WOLSEY'S FOREIGN POLICIES

Question 1

WHY DID ENGLAND HAVE LIMITED POWER?

Answer 1

• They were GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED from the other European countries
• Scotland could pressure them as they were allied with France (largest kingdom by population in Europe - ruled by Francis I from 1515)

Question 2

WHAT DID HENRY DO TO GAIN MORE POWER?

Answer 2

• Married Catherine of Aragon on ascension to the throne, who was his brother’s widow, securing alliances to the Holy Roman Empire and Spain
• He attempted to invade France in 1512 but failed
• In 1513, in the Battle of the Spurs, he captured Therouane and Tournai, and this won him the battle, which was symbolic, BUT WORTHLESS AS IT COST HIM LOTS OF MONEY (for ultimately no gain)

Question 3

WOLSEY’S DILEMMA

Answer 3

• He wanted to gain better relations with Spain and the HRE (so that he wasn’t isolated AND so that he can turn against the French)
• He also wanted to make Henry look glorious and powerful (as European Peacemaker)
• Most importantly, he wanted to turn France AGAINST the HRE (and the Habsburg Empire)

Question 4

FP1 - THE TREATY OF LONDON
(2 OCTOBER 1518)

Answer 4

WHAT IT WAS
* Wolsey put forward the Treaty of London, where 20 EU leaders signed a non-aggression pact, so that they wouldn’t attack each other, and would be safe from future attacks, and even the Pope signed it (Burgundy, Papal, Spain, HRE, Netherlands, France, England)

SUCCESSES:
* It brought immense prestige to Henry, as it made him look like a peacemaker
* England were now seen as a significant and uniting power
* It put Henry in the center of European politics
* It was seen, all-round, as a diplomatic win for everyone.

LIMITATIONS:
* By 1521, the Habsburg Empire went back into war with France
* In 1519, Charles V was selected as the HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR, putting him in a position of immense power
- Francis wanted it, igniting envy
- France was now surrounded by Habsburg Land, and Charles claimed the Duchy of Milan, which was controlled by the French

Question 5

FP2 - THE FIELD OF THE CLOTH OF GOLD
(June 1520), Calais

Answer 5

WHAT IT WAS:
* A series of conferences took place with Francis I and Charles V to de-escalate the situations and reduce the chance of war.
* It was essentially just a test of loyalty, and there were 14 days of feasting and jousting
* (WRESTLING MATCH BETWEEN HENRY VIII AND FRANCIS I - Henry lost then challenged him to an archery competition to show highpoint of relations)

SUCCESSES
* Henry viewed it as a success as it brought him “immense honor and prestige”

LIMITATIONS:
* There was no improvement of any relations, and no important decisions were taken so nothing of substance happened
* It made Spain suspicious of Henry taking sides

Question 6

EVENT 3 - WAR WITH FRANCE
(May 1522-1525)

Answer 6

WHAT IT WAS:
* Francis I declared war with Charles V, in April 1521, so Henry declared war on France in May 1522 (breaking down all effects of the other foreign policies.
* Henry had a plan to divide and conquer France after his invasion

SUCCESSES:
* Wolsey negotiated the TREATY OF BRUGES with Spain’s Charles V (a secret treaty of alliance) on August 15, 1521, securing a 1 year delay in sending the English Army to France, and making Henry look good as he colludes with an incredibly powerful European leader

LIMITATIONS:
* It was obvious Charles V viewed them as inferior, and so deserted them in 1523 during the invasion of Paris, using them as a distraction
* Charles V didn’t share the spoils of war with the English