Henry VII Foreign policy Flashcards
Henry’s aims in for foreign policy
national security
recognition of the tudor dynasty
defence of english trading interest
France in 1485
much more powerful
now one cohesive state
ruled by Charles VIII
rocky relationship, preceded by the 100 years war
truce ends in 1485
Brittany
still an independent area of france
had hosted Henry during his exile- france financed his campaign against Richard
marriage of Brittany
in an attempt to unify France and Brittany Anne of Beuajeau (regent of France) proposed marriage between her younger brother (charles VIII) and the heir to Brittany- Anne
The Bretons did not want this as it would subject them to French rule
Got more complicated when the King of the Romans Maximilian stated his intention to marry Anne
Henry’s response to the situation in britanny
doesn’t want to upset either
sends 6,000 ‘volunteers’ to Brittany to defend the bretons against the French
treaty of Rendon
1489
‘volunteers’ to Brittany
when was brittany defeated
1491
Anne agrees to marry Charles
English army marooned in Brittany
lost the support of Maximilian
France and Perkin (and what Henry did about it)
France support Warbeck
Henry now adopts a more aggressive policy and announces his intention to assert his claim to the French throne
parliament vote 2 subsidies that paid for 26,000 troops, who besieged Boulogne
When did Henry’s troops cross the channel (to Boulogne)
1492
why did Henry choose to attack a much more influential and powerful country (france)
at the time of his invasion, France were busy fighting Italy in an attempt to expand their influence, Henry rightly assumed that the French would rather get rid of Henry in a way that would not compromise their military/divert resources in Northern Italy (like paying him off)
Treaty Of Etaples
1492
promise from Charles never to support any pretenders to the English throne
received a total of 745,000 crowns, to be paid 50,000 crowns per year
amounted to 5% of Henry’s annual income
How did relations with France change
Went for a period of uncertainty, to a more aggressive stance and finished with peace
Henry was clever
However, his first foreign engagement was an embarrassment and setback
Also, the French supported Warbeck showed how weak Henry’s position as king was seen abroad
Although, Etaples was a significant success
What was the problem with the Netherlands
Duchess of Burgundy was Margaret of York- the daughter of Richard III
Supported both Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck (causing Henry to put a trading embargo in place)
Who inherited the throne of the Netherlands
Since Margaret had no children, the throne went to her husbands sister Mary of Burgundy (died in 1482)- she was married to Maximilian I and their son (Phillip the Hansom) took the throne after her death
impact of Trade embargo with the netherlands
since the Netherlands was England’s main trader, it was rather unpopular among merchants
Showed Henry was willing to sacrifice economic gains in order to secure his dynasty
Intercursus Magnus
1496
ended the trade embargo
Signed by Henry VII and Phillip the Handsom
