Henry VII Foreign policy 1485-1509 overview

England and Ireland:

Central concern for English foreign policy. English only control small strip of land along east coast called the pale (80km long and 32km deep), rest of Ireland controlled by independent chiefs (biggest one - Fitzgerald family - earls of Kildare).

Provided an ideal ‘springboard’ for invasion attempts - Irish hate English

Had deeply held yorkist sympathy’s

Area beyond pale not under english control

England and Scotland:

Scotland veiwed as more of a permanent nuisance then a real threat. Small population (400,000) and Stuart king crown income is £8,000 annually.

Traditional alliance with France, auld alliance, which meant England was open to attack from them on both sides.

Vast, rugged countryside = impossible to conquer

Frequent raids across border meant Henry had to put up two financially draining, permanent garrisons at Berwick and Carlisle near the border. 

Ruled by: James IV

England and Burgundy:

Most important area for England. Small collection of states built up over three dynastic generations.

Principal trade and cloth finishing centre

Richard III’s sister, Margret married the duke of Burgundy - she hated henry for killing her brother and therefore became a refuge for yorkist opposition

Ruled by: Margret: Duchess Consort 1468-77, Dowager Duchess 1477-1503

England and the Holy Roman Empire:

Composed of a number of different states under an elected emperor. During this time the emporers mostly came from the Hapsburg family. Had roughly 20 million inhabitants however not all of them wanted to be part of the Holy Roman Empire and wanted to form their own countries which made the empire weak. However it was a substantial threat as:

Large and strong

Had claims and ambitions in Italy

Had acquired burgundy when maxillion married Mary of burgundy in 1477

Ruled by: Maximillian 1509-19

England and Italy:

Italy was the main war zone in Europe. It wasn’t yet a country but a collection of states such as Naples, Milan, Venice, Florence and the Papal States. It was a crucial political target.

Weak and divided into different states

Geographically and commercially at the ‘crossroads’ of Europe

Hugely wealthy and experiencing a cultural revolution (the reneaissance)

France, Spain and the Hapsburg empire all had dynastic claims they wished to pursue

All the European powers were looking south at Italy, which was good for henry as it meant no focus on England.

England and Spain:

Ruled by Fernidad of Aragon and Isabella of Castile. They bought together their two kingdoms to make them an international power as well as funding exploration into the ‘new world’ including Christopher Columbus. Their main aims made them more of a threat to france which made them a potential ally to England.

Drive Muslims out of Granada, accomplished by 1492

Secure their northern border by retaking land france had originally taken from them

Secure Fernidads claim to Naples

England and France:

Medieval English kings ruled France as well, however by Henry’s time the only part of france the english owned was Calais. They were traditional enemy’s and were hugely powerful.

Had the largest and most professional army in Europe

Allied with Scotland, very dangerous for england

Financially strong - had considerable power in the collection of taxes

• Charles VIII collected £800,000 in annual income

Largest population in Europe at 15 million people

Ruled by: Charles VIII 1483-98, Louis XII 1498-1515

England and Brittany:

Only self ruling state in France at this point, therefore helpful as a stop point if England needed to invade France. Ruled by Francis II, Henry had spent his exile here when he fled England in 1471 and therefore owed them a gratitude. However:

France wanted to incorporate them

If France controlled Brittany they would control the channel

Couldn’t show too much support for Brittany as may anger France - dangerous

Ruled by : Anne of Brittany (queen consort of france) 1491-1514