Henry VIII - Later F.P.

Henry’s aims

Pursue active policy against the French
Revive dreams of conquering France

Gain honour + glory, like Chivalric knights

Maintain good trade links with the Netherlands

Secure dynasty through foreign marriages

Criticism - futile desire for glory

Problem with Ireland

Fitzgerald family - unreliable (1536)

Rebelled - due to religious changes

Actions taken in Ireland

Rebellions suppressed

Fitzgeralds removed

Anthony St Leger appointed as Lord Deputy of Ireland

Henry declared King of Ireland (1541)

Why was Henry only partially successful

Control remained limited to the Pale

Most of Ireland persisted as Catholic + resistant to English rule

Why was Scotland a major concern

Auld Alliance

Risked a northern invasion

Key events that weakened Scotland

Battle of Solway Moss (1542):

1k Scots captured

7 English deaths

James V death - left infant, Mary, Queen of Scots on the throne

Treaty of Greenwich

Proposed marriage between Edward + Mary to unite England + Scotland

Why failed?
Scottish nobles rejected it
Religious differences + loyalty to France

What was the “Rough Wooing”

Brutal raids (1544-45)

Including burning Edinburgh

Force Scottish compliance

Overall in Scotland - moderately

Success:
Prevented full Franco-Scottish invasion
Demonstrated military strength
Weakened Scotland

Failure:
Alliance with France continued
Marriage alliance failed
War was expensive - contributed to coin debasement (decrease 50% silver)

Date final war with France

1544-46

Why did Henry go to war with France?

War resumed between Francis I + Charles V - France weak

France allied with the Ottoman Empire (1542)

Main success

Eventual capture of Boulogne

What undermined Henry’s campaign

Charles V abandoned him again

Signed peace with France (Peace of Crépy, 1544)

Left him isolated

Cost of war

£2 mil

Enormous financial burden

Funded by borrowing
Selling monastic land
Debasement of coinage - caused inflation

Consequences of French War

Treaty of Ardres (1546)

Allowed Henry to keep Boulogne temporarily

Overall judgement for French War?

Limited success

Huge financial cost

Little long-term benefit

Overall Later F.P.

Ambitious but flawed

Achieved short-term prestige + security

Ultimately failed to deliver lasting strategic success

Left England financially weakened - pursuit of glory often outweighed practical considerations