England’s Changing Relations with Foreign Powers
When making your comparisons, many of you were far too vague; you need to identify similarities
(continuity) and change, and then give specific examples in order to reinforce it!
Country
France
On the whole,
relations with
France a
particularly
negative, as can
be seen by the
wars which take
place from 151214 and 1522-23.
There are
however
improvements as
Henry VIII starts
to turn against
the Spanish in
1525 after
Charles V
repudiates the
marriage
agreement
between himself
and Mary, which
threatens Henry’s
dynasty
France offer a
way out of
England’s
isolation in 1540,
however in 1544
Henry launches
another
attempted
invasion of France
Example of change from the reign of
Henry VII
Under Henry VII, France threaten
England’s national security and
Henry’s dynastic security by
harbouring Warbeck from 1491-2.
Under Henry VIII they do not directly
threaten Henry’s dynastic security.
Example of continuity from the reign of Henry VIII
Under Henry VII, the French are
reluctant to get involved in Scotland
(they try to encourage the Scots to
abandon Warbeck in 1496), however
they are more keen to get involved
under Henry VIII given the fact that
he poses a greater threat, and is
more aggressive towards them. They
sponsor Albany from 1516+, and
send French forces to Scotland after
the English invasion of France in
1544
In contrast to the above point, they possibly could be
seen as threatening his dynastic security as James V of
Scotland married Mary of Guise (French). The French
could therefore use James V, or their son (the future
Mary Queen of Scots) to threaten Henry VIII’s dynasty.
Henry VIII shows clear war
mongering intentions towards
France, as shown in 1511 when he
sends Archbishop Bainbridge to see
the Pope to encourage war with
France.
There is much more hostility
between the two countries under
the reign of Henry VIII.
When Henry VII goes to war with
France he does so out of a fear for
dynastic/national security as shown
in 1492 (when Warbeck was on the
loose and the French were trying to
annex Brittany). When Henry VIII
goes to war with France, he does so
out of a desire for conquest and
glory as shown in 1512, 1522 and
1544 (could this at all be seen as
dynastic?).
Under the reign of Henry VII the
Although the French do not directly threaten Henry
VIII’s dynastic security, they do possibly threaten his
national security by sponsoring Albany in 1516 and
encouraging him to cause trouble on the English
Scottish border. Similarly, in the reign of Henry VII
they had supported Warbeck from 1491-2.
France is still the major enemy; Henry VII goes to war
with them in 1492 in what is his only foreign war
(albeit for only several weeks), Henry VIII goes to war
with them in 1512, 1522 and 1544.
Both receive pensions from the French (1492,
1514,1518).
French try to encourage the Scots to
give up Warbeck. Under the reign of
Henry VIII however they give
increased support to Albany within
Scotland. French influence within
Scotland continues to grow as a
result of the marriage between
Charles V and Mary of Guise.
Conversely, Henry VIII is willing to
conclude marriage agreements with
the French (1514, 1518) which Henry
VII is unwilling to do in spite of his
better relations with the French.
Henry does however break of the
marriage agreement between his
daughter and the Dauphin in 1521.
In 1545, the French make plans for a
limited invasion of England (in the
end, they only take the Isle of Wight
for several hours). No such plan
existed during the reign of Henry VII,
as the two countries generally kept
good relations.
Burgundy/Nether
lands
On the whole,
Henry VIII’s
relations with
Burgundy are
relatively steady.
Although he
reluctantly
declares war in
1528, his
grievance is with
Charles V. He
declares war on
the BN because it
is part of Charles’
empire.
Whereas Henry VII’s relations with
BN start off extremely badly, Henry
VIII’s start off well-they do not
support rivals like they did with
Henry VII (Simnel ,Warbeck)
Henry VIII went to war with
Burgundy (albeit reluctantly in
1528), something which Henry VII
never did!
Good relations with the Burgundian Netherlands
remains essential in order to support the cloth trade
given the importance of the port of Antwerp.
