Foreign Policy 1514-26

Foreign Policy 1514-26

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Overview — England's Position

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What was England's actual position among European powers during 1514-26?

England remained a relatively minor power not really comparable with France and Spain — KEY POINT: Henry significantly overestimated English power and Wolsey had to frame foreign policy around this false assumption

What was the auld alliance and why did it matter?

The strong alliance between France and Scotland — when England and France were on good terms there tended to be few issues with Anglo-Scottish relations, but clashes with France almost always resulted in increased tension between England and Scotland

Consequences of Running Out of Money by End of 1514

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What were the consequences of Henry running out of money by the end of 1514?

He was unable to exploit Scotland's weakness following the death of James IV at Flodden, and was forced to seek peace with France reinforced by the marriage of his sister Mary to Louis XII

What happened after Louis XII died?

The French throne passed to Francis I, whom Henry immediately saw as a personal rival

What did Henry do in response to Francis I becoming king?

He sought an alliance with Ferdinand of Aragon — however Ferdinand died in 1516 and his grandson Charles V sought an alliance with the French instead

What was the Treaty of Cambrai and why was it significant for England?

Charles V and Emperor Maximilian agreed the Treaty of Cambrai with the French, leaving England dangerously isolated — KEY POINT: England's isolation was a direct consequence of Henry's failed alliances

The Duke of Albany and Anglo-Scottish Relations

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How did Francis I exploit England's isolation regarding Scotland?

He used the Duke of Albany — heir presumptive to the Scottish throne and a member of the French nobility — who was appointed as regent to the Scottish throne

Why did Albany alarm Henry and Wolsey?

They saw Albany as a French agent who could undermine Anglo-Scottish relations

Why was the threat from Albany minimised?

Because of divisions among the Scottish nobility — KEY POINT: however Henry showed himself incapable of exploiting these divisions and weaknesses within Scotland

The Treaty of London 1518

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What did the Treaty of London 1518 achieve and who organised it?

Wolsey successfully ended England's isolation and emerged as the leading diplomat in western Europe

What prompted the Treaty of London?

Pope Leo X desired a united Christian front against the threat of the Ottoman Turks — this had its origins in peace negotiations between England and France

What did the Treaty of London become?

A treaty of perpetual peace — a non-aggression pact agreed to by England, France, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire and numerous smaller states

KEY POINT — Why was the Treaty of London so important for Wolsey personally?

It was a diplomatic coup for Wolsey — the Pope's need for a united Christian front meant he appointed Wolsey as papal legate over England, making 1518 the height of Wolsey's power and prestige

What did England agree to regarding Tournai in the Treaty of London?

To return Tournai to France, with the French agreeing to pay England a pension to compensate for its loss

What did France agree regarding Scotland?

To keep Albany out of Scotland, ensuring more peaceable relations on the Anglo-Scottish border

KEY POINT — Why did France really change its attitude?

The French were concerned about the increased power Spain could exert with the election of the Spanish king as Holy Roman Emperor — this, rather than Wolsey's diplomatic brilliance, was the real reason for France's change of attitude

The Field of the Cloth of Gold (June 1520)

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What was the Field of the Cloth of Gold?

An expensive diplomatic meeting between France and England in June 1520 that reinforced good relations between the two countries

KEY POINT — What did the Field of the Cloth of Gold actually achieve?

In diplomatic terms nothing was really achieved — it was essentially a very expensive display

The Treaty of Bruges 1521 and Alliance with Charles V

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What caused the shift away from France towards Charles V?

Conflict arose between Francis I and Charles V, and in August 1521 Wolsey negotiated the Treaty of Bruges with Charles

What were Henry's reasons for siding with Charles V?

He could improve relations with the Pope, believed he might gain more territory in France, and part of the deal included a marriage alliance between Charles and Henry's daughter Princess Mary

What happened when English armies invaded northern France in 1522 and 1523?

The campaigns gained little but proved very costly, with Parliament being reluctant to grant extraordinary revenue

KEY POINT — What did Henry's suggestion after the Battle of Pavia (1525) reveal?

It showed Henry's lack of strategic awareness — he suggested to Charles that they launch a joint invasion of northern France, which Charles would not agree to, and the controversy over the Amicable Grant showed a lack of public support for the adventure

What were the three major consequences of the Amicable Grant episode?

Henry was obliged to back down with his ego bruised, his resentment towards Charles was reinforced when Charles repudiated his marriage contract with Princess Mary, and Wolsey's domestic prestige never really recovered

Shift to a Pro-French Policy

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What did the fracturing of the Anglo-Imperial alliance lead to?

Henry and Wolsey moved in the direction of a pro-French foreign policy

How did this pro-French shift manifest itself?

Henry lent support to the League of Cognac, put together by the Pope to counterbalance Charles V in northern Italy following his victory at Pavia, as the Pope viewed Charles's power as excessive

KEY POINT — Why was this pro-French shift so damaging?

This proved not to be the best time to be on poor terms with the emperor, and the emergence of the King's Great Matter created a new complication in foreign policy — it would not only bring down Wolsey but would also make Henry an object of suspicion to the whole of Catholic Europe, damage that Wolsey could not reverse