Wars of the Roses - Henry VII's foreign policy

Scotland and England initial position

Scotland was weaker but allies with France so England could be vulnerable to attacks on two flanks. History of raids across the border, and England spent a lot of money on Northern defence

1486 (Scotland)

Signed a truce for 3 years

1488 (Scotland)

James IV became King of Scotland but ruled by regents who were loyal to France

1491 (Scotland)

Scotland signed a treaty with France

1492 (Scotland)

Henry aided the regents’ Scottish enemies to try and destabilise the council

What was still occurring throughout this time 1493/94 (Scotland)

Signed truces

1495 (Scotland)

James met with Hugh O’Donnell - gaelic chieftain

1496 (Scotland)

James assisted Warbeck’s invasion of England

1497 (Scotland)

James IV invaded England - the tax Henry called in response is what triggered the Cornish rebellion.

However this was ended by the Treaty of Ayton

1503 (Scotland)

Marriage of Princess Margaret to James IV - solidified a treaty and alliance, peace lasted until Henry VIII

France and Brittany, initial position

Brittany and France had provided Henry with refuge and offered military aid in 1485. Supporting Brittany would anger France, but France was England’s traditional enemy and Henry still had the title ‘King of France’

1483 (France)

Chalres VIII became King but was governed by his sister, Anne of Beaujeu

… until 1486 (France)

truce signed, then extended to 1489

Brittany ruler

Anne Duchess of Brittany, after her father’s death in 1488

1486 (Brittany)

trade agreement

1488 (France and Brittany)

Anne of Beaujeu sent and army to Brittany. Maximilian and Ferdinand sent aid to Brittany as they wanted to prevent France gaining power

Brittany’s reaction to the invasion

Asked England for help.

Henry’s reaction to the invasion

Public - diplomatic approach, attempted to get Brittany and France to come to an agreement. Secret - sent Lord Sales to Brittany with a force of volunteers, as he didn’t want France to control the English Channel.

1489 (Brittany)

Treaty of Redon - between England and Brittany. Brittany would pay Henry to send 6,000 troops. They had minor success, but Maximilian’s troops couldn’t reach Brittany and Ferdinand had to recall his 2,000 to fight the moors.

1490 (Brittany and France)

Anne of Brittany marries Maximilian by proxy

1491 (Brittany and France)

Anne of Brittany marries Charles VIII and Brittany capitulates to France

1492 (France)

Charles VIII welcomes Warbeck to Paris as Richard IV. Henry plans an invasion and crosses the channel in October. Charles VIII wanted to concentrate on Italy so paid Henry to go away. Treaty of Étaples signed, and Warbeck kicked out.

Terms of the Treaty of Étaples

No aid to English rebels, France would pay England the arrears of the Treaty of Picquigny, and France would pay most of Henry’s expenses in Brittany

1498 (France)

Charles VIII dies, replaced by Louis XII who Anne of Brittany also marries

Burgundy initial position

trade always very important, Burgundy had been a Yorkist alliance so less inclined to help Henry. They now also had Habsburgs rulers so stronger, but looking out for their other territory.

1487 and 1489 (Burgundy)

Henry renewed Edward IV’s treaty with Maximilian

1493 (Burgundy)

Maximilian invited Warbeck to the funeral of his father as Richard IV. Margaret and Philip offered aid to Warbeck. Henry responded with a trade embargo from 93-96.

Spain initial position

Very powerful, marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella had brought Aragon and Castille together. Focused on driving out the Moors, take back land from France and gain land in Italy. Common enemy of France with England.

1489 (Spain)

Treaty of Medina del Campo

Terms of the treaty of Medina del Campo

Arthur and Catherine marry, Catherine’s dowry would by £40,000 in instalments, Spain wouldn’t help English rebels, previous Navigation acts were lifted, would both go to war with France if needed, help gaining land back

Reality of the treaty with Spain

Spain managed to regain some of their border lands, but they didn’t help Henry much. Final marriage agreement not made until 1496, and full dowry never paid, but trade was a good improvement.

1501 (Spain)

Catherine arrived in England with 100,000 crowns of dowry. Delayed because of Spain’s doubt over if Henry would remain King. Catherine’s sister had also married Philip of Burgundy.

1502 (Spain)

Arthur died, but Henry suggested Catherine marry his 2nd son Henry

1503 (Spain)

Catherine and Henry are betrothed with special papal dispensation

Italy’s status

Collection of states including Milan, Naples, Venice, Florence, and Papal States. Lots of European rulers had claims and the Italian wars began in 1494 over the land - attention diverted from Henry.

1495 (European powers)

League of Venice set up. Included Venice, Milan, the Pope, Ferdinand and Maximilian - all against France.

1496 (European powers)

League was revamped and renamed the Holy League. Ferdinand invited Henry to join (so seen as a valuable ally) and Henry was allowed to join in name only, didn’t have to declare war on France.

Trade agreement signed with France

Intercursus Magnus signed with Burgundy (but Philip imposed new import duty on English cloth which delayed it)

1499 (European powers)

Intercursus Magnus confirmed

1500 (European powers)

Philip and Henry met in Calais, relationship with Burgundy improving

1504 (European powers)

Isabella died, so Ferdinand lost half of Spain. Joanna was now Queen of Castille and Castille did not accept Ferdinand as ruler. Bid for the land between Philip & Joanna and Ferdinand. Ferdinand was in Spain and had an army, but Joanna was backed by Maximilian and the Roman Empire.

Treaty of Blois - between Louis XII and Maximilian, caused Henry to lend Phillip of Burgundy £138,000 to fight Ferdinand

1506 (European powers)

Philip and Joanna set out for Castile but there was a storm and they had to take shelter in England. Henry forced them to sign the Intercursus Malus

Terms of the Intercursus Malus

No duties on English cloth in the Netherlands, Burgundian subjects had to pay English duties. Duke of Suffolk handed over to England.

1508 (European powers)

League of Cambrai formed. Henry, Philip, Louis XII against Ferdinand. Intercursus Magnus replaced the Intercursus Malus. Charles of Burgundy was to marry Henry’s daughter Mary. This was an anti-Ferdinand alliance disguised as a league to finance a crusade against the Turks.

What happened to the League of Cambrai

Louis XII didn’t want to antagonise Ferdinand and join an anti-Spain alliance, so bribed Ferdinand to establish a new agreement. Then became an anti-Venice alliance and no longer included Henry.

Customs revenue increase after the Treaty of Medina del Campo

33,000 to 40,000

Navigation acts

1485-56

1490 (Italian powers)

England signed a treaty with Florence as a trading partner, and Venice dropped the duty on English goods.

Treaties with Denmark and Norway

1489 and 1490

Treaty with Riga?

Began one in 1499 but it collapsed when they went back to the Hanseatic League

1504 (Baltic states)

settlement with the Hanseatic League that meant that the Leagues’ previous privileges were restored.