Henry VIII - Foreign Policy

Renewal of the Treaty of Etaples

Renewal of the Treaty of Etaples

Rome entered an alliance against France, creating the Holy League.

First Invasion of France

Henry sent an army of 10,000 men to southwest France as a distraction to help Ferdinand.

Second Invasion of France

1513 - Henry captured Therouanne and Tournai after winning the Battle of Spurs. Tournai was sold back to France for less than repairs. The French Pension was lost and the war was costly.

War against Scotland

James IV attempted to invade England but was defeated at the Battle of Flodden by the Earl of Surrey. James and many other Scottish nobility were killed. Henry was unable to exploit Scottish vulnerability.

French Marriage

Mary Tudor, Henry's sister, married Louis XII

Death of Louis XII

Francis I, a key rival of Henry, succeeded Louis. Henry sought an alliance with Ferdinand.

Death of Ferdinand of Aragon

1516 - Charles V, Ferdinand's successor, attempted to ally with the French. Charles agreed to the Treaty of Cambrai. England was left isolated.

Duke of Albany sent to Scotland

The heir presumptive to the Scottish throne was a member of French nobility which helped Francis undermine Anglo-Scottish relations.

Treaty of London

Established general European peace. It developed into the Treaty of Perpetual Peace agreed to by England, Spain, France, the HRE, and other states.

Field of Cloth of Gold

A bright event between Henry VIII and Francis I. Each King set up a lavish pavilion. Continues golden atmosphere. Henry was defeated in a wrestling match. The overall cost was £15000.

1521 - Treaty of Bruges

Between England and Charles V, improving relations with the Pope and reducing French control over northern Italy.

1522 - England at war with France

English armies invaded France. The war gained little but was costly. Parliament refused to grant extraordinary revenue to cover costs.

Battle of Pavia 1525

Charles V won against the French. Henry suggested he and Charles attack France, which was rejected. Charles rejected his marriage with Mary.

England linked with the anti-imperial League of Cognac 1526

The AILoC was organised by the Pope to counterbalance excessive power of Emperor in Italy.

1527 - Sack of Rome

Pope Clement VII is left as a virtual prisoner of the emperor.

Treaty of Amiens

England offers support to France against the Holy Roman Empire/Spain in the Treaty of Amiens. Their weak position forces them to make an anti-Imperial alliance

Peace of Cambrai 1529

French and Holy Roman Empire found peace. Charles V came out on top.

Fall of Wolsey

The inability to solve Henry's marital issues due to the trade embargo on Burgundian lands led to blame on Wolsey.

1532 - Defensive alliance between France and England

The alliance was less useful when Francis' son, Henry, married the Pope's niece, Catherine de Medici.

1533 - Henry begins to break with Rome

The solution to Henry's Great Matter. Henry made an alliance with the League of Schmalkden.

1536 - Renewal of fighting between France and the Holy Roman Empire/Spain

Put less pressure on Henry. Catherine of Aragon's death and Anne Boleyn's execution opened up the possibility of a renewed alliance with the Emperor

The renewal of fighting between the Emeperor and Francis I reduced the potential danger of England's isolated position.

Peace between France and the Holy Roman Empire 1538

Henry's position was weakened. Charles and Francis signed the Treaty of Nice and severed connections with England

1539 - The Pope attempts to start an anti-England crusade

The Six Articles Act of 1539 was intended to reassure Catholic opinion in England.

1540 - Marriage to Anne of Cleves

He married Anne of Cleves to attempt an alliance with the League of Schmalkden. The marriage quickly became politically redundant and was anulled.

1542 Invasion of Scotland

Scots were defeated at Solway Moss. James V died, leaving his 7 days old daughter Mary as heir.

1543 - Treaty of Greenwich

Known as 'The Rough Wooing', Henry sought to marry Prince Edward to Mary, Queen of Scots. Scots refused the request that Mary be raised in England. The children were formally betrothed according to the Treaty of Greenwich but Arran deserted the English cause and Scottish parliament refused to ratify the treaty.

1545 - Invasions of France and Scotland

An alliance with the Emperor facilitated the French invasion. English army confined itself to Calais, capturing Montreuil unsuccessfully but captured Boulogne due to lack of strategic objectives. The Emperor had made seperate peace with France. Francis I sent troops to Scotland to reinforce a possible invasion of England from across the Scottish border. The English were defeated at the Battle of Ancrum Moor. Both sides settled for peace in 1546 as neither could afford the price of conflict. Henry was unable to fund war from extraordinary revenue and had to sell much of the Crown estate, borrowed large sums, and debased the coinage therefore significantly increasing the rate of inflation.