Introduction
Assess the importance of the Netherlands in shaping Tudor Foreign Policy
As this is a fairly ambiguous question, it is really important that you produce a strong introduction. I would suggest explaining the Netherlands (which had been part of the Burgundian Empire in the
Fifteenth Century before moving under the control of the Spanish) was particularly important to
England in an economic sense as a trading partner, however its role in shaping Tudor foreign policy wan not restricted simply to this. Given its relative proximity to England events in the Netherlands and the issue of Dutch sovereignty could also greatly destabilise the dynastic security of England’s monarch, or the countries national security. This ensured that the situation in the Netherlands would continue to greatly influence Tudor foreign policy, ranging from the Burgundians decision to support Warbeck in 1493, to the defeat of the Spanish at the Dutch fort of Groningen in 1594.
Trade
One of the key ways in which the Netherlands shaped English foreign policy was in terms of trade, as the Netherlands was home to Antwerp, the main trading outlet for English cloth. This importance of the Netherlands shaped wider Tudor foreign policy, as generally pre 1551, English monarchs did not need to pursue adventurous economic policies aimed at furthering trade links with other countries, as they would struggle to bring the reward trade with Antwerp brought. This was particularly evident under Henry VIII, who generally saw little need to look for new trade agreements, as he had strong links with the Netherlands, and an extremely profitable trade outlet in Antwerp that he had inherited from his father. A key turning point was however the collapse of the Antwerp Cloth Market in 1551 when Northumberlandwas Protector. Suddenly the English monarchs could no longer rely on selling the majority of English cloth in the Netherlands, so were forced to pursue more adventurous economic policies in terms of trade- a clear contrast to Henry VIII. This was seen by
Northumberland’s attempts to further trade with Morocco, Mary I’s decision to set up the Muscovy company, and Elizabeth’s desperate attempts to break into the New World trade, culminating with her desperate attempt to seize Panama in 1596. Whilst 1551 was undoubtedly a major turning point, it is important to acknowledge that Henry VII realised it was not sensible for England’s trade to be almost solely dependent on the Netherlands, hence his decision to try and further trade in the
Mediterranean, and try and break the control of the Hanseatic League in the Baltic.
Assess the importance of the Netherlands in shaping Tudor Foreign Policy
Who has sovereignty over the Netherlands/attitude of sovereign ( If you wanted to, you could almost call this the issue of national/dynastic security)
The issue of sovereignty over the Netherlands was crucial in determining the quality of relations between England and the Netherlands, which in turn influenced how the Netherlands would shape
Tudor foreign policy. In the late 15 th Century, the Netherlands had been part of the Burgundian
Empire, who as a result of the considerable influence still wielded by Margaret of Burgundy remained incredibly pro Yorkist. Burgundy gave assistance to Simnel’s Rebellion and even harboured
Warbeck from 1493-5. Although this helped shape Tudor foreign policy towards the Netherlands, culminating in the 1493-5 trade embargo, it shaped Henry VII’s wider foreign policy as well. The role of the Netherlands in keeping Warbeck’s conspiracy alive up until 1495 (at which point they ceased

supporting him) meant that up until 1497 when Warbeck was eventually captured, a main focus of
Henry VII’s foreign policy revolved around attempting t get his hands on Warbeck.
