Exam (elaborations)
How successful was Henry VII in fulfilling his foreign policy objectives? (25 marks)
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How successful was Henry VII in fulfilling his foreign policy objectives? (25 marks)Arguably, the main objectives for Henry VII’s foreign policy were to maintain national
security, secure the Tudor dynasty, create and maintain peace, secure the succession to his
throne and establish international recognition alliances through his relationships with other
countries. It is clear that Henry VII had some success in his objectives, however, it could be
argued that these objectives had limited success as a result of the Castillian crisis, the Perkin
Warbeck rebellion. Some of Henry VII’s policies and objectives were successful and helped
to propound his foreign policy such as the Treaty of Etaples. The treaties and alliances that
Henry formed with other nations arguably secured the Tudor Dynasty. However, after the
failure of the Brittany Crisis, which weakened the success of Henry’s foreign policy, making it
more difficult to maintain the Tudor Dynasty, secure the succession which inevitably created
tension and weakened the position of Medieval England.
Securing the succession seemed to be successful in securing his foreign policies as marriage
enabled Henry to make alliances with other countries and furthermore, secure relationships
and trade with others. In 1502, the succession didn’t seem to be a problem after the birth of
Henry VII and Elizabeth’s son Arthur in 1486. Notably, the marriage between Henry VII’s son
Arthur and Catherine of Aragon, the daughter of Isabella and Ferdinand, seemed to securing
the back of Spain whilst enabling the succession and ensure trade and positive relations
with Spain promoting England and Spain’s alliance. The treaty, Medina del Campo,
strengthened the relationships England maintained with other empires for example, The
Holy Roman Empire. Furthermore, the marriage between his daughter, Margret, to James IV
also had a positive effect on securing the succession which was one section of his foreign
policy. This marriage resulted in the Anglo-Scottish, which was the first in over 150 years,
which reduced danger of Scottish challenge to Henry’s throne and the Tudor dynasty. This
marriage seemed to achieve his aim of ‘Perpetual Peace’ and secured the Northern Border.
The treaties he implemented seem to be successful in propound Henry VII’s foreign policy
and securing the succession and Tudor Dynasty whilst other countries recognised England as
a global power.
Furthermore, the recognition of the Tudor dynasty seemed to experience some failures as a
result of the deaths of key figures who play essential roles in Medieval England which
contributed to the insecurity of the country. Henry VII’s first son, Arthur, died in 1502 after
suffering from serious health conditions and this created instability. This death not only
went against the Del Campo treaty, which stated Arthur would marry Catherine of Aragon,
but posed the question who would be the next successor to the throne. This death of his
son also fractured the alliance between Spain and England, weakening the Tudor legacy and
causing unease and unrest in England. This concern of the Tudor dynasty lacking in
recognition and acknowledgement seemed to be heightened even further one year later,
when Elizabeth, Henry’s wife, died ensuring that no more children would be bore for Henry
VII. In 1503, the relationship between Henry and Ferdinand seems to be fractured after the
death of his wife, Isabella causing Henry’s recognition of his Tudor dynasty unsuccessful
whilst weakening the Tudor bloodline dramatically.
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