Edward'S Foreign Policy

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Henry VIII legacy to son

Egotism of Henry VIII given England unrealistic ambitions & self belief made these objectives seem possible.

Left son legacy of debasement and debt

Reign dominated by quest for honour and defeat of France, the traditional enemy France- believed to achieve this by capture of Boulogne in 1544

Sought to increase control over Scots and celebrated victory with them at Solway Moss 1542

Maintained links with Emperor Charles V and maintained links with Netherlands

Edward being a minor meant no immediate need for new monarch to prove himself in war

Rest of Europe watched closely for new policy initiatives- such as religion

Difficult to withdraw from the shadow of Henry VIII

Sharp turns in policy against instincts of monarch, and continuity of personnel increased likelihood of continuity of policy

Henry committed England in concrete ways- Treaty Of Greenwich 1543- arranged marriage for Edward VI and Mary,Queen of Scots

Campaign against Scots had been conducted b Somerset- who was now protector- continue aggressive approach

'Auld Alliance' remained

Role of Edward in foreign policy

Edward very interested in chivalry and war- shown by his Chronicle

Papers he produced revealed his fascination with the past days of Hundred Years War

Interest more academic then warlike- shown by him noting different sources of revenue, different kinds of troops and final treaty articles

Displayed enthusiasm on his meeting with Marshal St Andre of France

Very well informed about foreign affairs, drawing on a range of sources

Covered subjects of defensive fortifications, marriage policy and foreign affairs

Conduct of war regarded as preserve of adult male aristocracy

Hard to believe Edward held any influence over Somerset, who was a hardened veteran

Under Northumberland,no definite evidence that Edward dictated policy- less opportunity to influence foreign policy due to the signing of Treaty of Boulogne in March 1550

Dominance and Decline of Charles V in 1547- 1555

European scene had been dominated by figures such as Henry VIII, Francis I and Charles V

Hasburgs- Valois Wars saw Charles position of dominance eventually decline

During his dominance-1547-1551:

Death of Francis I left Charles V unchallengable

Battle of Muhlberg where Charles V was victorious over Protestant Prines of Germany

Charles was safe from Ottomans as they were attacking Persia

During his decline from 1551-1555:

Henry II captured imperial towns of Metz, Toul and Verdun and attacked Charles in the Netherlands

Protestant Princes allied with Henry II of France succeeding in driving Charles V out of France

Ottomans had resumed their unstoppable advance into Eastern Europe

What affect did Charles V have on English Foreign Policy?

Fear of invasion by Charles V to restore Catholicism remained strong

During conflicts with France and Scotland, needed an alliance with Charles V. Shown by Anglo-Imperial Treaty of 1544- whited indicated friendship despite the reformation

If England went to war with France, would need to rely on Charles V for mercenaries and supplies from the Netherlands

Edward personal fascination wit Charles V- academic interest in Hasburg-Valois Wars

Trading partners with Netherland, which was in Charles control

Why did England matter to Charles?

Remained Concerned about fate of cousin Mary Tudor

Disturbed by England thrust towards Protestantism under Edward

English alliance useful due to conflict with French Kings

Why did Henry II affect English Foreign Policy?

Came to throne at 28, wanted to make an impact

Charles V had held him prisoner for 4 years when he was younger, motivated by a desire for revenge

Saw opportunity to manipulate 'Auld Alliance' to Englands disadvantage- Acts included sending French troops into England and remove Mary Queen of Scots in 1548 and dispatching large numbers of troops to Scotland which ruined policy of garrisoning

Search for revenge on Charles V made him willing to sign Treaty of Boulogne in 1550

Alliance with German Prices in Treaty Chambord reversed influence held by Charles V and made Henry major figure

Somerset Aims

Distinguished military record under Henry VIII, being Lord Admiral during the attack on the Scots and saw military service in France.

