‘Henry VII’s foreign policy was driven by the need to preserve
the Tudor Dynasty’
PARA 1 - DYNASTIC SUCCESSION
- Marriage alliances signi cant throughout reign, displaying how important his aim of
securing the dynasty was
- Treaty of Medina Del Campo 1489 - Marriage to son Prince Arthur to Catherine of
Aragon, promote Englands relations with Spain, married in 1501
- Treaty of Perpetual Peace 1502 - arranged marriage between James IV of Scotland and
Princess Margaret, ensured peace between Scotland and England
- Also showed that Henry had been accepted internationally as the rightful king of
England, further consolidating his authority
PARA 2 - SECURITY
- Following his years after usurping throne, Henry was faced with multiple Yorkist
pretenders and rebels, recognised the need for support and protection from abroad
- Treaty of Etaples 1492 - Anglo-french agreement, France withdrew support for Yorkist
pretender Perking Warbeck, signi cant as meant peace between two countries, France
rst rate nation
- Truce of Ayton 1487 - sparked H7 realisation of weak support in areas of England
(Cornish rebellion), ended centuries of con ict, forced James IV to withdraw support for
Perkin Warbeck, weakened Auld Alliance
- Treaty of Windsor 1506 - H7 + Philip of Burgundy, Philip and Maximillian (HRE) to return
Earl of Su olk (Yorkist sympathiser), H7 could now control Su olk and reduce his
supporters
- 1493, H7 initiated trade embargo with the Netherlands due to them harbouring Perkin
Warbeck, led to severe depression in cloth industry and hindered English trade and
prosperity, suggests that preventing threat of pretenders was greatest desire in foreign
policy.
- Security extremely important as it helped H7 to consolidate his position on the throne,
needed to remain strong on throne for succession of dynasty to be considered.
PARA 3 - OVERSEAS TRADE
- Defence of English trade important as helped Englands weak economy - H7 usurped
throne so weak monarch initially
- 1489 - Treaty of Medina del Campo - allowed equal trading rights r merchants
between Spain and England, faced custom duties at a rate that proved favourable for
English traders
- Maintaining cloth trade with burgundy remained high priority, most signi cant step he
made was Intercursus Magnus 1496
- Intercurses Magnus 1496 - lifted trade embargo on Burgundy, opened trade links with
major cities like Antwerp, H7 recognised the need to restore trading, prioritised over
previous con icts and paranoia
- The Navigation Acts 1485-86 were passed in an attempt to promote and protect
English trade and thereby break he monopoly enjoyed by the German Hanseatic
League, passed year that he came to throne showing trades signi cance right from the
beg9inning of H7 reign
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, - Trade important for H7 as it increased England prestige through the popularity of its
cloth, helped Englands weak nancial situation, however evident that was not top
priority due to trade embargo on Burgundy in 1493
PARA 4 - INTERNATIONAL PRESTIGE
- Important as it made H7 be recognised as the rightful king by other nations,
increased respect
- Holy League of Venice - H7 joined 1496, united countries to drive the French King
out of England, showed how he had gained trust and respect to be placed among
other powerful leaders
- Princess Margaret and Archduke Charles - H7 arranged their marriage in 1507,
united Habsburg and French allies against Ferdinand, towards end of H7 reign
showing signi cance
- Treaty of Redon 1489 - between England and Brittany, Brittany to pay for Egland for
small English army to protect them from France, shows prestige as he was ready to
promote himself as a more powerful and capable leader
- League of Cambrai 1508 - H7 left out, shows a lack of respect from other foreign
powers, towards end of reign suggesting he did not have their recognition or shared
their status despite all his e orts
- Important as prestige would prove that he was accepted by foreign powers as the
rightful king, decreased chance of pretenders or rebels
‘The consolidation of Henry VII’s power was the result of his
own personal strengths’
PARA 1 - PERSONAL STRENGTHS
- Personal strengths signi cant as they allowed H7 to show himself as a capable leader
through his calculating nature
- Consolidation - dated the start of his reign to the day before the Battle of Bosworth so
that all of RIII supporters could be tried for treason
- 1485 Coronation before marriage - allowed H7 to establish himself as the rightful king,
showed he wasn’t just king because of his wife’s lineage
- Marriage to Elizabeth of York in 1486 - just months after his ascension to the throne,
united Lancastrians and Yorkists, signi ed the end of the War of Roses
- Heir to throne 1489 - prince Arthur born just 4 years into reign, ensured he had an heir
for the Tudor dynasty, already securing dynasty and consolidating the future of the
tudors
- Use of nobles - duke of northumberland placed in north pre-battle of stoke 1487 to
neutralise RIII’s power base and stop Howard family from supporting Simnel (as
Northumberland is related to them)
- HOWEVER - also gained consolidation through the help of others such as Lord Stanley
at the battle of Bosworth 1485
PARA 2 - CONTROL OF THE NOBILITY
- Controlling nobility most signi cant reason as allowed him to raise extraordinary
revenue at the expense of nobles, also untrustworthy of the over mighty nobles
- Act of Attainder - con scation of the nobles land to the king, 138 acts of attainder
passed, William Stanley ned £9000
- Bonds and Recognisances - 191 bonds in rst 10 years of reign, Marquis of Dorset
placed under £10,000 bond after involvement with the Simple rebellion.
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