Henry VII Flashcards
(60 cards)
Consolidation of Power
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Government:councils, parliament, justice, royal finance, domestic policies
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Foreign Policies
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What was Henrys issues with Spain?
- Becoming a major power (united two territories) due to its size and wealth, was Frances main threat, frequently challenging for control of Europe (inc, Italian peninsulas) England was far away from Southern Europe & it’s importance diminished there. - England’s main role was to ally with Spain or France & try to control them
What was Henrys issues with France?
- Linked since the battle of Hastings, France had no territory in England, but the English still had the key part - Calais
- France wanted to increase borders, by taking in the semi-independent territories - Burgundy & Brittany to increase power Henry wanted to prevent this but did not want a war
What was Henrys issues with Scotland?
- Longest standing enemy
- Still disputes over borders and the Scots wanted to keep English influence out of the country
- Allying with France in the ‘Avid alliance’
What was Henrys issues with Burgundy?
- One of Henry’s most unrelenting enemies, however the real intention was unclear as England was a vital trading nation and Burgundy was vital for Englands trade
- Supporting the pretenders was possibly a way of keeping England on the back foot in terms of trade
What was Henrys issues with Ireland?
- Pretenders gained a great deal of support from Ireland
- Henry was the Lord of Ireland, but he only had support of the area known as the Pale Beyond where the real leaders who had little love for the English. - However, they did not cause much trouble
What was Henrys issues with Wales?
- Henry used his Welsh roots to keep potential troublesome people happy
- The border areas remained under control of the nobility and Henry had 1/3 of Wales under his direct control
- He clearly wanted them to be more than simply apart of his kingdom
Why was securing the throne a reason for Henry’s foreign policies?
- Henry was fully aware that during the wars of the roses, 3 english kings had been defeated and deposed by rivals supported by France or Brittany
- He did not want to be the 4th
Why was achieving international recognition of his kingship and dynasty’s legitimacy a reason for Henry’s foreign policies?
- The most obvious way to achieve this was through marriage alliances with foreign royal families
- Royal intermarriage was very common and could establish strong alliances between powerful families
Why was promoting prosperity in England/defending trading interests a reason for Henry’s foreign policies?
- England was already an established trading nation whose prosperity demanded on internal peace and advantageous commercial terms
- Economic prosperity generated increasing employment and personal wealth, circumstances that deter rebellion
- Social stability was therefore encouraged by economic security
Why was maintaining prestige whilst keeping costs down a reason for Henry’s foreign policies?
- Foreign entanglements were expensive and risky
- The King would have to fund such adventures through extraordinary revenue, usually unpopular taxation
- Henry realised that the treasury was far more secure when England was a useful ally for one of the main powers in Europe than when financially on independent foreign policy
- England had creased to be a major European power after defeat in the 100 year war in 1453 and was now a second ranking European power
Why were marriage alliances important?
- To gain recognition on the international stage by forming strong alliances with powerful families (e.g England & Spain)
- To secure Henry’s kingship. Nobles will be less likely to rebel if powerful alliances are forged between countries & threats will be reduced from abroad
- To promote trade/economic prosperity e.g Catherine of Aragon’s dowry & treaty of Medina del Campo
- To establish a dynastic succession, ensured longevity of the family line & reputation of a King
- To deter rebellion e.g marriages that meant Spain and Scotland wouldn’t assist/harbour rebels/pretenders
- To neutralise opponents e.g. Henry VII married Elizabeth of York to unite the warring houses
What was the foreign policy used towards Scotland?
Problems with the country -
- Traditional enemies with border welfare
• James IV supported Warbeck - allowed him to marry his cousin
• Gave money to warbeck to help him usurp the throne
Henry’s response -
- Henry assembled an army to go North - stopped by Cornish rebellion
- So James & Henry made the Treaty of Ayton creating harmony - treaty upgraded to formal peace treaty
- Margaret Tudor married James - nations connected through marriage
What did Henry gain from this -
- Stopped the tension
- Wanted to stop the potential threat - prevented war
- Wanted an alliance/pace treaty to prevent future issues
What was the foreign policy used towards Ireland?
Problems with the country -
- Irish supported Simnel revolt, and the Warbeck imposture
• Rebellions occurred in Ireland
•Did not view Henry as their leader even though he was
Henry’s response -
- Forced Anglo - Irish nobles to swear an oath of allegiance to their English monarchy
- Sent Sir Edward Poynings to run Ireland - used Poyning’s laws which prevented them holding Parlimentary sessions/legislations without English approval
- Kildare sent to England as a hostage for behaviour after Poynings crushes a major rebellion run by his brother - his son was permanently kept when in 1496 Henry reinstated Kildare and allowed the Irish to run their own affairs again
What did Henry gain from this -
- Some peace
- Wanted to stop the potential of them supporting future rebels/pretenders
What was the foreign policy used towards Brittany/France?
Problems with the country -
- France wanted to take over Brittany
• French King married Anne of Brittany
• France = irritated by Henry’s support of Brittany so offered Warbeck shelter & support
- France & English disagreements had been occurring since 100 Year War
Henry’s response -
- Signed Treaty of Redon and sent 3000 archers against France to attempt to stop them taking over Brittany
- England was Brittanys only support so ended with Brittany being taken by the French
- Treaty of Estaples signed to leave France and for French to stop supporting Yorkist impostures - French paid England an annual pension of 50000 crowns
What did Henry gain from this -
- Asserted his strength - shown the continent he could not be taken for granted
- Made Nobles happy - allowed them to gain booty & glory
- Supported Brittany to gain lighter terms from France
- Stopped the French supporting pretenders/impostures
What was the foreign policy used towards Spain?
Problems with the country -
- Largest and wealthiest country in Europe - would improve his wealth and recognition
• After Arthurs death Ferdinand was hesitant to re-marry Catherine to Prince Henry
Henry’s response -
- Treaty of Medina del Campo
- Supported Juana’s (Catherines sister) claim to the throne
What did Henry gain from this -
- Wanted to gain wealth
- Wanted to gain more international prestige - ignored possible risks
What was the foreign policy used towards Burgundy?
Problems with the country -
- Supported Warbeck - offered him money and hospitality
• Margaret of Burgundy - Yorkist threat and supported rebellions
Henry’s response -
-Enforced a trade embargo until Warbeck left where he was given in Burgundy
- Trade embargo then became the Intercursus Magnus once he had gone- restored normal trade links but favoured the English
- Got the Earl of Suffolk through the agreement who was imprisoned
What did Henry gain from this -
- Wanted to stop them supporting pretenders/rebels
- Sacrificed english trade to gain better security on the throne
What were the 3 main factors that influenced Henry’s thinking when it came to the foreign policies?
- Trade - wanted it to be strong to continue to build a strong economy
- Security - on the throne, and for England this means protecting interests when needed
- Costs - wanted to keep costs low, did not want to pursue an expensive foreign policy (war) unless necssary
Why did Henry want to avoid war?
- Small army population, half size of Spain, a 1/3 of France’s. Treat of being overwhelmed by an enemy
- No nation standing army, only a National Militia - formed from shire counties to be a defence
- Reliance on nobles for soldiers, to prevent them having private armies
- Nobles alleged disenchantment with Henry = overstated his supposed attack on them - didn’t use huge resources
- Could hire mercenary troops from overseas - inflation & endless late wars saw the system breaking down by late 1540s
- Mercenaries fought for highest bidder not by politics & administrative nightmare, danger of ill prepared/organised/equipped soldiers
- War was expensive and complex- more important issues