Henry VII's Relationship with Foreign Powers Flashcards
Scotland
England made a truce with Scotland in 1486. In summer 1495, Perkin Warbeck was welcomed by King James IV. Warbeck was given £1,200 p/a pension and marriage to James’ cousin. In 1497, James IV and Warbeck disastrously invaded England. Henry VII and James signed the Truce of Ayton, which became the Treaty of Perpetual Peace in 1502. In 1503, there was a marriage alliance between, Henry’s daughter, Margaret and James IV.
France
France took control of Brittany, which was against Henry’s interests. This was called the Breton Crisis. The 1492 Treaty of Étaples that ended Breton Crisis gave Henry an annual income and a guarantee that France would not shelter any English rebels. In 1496, Henry VII joined the Holy League, an alliance of France’s rivals in the continuing Italian Wars. But England remained neutral in the fighting.
Spain
In 1489, the Treaty of Medina del Campo was signed between England and Spain. It agreed that:
- Spain and England would not make treaties with France without sounding the other out first.
- There would be equal trading rights for each other’s merchants.
- Prince Arthur would marry the Spanish Catherine of Aragon to cement the alliance. The marriage took place by proxy in 1499 and for real in 1501.
Burgundy
Burgundy was part of the Holy Roman Empire. Richard III’s sister, Margaret of Burgundy, who hated Henry VII, was very influential in Burgundy. She had been married to its previous duke. Margaret of Burgundy supported Perkin Warbeck until 1496, when Henry signed Magnus Intercursus with Philip, duke of Burgundy.
A secure dynasty
Marriage to Elizabeth of York produced an heir, Prince Arthur, and a spare, Prince Henry. Prince Arthur was betrothed to Catherine of Aragon in 1489. They married in 1501. Their children would secure the dynasty. Henry’s daughter Margaret was married to James IV of Scotland in 1503, an alliance to make England’s northern border more secure. His other surviving daughter, Mary, was betrothed to Charles of Burgundy in 1507. The marriage was called off in 1513.
Arthur’s death
In 1502 Prince Arthur died, breaking the marriage alliance with Spain. Henry VII now had only one male heir, Prince Henry. Prince Henry could marry Catherine of Aragon but needed the pope’s permission as they were sister-in-law and brother-in-law.
Isabelle of Castille’s death
After Isabelle of Castile’s death in 1504, Spain’s future was uncertain so Henry VII looked for a better match for Prince Henry. However, he refused to let Catherine of Aragon or her dowry return to Spain. Relations between England and Spain soured 1504-09. This was the state of affairs when Henry VII died in 1509.
