After 1516

• In 1516, Charles V succeeded his grandfather Ferdinand of Aragon as King of Spain.
• Charles was also ruler of the Low Countries, centre of a great deal of English trade and bordering on France, therefore a convenient base for attack.
• In 1519, Charles succeeded his other grandfather, Maximilian as Emperor of Germany.
• For Henry VIII, Charles seemed an ideal ally against France as he was apparently so powerful and since the French were seriously concerned about Hapsburg encirclement
• With relations worsening between Charles and Francis, Wolsey attempted to act as peacemaker. In 1521, he met Francis I in Calais and Charles V in Bruges.
• After the failure of these negotiations, Henry agreed to an alliance with Charles against France.
• Charles visited England in 1520 and 1522 and England then declared war on France (June 1522).
• 1522-3 War against France as Charles V’s ally.