AS FP2 : Henry VIII, Foreign Policy (1509-1529) Flashcards
(27 cards)
Foreign Policy, 1509-1514
Conceptual Awareness: What was the immediate issue with foreign policy at the beginning of Henry VIII’s reign?
Henry VIII’s reign began with a conflict of interest between the King and some of his councillors whom he had inherited from his father ; in 1510 his councillors renegotiated the Treaty of Étaples, evidently seeking peace whereas Henry translated the biography of the military endevours of Henry VI.
Foreign Policy, 1509-1514
What were Henry VIII’s aims in Foreign Policy?
Henry VIII’s aims in Foreign Policy were :
- Glory, Warrior King, Renaissance Prince
- Presitge and international recognition, England as a major power.
- Securing the succession through high-profile European marriages.
- Asserting his right to the French Throne.
Foreign Policy, 1509-1514
What and when was the Holy League?
The Holy League (1510-1511) was a Catholic alliance founded by Pope Julius II to protect Italy and the Vatican State from French ambitions, England was part of this alliance alongside Spain, the HRE + The Pope / Venice. It showed that England was regarded as a relatively strong power who could help the Pope.
Short-term success / International Recognition + Prestige
Foreign Policy, 1509-1514
What and when was the Navarre Affair?
The Navarre Affair (1512) was a short-term failure in Foreign Policy. Henry did not realise the extent to which he was being used by Ferdinand of Aragon and Maximillian of the HRE. Henry sent a substantial army of 10,000 to Southwest France however Henry’s troops were simply used as a diversion whilst Ferdinand captured Navarre for himself.
- Brought England Shame and disgrace and weakened Henry’s prestige.
Foreign Policy, 1509-1514
What did the Navarre Affair lead to?
In response to the Navarre Affair, Henry launched his own campaign in France.
Foreign Policy, 1509-1514
What and when was the Battle of the Spurs?
The Battle of the Spurs (1513) was a propaganda victory for Henry. Henry VIII himself led an army to Northeastern France and won at the Battle of the Spurs, in reality it was little more than a skirmish but was chalked up to be a stunning victory in propaganda. Henry captured the towns of Therrouane and Tournai however these proved to be a massive frain on England’s finances.
Foreign Policy, 1509-1514
What and when was the battle of Flodden? What major failure is associated with it?
The Battle of Flodden (1513) was the Scottish response to England’s invasion of France due to the Auld Alliance. James IIV crossed the border with a substantial force but was defeated by an English army led by the Earl of Surrey ; James IV was killed as well as much of the Scottish nobility however Henry had been in France at the time and the glorious victory was much to his private dismay
Henry’s major failure in association with the Battle of Flodden was his failure to exploit the weaknesses of Scotland following the death of James IV as he had run out of money.
Short-term success / prestige + international recognition / warrior king
Foreign Policy, 1509-1514
What were the consequences of Henry VIII’s foreign policy between 1509 and 1514?
- The wars were very costly and Henry was forced to liquidate assets that he had inherited in order to pay for it ; by the end of 1514 he had run out of money to continue pursuing an active foreign policy.
- Rumblings about the taxation in Yorkshire, narrowly avoided a full scale revolt.
- The renegotiated French pension was lost + Tournai was sold back for 600,000 crowns - much less than what Henry had spent to restore it.
Foreign Policy, 1509-1514
How did Wolsey help to consolidate the successes of Henry’s foreign policy between 1509 to 1514?
In 1514 Wolsey recovered the French pension and secured a marriage alliance between Henry’s sister, Mary, and the French King Louis XII - however Louis died a year later and Mary remarried meaning Henry never was able to use her for diplomatic purposes again.
Short-term success
Foreign Policy, 1515-1526
What was foreign policy like between 1515 and 1526?
There was no real clear theme to foreign policy pursued by Henry and Wolsey from late 1514 to 1526. Alliances were made and just as quickly broken.
- England remained a relatively minor power and could not really compete with France or Spain.
- Henry significantly overestimated English power.
- Auld alliance between France and Scotland remained strong.
Foreign Policy, 1515-1526
Who gained the French throne in 1515?
Francis I came to the French throne in 1515 who Henry saw as a personal and political rival.
Foreign Policy, 1515-1526
Who came to the Spanish throne in 1516? What problems did this create?
