Wolsey's Foreign Policy

Question 1

Did Wolsey and Henry have the same aims in foreign policy?

Answer 1

No! Henry preferred war. In contrast, Wolsey knew that wars were both risky and expensive - so unless there was a very high chance of success, he preferred peace.

Question 2

Did Wolsey and Henry agree on anything regarding foreign policy?

Answer 2

Yes - that England should be seen as the equal to the two most powerful states - France and the Holy Roman Empire. To achieve this, England would have to ‘punch above its weight’ and Wolsey’s problem was convincing Henry that this could be achieved through diplomacy as well as war.

Question 3

What was the significance of the first French expedition of 1513 to Wolsey?

Answer 3

Before becoming Henry’s diplomatic adviser he had to prove himself worthy enough, so he took on the role of a Quartermaster-General:
He experienced duties such as organising, financing, transport, feeding armies etc.
He worked well with King Ferdinand of Aragon and impressed Henry VIII

Question 4

When was the First French War?

Answer 4

1512-1513

Two invasions: First= embarrassment, Second= victory

Question 5

Why was there a French War?

Answer 5

Part of the ‘War of the League of Cambrai’
Henry VIII dreamed of glory
He was advised not to go to an expensive war and focus on stability in England.
But he won an argument for war in 1511 and sent troops to France

Question 6

What was achieved in the French War of 1513?

Answer 6

English troops defeated the French in the ‘Battle of the Spurs’
They captured the town of Tournai and the Therouanne fortress.

Question 7

What was the Treaty of Germaine-en-Laye, 1514?

Answer 7

The Treaty of Germaine-en-Laye, 1514, was negotiated by Wolsey and gave England full possession of Tournai as well as a high annual payment to Henry for agreeing to give up his claims to the French throne.

Question 8

What was the Treaty of London, 1518?

Answer 8

A foreign policy triumph for Wolsey - and therefore for Henry VIII.

Also called the Treaty of Universal Peace - it said that all the countries of Europe would live at peace with each other. If anyone broke the peace, the other countries would punish the treaty-breaker.

Question 9

Why was the Treaty of London, 1518, hailed as a moral and diplomatic triumph at the time?

Answer 9

Because it meant all the important rulers of Europe were working together for peace and in defence of the Pope. Most importantly for Henry, it had taken place in London and he had been in the centre of events - he looked like he had united the whole of Europe in peace.

Question 10

When was the Field of the Cloth of Gold?

Answer 10

1520

Question 11

What was the Field of the Cloth of Gold?

Answer 11

It was one of four great conferences organised by Wolsey between Charles V and Francis I. This one was with Francis I and was a success for Henry as it made him look like he was controlling affairs in Europe.

Question 12

Why did Wolsey and Henry’s success in foreign policy not last?

Answer 12

Because Charles V and Francis I seemed determined to go to war with each other and England could not sit on the sidelines. Henry made the natural decision to side with Charles and go to war against the traditional enemy: France.

Question 13

Why were Charles and Francis destined to fight each other? Three reasons.

Answer 13

Because Francis I had hoped to be elected Holy Roman Emperor but Charles I of Spain was elected instead
Because France became surrounded by Habsburg land after Charles I became HRE Charles V
Because Charles V inherited a claim to the Duchy of Milan, which was currently under French control

Question 14

How significant was the Field of the Cloth of Gold?

Answer 14

It was impressive but not very significant. Spain became suspicious that England was taking sides – but at the same time it did not achieve even a lasting peace with France and the two countries were at war within 2 years.

Question 15

What happened after the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1521?

Answer 15

Francis I declared war on Charles V in April 1521

Question 16

How did Wolsey react to Francis I’s declaration of war on Charles V in 1521?

Answer 16

He tried to put together a peace deal in August 1521 but failed.

Question 17

With Wolsey’s grand hopes for ‘universal peace’ in shreds, what foreign policy strategy did Wolsey adopt?

Answer 17

England decided to side with Charles V because England’s political and trade interests were more strongly linked with Charles V’s Habsburg Empire. England declared war on France in May 1522.

