HVII foreign policy

• avoiding war

  There was not only the threat of Invasion from other claimants, but there was also the threat from England's traditional enemies, France and Scotland. These two allied countries could do a joint invasion, which was a huge threat to Henry as he would have to face a war on two fronts.
• Treaty with Scotland 1489

  treaty of perpetual peace
• avoiding war with france

  A one year truce was signed between England and France, which was then extended into the Treaty of Etaples. France being a large power gave England a sense of prestige and eliminated Yorkist threats, this was a success.  
• Truce was made with Scotland, however this was short lived as when James III took over, he wanted war with England and supported the warbeck uprising. Overall Scotland was a short term success, however without the help of France, they were not a significant threat, only border raids
• throughout the treaty of Medina Del Campo, Arthur married Catherine of Aragon.
• The treaty of Medina Del Campo significantly improved trade links with Spain
• Margaret marries James throughout the treaty of perpetual peace
• By marrying his sons and daughters to the children of other European rulers he developed closer ties. These marriage reliance gained protection, recognition and guarantees that other claimants to the throne would not be supported. 
• Henry wanted to improve relations with the major powers in order to gain allies as his claim to the throne was weak given that he was a usurper. It was important for him to gain allies because some European rulers might exploit his weaknesses to undermine him, or like with Margaret of Burgundy, to restore the Yorkist line to the throne.  In 1489 as treaty was signed between the HRE and England to establish that they were going to form and alliance against France in order to preserve Britton independence  
• Why was England in a diplomatically weak state when Henry took the throne

  • England had lost the Hundred Years’ War with France in the 1450s
  • It lacked a standing army
  • Vulnerable to attacks in the north from scotland and across the channel from France
• Henry VIII’s foreign policy was subordinate to achieving domestic security
• As a usurper, Henry wanted foreign recognition
• Henry VII foreign policy aims

  • gain allies
  • Receive foreign recognition
  • Avoid war
  • Improve trade links
• Threat of invasion

  • Scotland and France could exploit England’s weak position
  • This was heightened by their alliance
• The Franco-Scottish alliance

  Auld Alliance
• Dynastic threats

  • The Yorkist challenge was actively encouraged by Margery of Burgundy
  • He secured an alliance with Spain by Marrying Arthur to Catherine of Aragon
  • An agreement was reached with scotland through the Peace of Ayton
• Who was Arthur Tudor married to throughout the Treaty of Medina Del Campo

  Catherine of Aragon
• Who Was Margret Tudor married to through the Peace of Ayton

  James IV
• When did Henry go to war with France

  1492
• What was restored by the treaty of Etaples

  The French Pension
• The French Pension 


  an annual pension of approximately £5,000 a year paid to the English king by France
• Henry was concerned with improving England’s economic position and increased revenue from trade would strengthen the economy.
• What trade was Burgundy vital for

  Cloth
• Trade was of secondary importance to national security, when Burgundy supported Warbeck, trade was suspended
• Who was trade agreements signed with

  • Brittany
  • Spain
  • Florence
• The three phases of Henry VII foreign policy

  • 1485-92; A period of diplomacy where Henry’s main aim was to secure the throne
  • 1493-1502; Where Henry appeared stronger and there was peace with Scotland
  • 1503-09; a less successful period as Henry became isolated
• Which two countries were the biggest threat to England’s

  • France
  • Scotland
• The Brittany affair

  • France had given Henry financial when he took the throne
  • They were also keen to take Brittany
  • Brittany asked for England’s aid
  • England could not aid Brittany alone, and when Maximilian, the HRE, made peace with France, Brittany was forced to accept defeat
  • The ruler of Brittany, Anne, married Charles VIII of France
  • Henry had send 6,000 soldiers to aid brittany, and there was now the threat of invasion of France.
• Why was France taking Brittany a threat to Henry

  It would place all the channel coast in French hands
• War with France

  Henry, like his predecessors, asserted his claim to the french throne. He gathered an invasion force and launched this in October 1492. France was concerned with the threat of Italy, so issued the Treaty of Etaples
• What treaty did France offer in 1492

  Treaty of Etaples
• The Treaty of Etaples 


  • France would not aid English rebels, especially Warbeck
  • France would not pay the arrears from the Treaty of Picquigny
  • France would pay Henry’s expenses for aiding Brittany
  • Henry would gain a french pension of £5,000 a year.
• what percent of Henry’s income was the French Pension

  5%
• Why did the league of cambrai fail

  France withdrew because they did not want to antagonise Spain. France then joined Spain, leaving England isolated
• what was England permitted to join in 1496

  The Holy League
• Warbeck was married to James IV’s cousin, so he gave military aid
• What treaty established peace between England and Scotland and lead to the surrender of Warbeck

  Truce of Ayton
• When was the last peace agreement between England and Scotland

  1328
• What did the Truce of Ayton lead to

  The marriage of Henry’s eldest daughter, Margret to James IV in 1503
• Why was Burgundy Important

  • It was the centre of the Cloth trade, England depended on it for exports
  • It became a centre of Yorkist exiles under Margret of Burgundy