How Successful Was Henry Vii's Foreign Policy Objectives?

How Successful was Henry VII in fulfilling his foreign policy objectives? By Lydia Cumley

Henry VII’s actions and relations with foreign countries were shaped with considerations towards his three main foreign policy objectives: to ensure national security; to gain recognition for the Tudor dynasty and to defend English trade interests. Henry attempted to fulfil these aims through numerous methods: signing treaties, royal marriages, and invasions, all of which were carried out in order to fulfil a certain aim. However, he was not always successful.

After only four years in power Henry signed a treaty with Brittany known as the Treaty of Redon. When they agreed on this treaty in Feb 1489, it was agreed that the Duchess Anne was to pay for

a small British army to invade France on her behalf. This was a tactical move of Henry’s that would hopefully help him gain recognition for the Tudor dynasty as a strong and powerful one, going up against France. However, Anne had succumbed to the fear of the consequences of resisting the French and subsequently married Charles VIII. This meant when Henry arrived in Brittany they had no aid, and were left without aid. At this point it seems as if Henry has been undoubtedly unsuccessful in fulfilling his foreign policy objectives, however, his problem solving actions proceeding arguably make a success out of the relations. Henry decided to launch an invasion in France in 1492, of which France quickly asked for a peace settlement: exactly what Henry anticipated would happen. Through this settlement the Treaty of Etaples arose in 1492 in which Charles agreed to compensate Henr’s army and to withdraw support from Perkin Warbeck. Through this, technically Henry hadn’t actually damaged any of his aims, and had in fact strengthened national security by making Perkin Warbeck of less threat. Therefore, through these relations with Brittany and France Henry managed to make England more nationally secure without sacrificing dynastic recognition or English trade interests. However, the aim of the Treaty of Redon and Henry’s alliance with Duchess Anne was to aid dynastic recognition, ad in this sense, he was unsuccessful.

Relations with Spain were very important to Henry, as not only was Spain an extremely powerful state, it would also help ensure national security against France, an arguably significant threat. These good relations began developing through the Treaty of Medina del Campo, in which both countries agreed to offer protection for the other if there was an attack, and agreed not to harbour pretenders (thus helping Henry ensure national security). They also agreed on the marriage between Prince Arthur (Henry’s eldest) and Catherine of Aragon (King Ferdinand’s daughter), thus gaining recognition of the Tudor dynasty. Although there were issues with the treaty, and disagreements on issues concerning both the wedding, and the threat of Perkin Warbeck, the wedding went ahead and took place in 1501. Due to the death of Arthur, just a year later, the objective of gaining recognition of the Tudor dynasty was put under threat and relations became weaker.

Due to this, when Juana of Burgundy and her husband Philip challenged Ferdinand’s right to the throne Henry chose to support them.

Luckily for Henry, on their voyage from Burgundy to Spain their ship was wrecked, so they had to take refuge in England. It was at this time Henry’s ability to think on his feet was put to use again as he created the Treaty of Windsor in 1506 in order to develop better relations with Juana and Philip. In order to gain recognition of the Tudor dynasty, the treaty specified that the Earl of Suffolk could return and that Henry would marry Archduchess Margaret. In order to defend English trade interests, the Intercursus Malus restored trade interests between England and Burgundy. And national security was improved through this treaty, as it made it far more unlikely for England to be invaded by Burgundy. Consequently, in theory, Henry has seemingly been successful in fulfilling his foreign policy objectives with Burgundy. However, in practise that was not the case: the marriage between Henry and Margaret fell through and irrespective of Henry’s recognition of Juana as the rightful ruler of Castile, Ferdinand became the regent. Consequently, Henry was made diplomatically isolated and unsuccessful in fulfilling in foreign policy objectives. This was further reinforced by how Henry had betrayed Ferdinand, thus weakening national

security.
Henry’s ability to problem solve through situations he was arguably not able to control was demonstrated again in 1496, when Scotland invaded England.

James IV aided an attack from pretender Perkin Warbeck, and although their attack was thoroughly unsuccessful, due to te lack of support from Northumberland, it caused Henry to prepare a large army to invade Scotland with. A decision with significant political consequences, as the taxes introduced to fund the army caused a rebellion in Cornwall in 1497. At this point, Henry had been unsuccessful in fulfilling his foreign policy objectives, as civil unrest prevented Henry from focussing on relations with other countries. However, luckily for Henry, the rebellion prompted Scotland to realise it was in their best interest to form a truce with England, in the form of the Truce of Ayton. This truce ensured England had more national security, by making peace with their bordering country. This truce was very successful, and as relations improved so, it was decided that Princess Margaret (Henry’s daughter) was to marry King Henry IV. The marriage in 1503 consequently aided Henry in improving recognition for the Tudor dynasty as well as defending English trade interests. Although at the beginning of his reign Scotland and England had tense (though admittedly cordial) relations, Henry succeeded in securing and maintaining peaceful relations until the end of his reign, thus fulfilling his foreign policy

objectives.

Therefore, we see that although Treaties such as Medina del Campo, Windsor and Redon were all unsuccessful, Henry has an undeniable ability to problem solve. This is highlighted through both the Treaty of Etaples and the Truce of Ayton, both of which occurred through problems Henry was faced with. By the end of his rule, he had good relations with Scotland and had arguably succeeded in gaining recognition of the Tudor dynasty, which consequently aided national security and trade interests.