Question 18

Where was the alliance between England and Charles V in 1522 signed and was this in any way a success?

Answer 18

The alliance was signed at the Treaty of Bruges. It was successful for Wolsey because he negotiated a one-year delay in sending an English army (hoping that by then the conflict might be over). Also, Wolsey welcomed the prestige of signing a treaty with Europe’s most powerful leader.

Question 19

Why did English support for the war against France decline in 1523?

Answer 19

A planned joint attack on Paris fizzled out because troops promised by Charles V and the Duke of Bourbon never arrived, leaving the Duke of Suffolk to retreat after coming within 50 miles of the capital.

Question 20

What happened in 1525 to change the mood in England towards the war against France?

Answer 20

Charles V destroyed the French army at the Battle of Pavia and Francis I was taken prisoner.

Question 21

Why did the Battle of Pavia demonstrate that Charles V saw himself as superior to Henry VIII?

Answer 21

Because it appeared that Charles had used English troops to distract Francis I while he attacked Francis to score the dramatic victory.

Question 22

How did Wolsey and Henry react after the results of the Battle of Pavia became apparent?

Answer 22

They pressed Charles V to exploit the victory with a joint invasion of the now leaderless France. France would be divided between the two allies and Henry would take the French crown.

Question 23

Why did Wolsey and Henry’s plans after the Battle of Pavia come to nothing?

Answer 23

Because Charles V had different ideas - he had no plans to make his rival Henry VIII more powerful. He released Francis I on the assurance that France would not seek revenge.

Question 24

Why was the Campaign against France 1522-1525 such a failure? 4 reasons!

Answer 24

Charles did not view England as an equal or ally.
Charles had used English troops to distract France while he attacked in Italy.
Charles was not prepared to share any of his spoils from the victory at Pavia in 1525.
Henry had spent £430,000. The taxes and forced loans had hurt Henry’s popularity in England.

Question 25

What was Wolsey’s reaction to the events of 1525?

Answer 25

He negotiated a peace with France at the Treaty of More, 1525.

Question 26

What were the terms of the Treaty of More?

Answer 26

It brought peace and Henry agreed to give up his claims in France in exchange for an annual payment.

Question 27

What was the League of Cognac?

Answer 27

In 1526, Wolsey helped to organise (but did not join) the League of Cognac between France, the Pope, Venice and Florence. This alliance was intended to prevent Charles V taking over any more of the Italian peninsula.

Question 28

What was the Treaty of Westminster?

Answer 28

In 1527, Wolsey went a step further than the League of Cognac by signing this treaty in Westminster. The treaty strengthened the alliance between England and France, who both threatened Charles V with war unless he improved relations with his neighbours.

Question 29

What further developments in 1527 also weakened Wolsey’s foreign policy?

Answer 29

Henry started pressing for his divorce from Catherine of Aragon, Charles V’s aunt and Habsburg troops sacked Rome, making Pope Clement VII a virtual prisoner of Charles V.

Question 30

What happened in 1528 to make Wolsey’s foreign policy look even weaker?

Answer 30

France and England declared war on Charles V and invade the Italian peninsula but no English troops were sent. England was made to look weak.

Question 31

Wolsey’s foreign policy by 1528 was looking like a failure, what made things even worse?

Answer 31

Wolsey tried to influence Charles V with a trade embargo of the Netherlands (part of Charles V’s empire) but this had to be cancelled because it was also harming the English economy.

Question 32

What, in June 1529, was the final nail in the coffin for Wolsey’s foreign policy?

Answer 32

Charles V defeated the French at the battle of Landriano in June 1529. Therefore, Charles V’s power over Italy and the Pope remained and Wolsey’s hopes of getting the divorce for Henry were over.

Question 33

Actually, the final, final nail - and the varnish on the coffin of Wolsey’s foreign policy happened in August 1529. What was it?

Answer 33

The Treaty of Cambrai in August 1529 was a peace treaty between Francis I and Charles V. Wolsey was only informed at the last minute so this showed that England was not being treated as an equal by either France or the Habsburg Empire.