdIII) may launch an attempt of seizing the throne
Explain Henry VII’s death
-Health deteriorated Feb 1509, died 21 April
-No announcement made at first
-Fox and Weston, aided and abetted by H7 mother, sought to manipulate terms of succession to their advantage to position themselves around new king
-Empson and Dudley excluded from their deliberations
-Death announced 23rd April - following day process of rounding up potential troublemakers - Empson and Dudley arrested
Why are marriage alliances so significant?
- Essential part of international diplomacy
- All monarchs sought them to enhance their power and influence
- For H7 = dynastic security
- Maintain alliances - e.g. with Sp