Henry had attempted to seek an alliance with Ferdinand of Aragon after Francis I’s accession, however Ferdinand died and was replaced by Charles V who sought an alliance with the French.
Foreign Policy, 1515-1526
What and when was the Treaty of Cambrai? What problems did this create for England?
The Treaty of Cambrai (1518) was an alliance between France, Spain and the HRE, leaving England dangerously diplomatically isolated.
Short-term failure
Foreign Policy, 1515-1526
How did Francis I undermine Anglo-Scottish relations?
The Duke of Albany, the heir presumptive to the Scottish throne, was a member of the French nobility. Albany was appointed regent to the Scottish throne, worrying Henry and Wolsey who saw him as a French agent.
However, any threat from Albany was minimised due to poisonous divisions amongst the Scottish nobility, however this also proved Henry incapeable of exploiting such divisions.
Long-term failure
Foreign Policy, 1515-1526
How did Wolsey end England’s isolation?
Wolsey ended England’s isolation very quickly through the Treaty of London (1518), emerging as one of Europe’s leading diplomats. It was a non-agression pact between England, France Spain, the Holy Roman Empire and numerous smaller states.
- However this treaty was essentially meaningless as conflicts emerged mere months after its signing.
Prestige + international recognition.
Foreign Policy, 1515-1526
How did friendship between France and England continue after the Treaty of London?
England returned Tournai to France, but the French once again agreed to pay a pension for compensation for its loss. In addition, the French agreed to keep Albany out of Scotland as they were concerned about the growing power of Spain.
Foreign Policy, 1515-1526
What and when was the Field of the Cloth of Gold?
The Field of the Cloth of Gold (1520) was an extravagant and expensive diplomatic encounter between the French and the English. It had no diplomatic significance and cost Henry £15,000.
Foreign Policy, 1515-1526
What and when was the Treaty of Bruges?
The Treaty of Bruges (1521) was a treaty between Henry VIII and Charles V ; Henry chose to side with Charles in the conflict with France as :
- He could improve relations with the Pope, who was anxious to reduce French control over Italy
- He believed that he might gain more territory in France.
- Marriage alliance between the Princess Mary and Charles V.
Foreign Policy, 1515-1526
What happened in 1519?
In 1519 Maximillian of the HRE died and Charles V of Spain was elected Emperor. Dominant Ruler in Western Europe.
Foreign Policy, 1515-1526
What happened as a consequence of the Treaty of Bruges?
As a consequence of the Treaty of Bruges (1521) English armies invaded Northern France in both 1522 and 1523. The campaigns gained little but proved costly with Parliament proving reluctant to grant the extraordinary revenue necessary to cover the costs.
Foreign Policy, 1515-1526
What and when was the Battle of Pavia? What happened as a result?
The Battle of Pavia (1525) was an Imperial Victory over the French. Henry showed a lack of strategic awareness through the crass way in which he attempted to benefit from the Emperor’s victory, suggesting to Charles that they launch a joint invasion. Charles did not agree to this venture, and support at home was also little seen in opposition to the Amicable Grant.
- Henry was forced to back down, his ego bruised.
- His resentment towards Charles was reinforced by Charles’s repudiation of his marriage to Mary.
- Wolsey’s domestic prestige never really recovered.
Foreign Policy, 1515-1526
What did Henry support as a result of the fracturing of the Anglo-Imperial Alliance? Why was this a personal failure for Henry?
The fracturing of the Anglo-Imperial Alliance led Henry and Wolsey to seek a more pro-French policy. They supported the League of Cognac (1526) which had been put together by the Pope to counterbalance the Emperor’s excessive power in Northern Italy.
This proved not to be the best time to be on poor terms with the emperor, and the emergeance of the ‘King’s Great Matter’ created new foreign policy complications.
Foreign Policy, 1527-29
What did Henry’s failure to resolve his ‘Great Matter’ diplomatically show?
The King’s great Matter made England an obkect of suspicion from the whole of Catholic Europe. His failure to resolve it diplomatically shows the extent to which England remained a minor power.
Foreign Policy, 1527-29
What and when was the Treaty of Amiens?
The Treaty of Amiens (1527) was a weak Anti-Imperial Alliance with the French.
