Henry VII's Relationship with Foreign Powers

Henry VII's Relationship with Scotland and Other Foreign Powers

Europe was a very different place in 1485. Henry VII needed to secure England’s borders from its traditional enemies, Scotland and France. Making alliances with France’s rivals, especially Spain and Burgundy, would benefit England.

Scotland

England made a truce with Scotland in 1486.
In summer 1495, Perkin Warbeck was welcomed by King James IV. Warbeck was given £1,200 p/a pension and marriage to James’ cousin.
In 1497, James IV and Warbeck disastrously invaded England. Henry VII and James signed the Truce of Ayton, which became the Treaty of Perpetual Peace in 1502.
In 1503, there was a marriage alliance between, Henry’s daughter, Margaret and James IV.

France

France took control of Brittany, which was against Henry’s interests. This was called the Breton Crisis.
The 1492 Treaty of Étaples that ended Breton Crisis gave Henry an annual income and a guarantee that France would not shelter any English rebels.
In 1496, Henry VII joined the Holy League, an alliance of France’s rivals in the continuing Italian Wars. But England remained neutral in the fighting.

Spain

In 1489, the Treaty of Medina del Campo was signed between England and Spain. It agreed that:
- Spain and England would not make treaties with France without sounding the other out first.
- There would be equal trading rights for each other’s merchants.
- Prince Arthur would marry the Spanish Catherine of Aragon to cement the alliance. The marriage took place by proxy in 1499 and for real in 1501.

Burgundy

Burgundy was part of the Holy Roman Empire.
Richard III’s sister, Margaret of Burgundy, who hated Henry VII, was very influential in Burgundy. She had been married to its previous duke.
Margaret of Burgundy supported Perkin Warbeck until 1496, when Henry signed Magnus Intercursus with Philip, duke of Burgundy.

Henry VII's Marriage Alliances

To secure his dynasty, Henry VII made a marriage alliance that joined the warring houses of York and Lancaster so that his heirs were descended from both. He also needed an heir, a spare and good political marriages for his children.

A secure dynasty

Marriage to Elizabeth of York produced an heir, Prince Arthur, and a spare, Prince Henry.
Prince Arthur was betrothed to Catherine of Aragon in 1489. They married in 1501. Their children would secure the dynasty.
Henry’s daughter Margaret was married to James IV of Scotland in 1503, an alliance to make England’s northern border more secure.
His other surviving daughter, Mary, was betrothed to Charles of Burgundy in 1507. The marriage was called off in 1513.

Arthur's death

In 1502 Prince Arthur died, breaking the marriage alliance with Spain. Henry VII now had only one male heir, Prince Henry.
Prince Henry could marry Catherine of Aragon but needed the pope’s permission as they were sister-in-law and brother-in-law.

Isabelle of Castile's death

After Isabelle of Castile’s death in 1504, Spain’s future was uncertain so Henry VII looked for a better match for Prince Henry. However, he refused to let Catherine of Aragon or her dowry return to Spain.
Relations between England and Spain soured 1504-09.
This was the state of affairs when Henry VII died in 1509.

Historical assessment

Historian Steven Gunn (2011) argues that Henry VII's foreign policy achievements were significant because of the long term impact they had:
- 'The marriage alliance that sealed peace across the northern border would lead to the union of the crowns a century later in the person of his great-greatgrandson James VI and I, and beyond that to the making of the United Kingdom. How’s that for a long-term achievement?'

1Consolidation of the Tudor Dynasty 1485-1547

1.1Henry VII 1485-1509

1.1.1Henry VII's Consolidation of Power

1.1.2Henry VII & Succession

1.1.3Henry VII's Councils & Parliament

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Henry VII Part 1

1.1.5Henry VII & Justice, Finance & Policies

1.1.6Henry VII's Relationship with Foreign Powers

1.1.7Henry VII & Society

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Henry VII Part 2

1.1.9Henry VII & Regional Issues

1.1.10Henry VII & Economic Development

1.1.11Henry VII & Cultural Development

1.1.12End of Topic Test - Henry VII Part 3

1.2Henry VIII 1509-1547

1.2.1Henry VIII's Consolidation of Power

1.2.2Henry VIII & His Government

1.2.3Henry VIII & His Government 2

1.2.4End of Topic Test - Henry VIII Part 1

1.2.5Henry VIII & Succession

1.2.6Henry VIII's Relationship with Foreign Powers

1.2.7Henry VIII & Society

1.2.8End of Topic Test -Henry VIII Part 2

1.2.9Henry VIII & Society 2

1.2.10Henry VIII & Economic Development

1.2.11Henry VIII & Religion

1.2.12End of Topic Test - Henry VIII Part 3

2England: Turmoil & Triumph 1547-1603

2.1Instability & Consolidation 1547-1563

2.1.1Edward VI, Somerset & Northumberland

2.1.2Edward VI & Authority

2.1.3Edward VI & Relations with Foreign Powers

2.1.4End of Topic Test - Edward VI Part 1

2.1.5Edward VI & Rebellions

2.1.6Social Impact of Religious & Economic Changes

2.1.7Edward VI & Cultural Developments

2.1.8End of Topic Test - Edward VI Part 2

2.1.9Mary I & Her Rule

2.1.10Mary I & Relations with Foreign Powers

2.1.11The Social Impact of Religious & Economic Change

2.1.12End of Topic Test - Mary Part 1

2.1.13Elizabeth I & Her Rule

2.1.14Elizabeth I & Relations With Foreign Powers

2.1.15Impact of Economic, Social & Religious Change

2.1.16End of Topic Test - Elizabeth I Part 1

2.2The Triumph of Elizabeth 1563-1603

2.2.1Elizabeth I & Court

2.2.2Elizabeth & Government

2.2.3Elizabeth I & Succession

2.2.4End of Topic Test - Elizabeth I Part 2

2.2.5Mary Queen of Scots

2.2.6Relations with Spain

2.2.7End of Topic Test - Elizabeth I Part 3

2.2.8Elizabeth I & Society

2.2.9Elizabeth I & Rebellion

2.2.10Elizabeth & Economic Development

2.2.11End of Topic Test - Elizabeth I Part 4

2.2.12Elizabeth I & Religious Developments

2.2.13The English Renaissance

2.2.14Elizabeth's Last Years

2.2.15End of Topic Test - Elizabeth I Part 5

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