Henry's Foreign Policy 1509-29

Question 1

Stages of Henry’s foreign policy

Answer 1

Stage 1: War with France, 1511-14
Stage 2: Negotiating peace, 1515-20
Stage 3: Hapsburg alliance, 1520-25
Stage 4: French alliance, 1525-29

Question 2

European rulers in this period

Answer 2

France - Louis XII dies 1515, succeeded by Francis I 1515-49
Scotland - James IV dies 1513, succeeded by James V 1513-42
Spain - Ferdinand of Aragon dies 1516, succeeded by Charles I/V 1516-1555
HRE - Maximilian dies 1519, CI of Spain elected as CV 1519-1555

Question 3

What was renewed in 1510?

Answer 3

Treaty of Etaples

Question 4

What is formed in 1511 and why?

Answer 4

Holy League - defence of Papal States from French invasion (H sees this as his chance to invade Fr)

Question 5

What happens in 1512 and did it work?

Answer 5

Joint Anglo-Spanish attack on France. Didn’t work - Spain let England down badly. English troops - 3Ds (drunk, dysentery, died) waiting for Spanish troops who never came.

Question 6

What happens in 1513 (Fr) and did it work?

Answer 6

Second invasion - failed
Third invasion - 30,000 English troops land in Calais (biggest Fr invasion since Agincourt), 15,000 troops from Maximilian support. Captures Therouanne and Tournai (Battle of the Spurs - not rlly a battle but claimed as a huge victory)

Question 7

What happens in 1513 (Scot)?

Answer 7

Battle of Flodden Field - huge victory over Scotland, James IV killed (army put together by Katherine of Aragon and led by Thomas Howard)

Question 8

Summary - what had been achieved by the end of 1513?

Answer 8

Positive - Henry gets the military glory and prestige he wanted, Henry’s sister Margaret = Queen Regent of Scotland
Negative - BofSpurs not even rlly a battle, French campaign cost £960,000 and Tournai cost a lot to defend and was not useful to Eng

Question 9

What happened in 1515 that upset the balance of power in Europe?

Answer 9

Francis I stirred unrest of Scotland by overthrowing regency of Henry’s sister and defeated the Swiss at Marignano in 1515, gaining control of most of Northern Italy

Question 10

Why did England become isolated in the years 1514-1517?

Answer 10

1516 - Charles comes to the throne in Spain and immediately signs Treaty of Noyon with France
1517 - Max also makes peace with France with Treaty of Cambrai

Question 11

What does Scarisbrick say about England in 1517?

Answer 11

‘Laughing stock of Europe’

Question 12

How did Wolsey turn England into the great arbiter of Europe?

Answer 12

The Pope was keen to unite Europe behind an anti-Turk crusade - Wolsey took the idea and turned it into his own.

1518 - Treaty of London, over 24 countries sign this agreement of universal peace, putting England at the centre of European diplomacy.

Question 13

How did Wolsey turn England into the great arbiter of Europe?

Answer 13

The Pope was keen to unite Europe behind an anti-Turk crusade - Wolsey took the idea and turned it into his own.

1518 - Treaty of London, over 24 countries sign this agreement of universal peace, putting England at the centre of European diplomacy.

Question 14

Why doesn’t the Treaty of London last?

Answer 14

1519 - Max died —> CV became HRE and King of Spain upsetting the balance of power in Europe. He becomes too powerful so won’t follow T of London.

Question 15

What happened in 1520 and was it successful?

Answer 15

Field of Cloth of Gold - Francis and Henry met for a huge feast and jousting tournament.

Little diplomatic value but continued peaceful relationship.

Question 16

Who allied in 1521?

Answer 16

Anglo-Imperial alliance against France - Treaty of Bruges. Unpopular in England. Agreed to invade France together in 1523.

Question 17

Why did this alliance (3 pronged attack) fail?

Answer 17

Henry invaded Fr early in 1522 - Charles not ready so invasion failed.

1523 - 3 pronged attack (Henry, Charles and Duke of Bourbon) also failed.

1524-25 - England do very little, but Charles continued and wins decisive battle at Pavia where Francis is captured.

Henry wanted to seize this opportunity, but needed money (Amicable Grant). Charles then also refused to share spoils with England and calls off proposed marriage to Mary.

Question 18

1526 Treaty between Charles V and France?

Answer 18

Treaty of Madrid - humiliating for Francis

Question 19

What happened after that treaty?

Answer 19

Francis refuses to honour the humiliating treaty and forms the League of Cognac against Charles (France, Pope/Papal States, Italian States) - Wolsey helped form this.

Question 20

What was the ‘diplomatic revolution’ of 1527?

Answer 20

Wolsey opened up negotiations with France leading to pro-French and anti-Imperial policy.

Treaty of Westminster - Eng/Fr alliance

Question 21

What event occurred in 1527?

Answer 21

Sack of Rome by Imperial troops.

Question 22

Why was the Sack of Rome so problematic for Henry?

Answer 22

Papal policy is now controlled by Charles, Katherine of Aragon’s nephew. Divorce now becomes very unlikely.

Question 23

How does Henry try to put pressure on Charles for the divorce?

Answer 23

1528 trade war with Charles V in the Netherlands - doesn’t work as it harms England’s economy

Question 24

Why was England isolated again in 1529?

Answer 24

Peace of Cambrai created peace in Europe, Eng not involved.

Question 25

Why did the 3 pronged attack fail?

Answer 25

400,000 troops sent under Suffolk, but lack of supplies and weather caused issues

Question 26

Henry’s vs Wolsey’s aims in foreign policy?

Answer 26

Henry’s aims - emulate Henry V by conquering French lands, wants to make England an international power

Wolsey’s aims - maintain balance of power, appease the Pope, place England at the centre of European diplomacy