Henry VIII largely retains positive relations with the
BN, continuing the policy of Henry VII post 1495.
Both Henry VII and Henry VIII are willing to abandon
trade with BN and impose a boycott, however this is
only when their dynastic interests are under threat.
This is seen by Henry VII in 1493-5 (where Warbeck
was being sheltered by the Burgundians) and 1505
(when Edmund De La Pole was being sheltered).
Henry VIII wanted a divorce from Catherine of Aragon
in order to secure his dynasty (in the hope a new wife
would provide him with a son). This would involve
ending the Spanish stranglehold over Italy, so involved
declaring war on the territories of Charles, which
included BN. Henry VIII did this very reluctantly!
Scotland
Relations are
generally poor
with Scotland up
Henry VII generally improved
relations with Scotland after the
Scottish invasion of 1496, with the
Truce of Ayton, which eventually
Very few examples of continuity, aside from the fact
that Scotland posed a threat to both monarchs.
Both do face a Scottish invasion, Henry VII in 1496
to 1527. This is
due largely to the
lack of attention
that Henry gives
to Scottish affairs;
his focus is
primarily on glory
and conquest in
France.
Although there is
some
improvement in
the 1520s and
early 1530s,
relations
deteriorate once
more in the late
1530s/1540s, as
the French start
to play more of a
role within
Scotland.
became a treaty after the marriage
of Margaret to James in 1502. Henry
VIII is less keen on taking an interest
in Scotland, which means they start
to pose a greater threat, as shown
by the battle of Flodden in 1513.
The decision of James IV to re sign
the Auld Alliance with France in 1512
damages Anglo Scottish relations
and increases the threat posed by
the Scots. Henry VIII can possible be
criticised for the Scots taking such an
action as he did little to try and
cultivate their support. This is a
move away from what happened
under Henry VII, when decent
relations with France ensured
amicable relations with Scotland.
Whereas Henry VII tried to use
Archibald Douglas ( a pro English
noble) to try and encourage the
Scottish to adopt a policy that did
not go against English interests,
Henry VIII instigates no such policy
until later in his reign.
Due to Henry VIII’s increased
involvement in France, relations with
Scotland deteriorate as the Scots are
duty bound to help their allies the
French this can be contrasted with
Henry VII. By 1515 Margaret flees to
England, and by 1516 Albany
appears back in Scotland; this is a
radical departure from 1513 where
James IV had been killed at Flodden,
and Margaret was acting as regent!
Scotland is now starting to pose a
real problem. In 1537 James V
married the French noble Mary of
Guise, and in 1538 Cardinal Beaton
arrives in Scotland to try and raise
troops for a crusade against England.
In 1545, the French send soldiers to
Scotland in order to threaten
England’s northern border (this
never happens under Henry VII’s
reign due to the relatively good
relations that he was able to
cultivate)
(where the Scots back Warbeck), and Henry VIII in
1513, which culminates in the Battle of Flodden.
By the early 1540s, Henry VIII starts to show more
interest in Scotland (link to Henry VIII), and launches
an invasion in 1542. Although Henry VII never actually
invaded Scotland, Henry tried using captured Scottish
Lords as the nucleus of a Pro English Party within
Scotland. Some links can be drawn here with Henry
VII, and his attempts to work with Archibald Douglas.
Like Henry VII, Henry VIII does try and sort out the
Scottish issue (eventually!) by trying to get a marriage
between his son and Mary Queen of Scots through the
Treaty of Greenwich. This desire to subdue the Scots
was similar to Henry VII’s motive when arranging for
the marriage between Margaret and James IV. Henry
VII was not however trying to unite the two Kingdoms
like Henry VIII was (however unlike Henry VIII, Henry
VII actually got the marriage to go ahead!). It is
however important to understand the difference
between these 2 events. The 1543 marriage was
forced upon the Scots, so made relations worse,
unlike the 1503 marriage which was mutually
beneficial to both sides.
