OCR history a level summary notes: henry VII’s foreign policy

Berenice Ings – The Early Tudors: 1485 -1558



Topic 2: Henry VII’s Foreign Policy
England’s position in Relations with:
Europe in 1485. • Burgundy
• France
• Scotland
• Spain
Henry VII’s aims • Connection between foreign and internal
security.
Key events and actions • Treaties of Medina del campo, Redon,
Etaples and Ayton
• Marriage negotiations
• Trade agreements, including Magnus
Intercursus and Malus Intercursus
• The Brit any Crisis, the Italian Wars and the
Castillian Crisis
• Scotland


Brittany and France
 Henry VII did have some support on the continent
 Duchy of Brittany - provided Henry refuge when he fled
England in 1471
 France wanted to incorporate the Duchy into the kingdom
meaning all the Channel coast was in the hands of the French
 France was England’s traditional enemy following the Hundred
Years War, but the situation was made more dangerous
because France was also allied to Scotland

Scotland
 Scotland had a much smaller population and financial income
than England and its alliance with France (AULD ALLIANCE)
meant that England could be attacked on two flanks
simultaneously
 Raids across the border were common and forced England to
keep expensive military bases in the form of border garrisons
with troops based at Berwick and Carlisle
- more of a nuisance than a serious threat

Spain
 It was a new major power in Europe – marriage of Ferdinand of
Aragon and Isabella of Castile brought together the two
kingdoms and turned them into an INTERNATIONAL POWER
 Priorities were to drive the Moors (Muslims) out of Granada
which was accomplished in 1492, secure the northern border

, Berenice Ings – The Early Tudors: 1485 -1558


with France by retaking land that France had taken and to
secure the claims of Ferdinand in Naples
 Aims meant Spain was more likely to come into conflict with
France than England and might even see England as a useful
ally against France

Burgundy
 TRADE – era ruled by Duke of Burgundy and was the most
important area for England
 Margaret (Sister of Edward IV and Richard III) had married the
Duke of Burgundy and offered a base for Yorkist claimants to
the throne and their supporters – DIRECT THREAT TO HENRY
 Importance of trade made action more complicated

Holy Roman Empire
 Covered much of central Europe, or modern-day Germany, but
was composed of a number of different states
 Appeared to be large and strong BUT the power of the emperor
was limited
 The Empire had acquired Burgundy in 1477 when Maximillian
married Mary of Burgundy and therefore it had taken on
greater importance in terms of its relationship with England

Italy
 1485 – existed as a collection of states
 Rulers of France, Spain and the Empire all had claims to Italy
and it was the outbreak of the Italian wars in 1491 that
diverted attention away from Northern Europe to the
Mediterranean and made Henry’s position less vulnerable

Henry’s aims in foreign policy
 Henry VII was a usurper and so wanted to gain recognition for
the Tudor Dynasty from other European powers and adopted a
more defensive policy than his predecessors, avoiding war if at
all possible
 Wanted to protect the kingdom from possible invasion in
support of other claimants to the throne and build up his
financial resources so that he could fund any necessary
defensive measures

Threat of invasion and its impact
 Threat of invasion form England’s traditional enemies of France
and Scotland
 They could exploit Henry’s weak position to launch attacks on
either England’s northern frontier or the south coast