By 1515, it was the Spanish who had sovereignty over the Netherlands, and by the early 1570s during the reign of Elizabeth, this issue of Dutch Sovereignty, and the attitudes of the sovereign would play a major role in shaping Tudor policy, both towards the Netherlands and further afield. By the 1570s, the positive relations that had existed between England and Spain since 1489 had begun to wane and tensions grew between Elizabeth, and Philip II, the sovereign of the Netherlands. This grew further with the outbreak of the Second Dutch Revolt, as although Spain officially controlled the Netherlands, English national security could not permit the stationing of hostile Spanish troops in the Netherlands given the potential invasion threat this would cause. The hostile attitude of Philip
II forced Elizabeth away from her generally conservative foreign policy, and forced her into adopting a much more aggressive foreign policy both towards the Netherlands and elsewhere. In terms of the
Netherlands, Elizabeth continued to give aid to the Dutch Sea Beggars, and in 1585 at the Treaty of
Nonsuch agreed to send English troops to aid the Dutch rebels. Further afield, the desire to remove the Spanish presence in the Netherlands was the main motive behind her aggressive economic policies (most notably her use of privateers and Hawkins’ attempts to break the Spanish monopoly on the New World slave trade), as such policies were a form of economic warfare against the
Spanish. Interestingly, Elizabeth also opted to move closer to France, England’s traditional enemy, signing the Treaty of Blois in 1572. It is however interesting that following the defeat of the Spanish by Dutch forces at Groningen in 1594 (which essentially removed the threat of the Spanish in the
Netherlands) Elizabeth became slightly less aggressive to the Spamish, as they could not threaten
England’s national security as much. Interesting links here can be drawn with both Henry VII and
Henry VIII; when Henry VII fell out with the Burgundians from 1493-5 he moved the majority of trade to Calais (this required good relations with the French, if goods were to be traded with the rest of mainland France), similarly when Henry VIII fell out with the Netherlands due to their links to Philip in 1527, he also drew closer to the French.
The issue of sovereignty over the Netherlands/attitude of sovereign clearly had a negative role on relations at the start and end of the period, causing a shift in terms of Tudor foreign policy. However the period from the start of the Sixteenth Century until approximately ten years into the reign of
Elizabeth generally saw very strong English relations with the Netherlands, which would shape Tudor foreign policy slightly differently. When relations with Spain were strong, which they were for much of Henry VIII’s reign (with the exception of 1533-40), the rule of the Protectors and Mary I’s reign, relations with the Netherlands were strong. This in turn meant that these monarchs did not have to give too much consideration to the Netherlands, and could focus on their personal foreign policy aims, rather than concern themselves with events in the Netherlands; Henry VIII for example pursued an aggressive and adventurous foreign policy, invading France three times, whereas Mary pursued a resolutely pro Spanish foreign policy, as demonstrated by her involvement in the Italian
Wars on behalf of the Spanish in 1557. Both monarchs could however do this due to the fact they did not have to worry about the Netherlands. It is however important to acknowledge that there is one slight discrepancy in 1527, when Henry fell out with Charles V due to his refusal to agree to a divorce from Catherine. This anger with Charles (as sovereign of the Netherlands) caused Henry to contemplate launching an invasion of the Netherlands in 1527, and although popular pressure internally cause him to abandon this, he did pay the cost of a French army marching on Spanish held possessions in Italy in 1527.

It is interesting to observe how the importance of the Netherlands in shaping Tudor foreign policy varies; at the start and end of the period, when England’s relations with the sovereign of the
Netherlands is relatively negative the Netherlands plays a key role in shaping Tudor foreign policy.
When relations are stronger, as demonstrated by in the early to mid sixteenth century, its influence is relatively minor.
Relations towards France (I was desperately looking for a third factor here- if you do look at this, you may want to take away some of the previous references to France to avoid repetition)
It is noticeable that when England have positive relations with the sovereign of the Netherlands, then England are generally on good terms with the Spanish, as is evident from the middle of the period. When however relations with the sovereign of the Netherlands deteriorates, it effects
English foreign policy in that England seems to draw closer to France. This is clearly evidenced in
Henry VII’s reign, when he sets up an alternative market at Calais (during the embargo on Burgundy), and can also be seen during the reign of both Henry VIII and Elizabeth. Henry VIII in 1527 paid the wages of a French army marching on Spanish controlled Italy (after he backed down from attacking the Netherlands, fearful of the economic implications), and more notably Elizabeth drew increasingly closer to the French, as her relations with Philip II the sovereign of the Netherlands reached its nadir as a result of Elizabeth’s support for the Dutch rebels. This is evidenced by the Treaty of Blois in
1572, and most notably Elizabeth’s decision to send over 10,000 troops to help garrison French
Channel forts in the 1590s in order to stop them falling into Spanish hands, something which marked a radical departure from England’s traditional policy towards France (particularly under Henry VIII and Mary I!)