Spain
Spanish relations
are on the whole
positive, however
they start to
deteriorate post
1525 as Charles V
repudiates the
marriage
agreement
between himself
and Mary.
From 1527 to
1540, relations
are relatively
poor, however
they recover in
the later part of
Henry’s reign,
with the two
launching a joint
invasion of France
in 1544.
The purpose for a Spanish alliance
was slightly different. Whilst it
clearly aided national security for
both Henry VII and VIII, it appears
Henry VII viewed Medina Del Campo
more as a defensive alliance, aimed
at securing his dynasty and
safeguarding national security.
Henry VIII however seemed to see a
Spanish alliance more as a way of
achieving glory in France.
This view can however be
countered, see the right hand
column (bold type)
Although relations with Spain did
deteriorate under Henry VII’s reign
(particularly in 1505 when he gave
aid to Philip of Burgundy), relations
plummet in the second half of Henry
VIII’s reign due to his divorce from
Catherine and his break from Rome.
Under Henry VIII, Spain possibly
threaten English security in 1533 and
particularly 1538. They never
threaten national security under
Henry VII.
Both Kings adopt Pro Spanish/Anti French alliances
early on in their reign. Henry VII agrees to the Treaty
of Medina Del Campo (which saw a Spanish alliance
and a betrothal between Arthur and Catherine of
Aragon) was signed in 1489 and ratified with the
marriage in 1502. One of Henry VIII’s first actions
upon becoming King was to marry Catherine of
Aragon himself in 1509.
Although both Henry VII and Henry VIII do see Spain
as their major ally, both turn away from Spain at
certain points in their reign. This is due primarily to
dynastic concerns; Henry VII turns away from Spain in
1505 after it appears Spain will split, as this will
reduce their power and would make it harder for
them to safeguard Henry VII’s fledgling dynasty. Henry
VIII starts to turn against Spain post 1525 after Charles
repudiates the marriage agreement (and later as
Henry breaks from Rome). This makes Henry VIII
determined to get a divorce in order to increase his
chances of getting a male heir and securing his
dynasty (this however involves turning against Spain
who have a stranglehold over Italy and the Pope).
Even when relations were relatively good, the Spanish
would often let the English down. In 1489 Ferdinand
recalled troops which he had promised to defend
Brittany from the French, leaving Henry VII with the
burden. Similarly in 1522/3, Charles V never provided
Henry VIII with the Spanish troops he had promised
for the planned invasion of France. In 1544 the
Spanish came up with a separate truce with the
French at Crepy.
At some point in their reign (primarily due to dynastic
concerns), both Henry VII and Henry VIII are willing to
sponsor other nations/families against Spain. From
1505 to 1509 Henry VII gave around £340,000 to the
Habsburg’s to aid their fight against the Spanish.
Similarly in 1527 Henry VIII helped fund a French army
that sought to remove the Spanish from Italy in 1527.
Spain were not particularly eager to let England profit
from Spain’s trade connections. They fiercely guarded
trade with the New World under both Henry VII and
VIII. After the Spanish victory at Pavia in 1525, the
Spanish were also reluctant to allow England
increased access to the lucrative Italian trading
market.
Both saw their dynastic security in resting with Spain,
and therefore wanted to stay on good terms for
dynastic reasons. Henry VII made this perfectly clear
when signing the Treaty of Medina Del Campo in
1489, and it was only unique circumstances (the
potential break up of Spain) which made him move
away from them. Similarly Henry VIII saw his
dynastic security resting with Spain; the agreement
that Charles V would marry Mary would hopefully
have safeguarded his dynasty by marrying his
daughter and heir to Europe’s strongest man.
Charles’ decision to repudiate the betrothal in 1525
therefore drastically altered Henry VIII’s relations
with Spain. This desire for dynastic security would
then see Henry VIII move towards France from 15533.