Foreign Relations

• 1509-1514


  Demonstrated his enthusiasm to win military glory, wanted to make England a major player in international affairs, believed he had a right to the French crown, ambitious
• 1510


  Entered an alliance with Spain, Holy Roman Empire and Papacy against France
• 1512


  Sent 10,000 soldiers to south west France, suffered defeat in Gascony, Ferdinand of Spain failed to support England
• 1513


  Henry led a force to north eastern France, won the 'Battle of Spurs', captured Tournai and Therouanne
• 1512/1513 Campaign Results


  Huge drain on English finance, trouble in Yorkshire (nearly led to another rebellion), loss of French pension, insignificant gains in France, peace with Scotland
• 1513


  James IV of Scotland invades England, defeated and killed at Battle of Flodden, left the Scottish throne to infant James V
• 1514-1526


  Inconsistent, French king died in 1515, succeeded by Francis I, Henry classed him as a personal and political rival, Ferdinand of Spain died in 1516, Charles V succeeds as Holy Roman Emperor
• 1517

  Charles V and HRE Maximillian agreed to the Treaty of Cambri, left England isolated
• 1518

  Treaty of London, personal achievement for Wolsey, England, France, Spain, Holy Roman Empire signed a non aggression pact
• 1520


  Field of the Cloth of Gold, Henry & Francis, reinforced positive relations between England & France
• 1521


  Treaty of Bruges, negotiated by Wolsey with Charles V
• 1522


  English invaded Northern France, Gained little, Parliament was reluctant to grant extraordinary revenue to support the campaign
• 1525


  Charles V defeated France at Battle of Pavia, refused to join a joint invasion of Northern France with Henry, Henry supports the league of cognac (with France and the pope)
• 1527-1540


  Charles V is dominant player in Europe, made Henrys attempts to annul his marriage with Catherine difficult
• 1527


  Henry allies with French in Treaty of Amiens
• 1532


  Henry forms further alliance with France, attempt to pressure Charles into supporting the annulment, failed
• 1538


  Henry's position is weakened, Charles & Francis sign Treaty of Nice, Pope Paul III absolved England Catholics from obedience to their ruler
• 1539


  Paul III sends cardinals to France and Scotland to get support for a crusade against Henry, Henry responds by marrying Anne of Cleves, seeking an alliance with League of Schmalkalden, Relations between Charles and Francis break down, Henrys position becomes more secure
• 1540-1547


  Saw a return to an aggressive foreign policy
• 1542


  Invasion of Scotland brought heavy defeat for the Scots at Battle of Solway Moss, death of James V weakened the Scots, Henry failed to do a full-scale invasion
• 1543


  Treaty of Greenwich, Edward is engaged to Mary, Queen of Scots, Scots refused to sign the treaty, Earl of Hertford sent to raid Scotland, achieved little
• 1544


  Henry invades France in alliance with Charles V, large army, captures Boulogne, Charles makes a separate peace treaty with Francis I
• 1545


  Francis I sends troops to Scotland to support invasion of England, English are defeated at Battle of Ancrum Moor, Scots fail to invade, French land in Isle of Wight
• 1546


  Peace is agreed between England and France, neither side could afford to continue the conflict
• Ireland


  Rebellion in 1534 was difficult to supress, attempt to bring Irish government under English control failed, Invasion of the Pale in 1539 by two Irish nobles (controlled)
• 1541-English Government try to pacify Ireland


  Established Ireland as a separate kingdom under English Law, created counties out of Gaelic lordships, granted Irish nobles peerage titles and same legal protection as English counterparts, Government lacked resources to follow through, No residual Irish loyalty to the crown,