More than likely he would seek a military solution to England foreign policy problems

Aims were:

Priority was Scotland. Hoped to achieve marriage between Edward and Mary- result in political unions between the two crowns

Complete unfinished business of conquering Scotland which started when he was commander for Henry VIII

To avoid war with France tolerating provocations from Henry II

To prevent another revival of dangerous alliance of Scots

Victory of English over Scotland

June 1547- Henry II sent fleet of 4000 soldiers to Scotland

September 1547 Somerset launched naval&land invasion of Scotland

Quick success achieved in September 1547 at the Battle of Pinkie

Due to issues in England, left Scotland, with garrisons used to maintain control

January 1548 Somerset appealed to Scots to agree to marry Mary and Edward- countries become two brethens of one island of Great Britain

Garrisoning policy

Somerset aware of Henry VIII defences in invading Scotland when need arose- inexpensive, ineffective at rooting out aggressors, non consistent pressure

Garrisoning formed central thrust of Somerset's military policy in Scotland between 1547 and 1549

Twenty Five Garrisons established

French Attacks in Scotland

June 1548 arrival of 10,000 French troops made Garrison system unworkable- poorly defended garrisons no match for French

Treaty between French and Scottish signed where Mary was arranged to marriage Henry II Son

July 1548 Mary taken away to France, while English garrisons stood by

French besieged Haddington

Dilemma for Somerset, whether to send troops to relieve Haddington , which could allow French to retrieve Boulogne

Choose to send troops led by Earl of Shrewsbury , who temporarily relived the garrisons

Forced to abandon Haddington due to domestic issues in 1549

French withdraw from Scotland- due to financial strain and intent on recovering Boulogne

Postive impacts of Garrisoning

Enable the English to launch rapid raids after Scottish attacks

Garrisoning expected to be long-term solution to Scottish policy of hit-run guerllia warfare

Henry VIII policy of raids seen to be an expensive failure

Garrisons would help to protect 'assured' Scots

Permanent English presence was hoped to help secure acceptable of marriage between Edward VI and Mary Stuart

English didn't take taxes, supplies or rent from locals living near the garrisons

Negative impacts of Garrisoning

Only two of the garrisons were substantial fortresses

Garrisoning more expensive than raids- Spent 351,521

Substantial problems provisioning the garrisons

Soldiers took supplies from locals, worsening relations

Most Garrisons had only a few hundred troops so could hod troops at bay but couldn't defeat them

Forced to use mercanaries from Albania, Hungary, Italy and Spain- many refused to serve in Scotland

Control of troops extremely difficult- ran away from bad conditions

How successfully was war with France and Scotland brought to a close?

Somerset fell from power October 1549

January 1550 Northumberland lord president of the council

August 1549 French attacked Boulogne

English victory at sea meant English navy retained control of change;

Position of Northumberland:

English bankrupt so couldn't raise army to relieve siege of Boulogne

Attempts to get support from Emperor Charles V failed

Abandoment of Boulogne could be unpopular

Northumberland still attempting to secure a strong power- base at court

Treaty of ardes, French to buy back Boulogne for 2 million crowns in 1554

January 1550- Lord Russell and Lord Paget sent to France to negotiate a settlement with French team who clearly in stronger bargaining position

Treaty of Boulogne Terms-28th March 1550

England gave up control of Boulogne in return for 400,000 crowns

Marriage arranged between Edward VI and Elizabeth, daughter of Henry II, Elizabeth brought dowry of 200,000 crowns

England agreed to pull troops out of Scotland

England and France made defensive alliance and agreed to remain neutral in wars

Fortress of Boulogne to remain intact passed to the French

English claim to French throne not abandoned

King of France no longer pay a pension to King of England

Town of Boulogne was strategically and militarily useless, loss very significant

Abandonment of Henrys VIII most glorious foreign adventure

Northumberland recognise realities of the situation- England could no longer control the port

French dominant in Scotland,and English forces depleted- little choice but to make peace

How successful was Northumberland at handling foreign policy between 1550-1553?

Relations with Scotland

After Treaty of Boulogne, hostility with Scottish came to a close

Antagonsim's still present

April 1550- Northumberland undertook a re-organisation of Scottish border policy- making himself General Warden of the North

Boundary with Scotland restored to line it held before Henrys campaigns in March 1552

Relations with France

Henry II had two objectives- to reclaim Boulogne and Calais

Achieved reclaim of Boulogne in 1550

Summer 1551, show of peace as Edward became engaged to Elizabeth in the Treaty of Angers

English relations with Calais remained tense

Feared only a matter of tie. before French attack for Calais

Break out of War in 1552- Garrison at Calais reinforced

Trade with the Netherlands

Been protected by Intercursus Magnus since 1496

Break down in normal trading relations occurred due to Charles V opposition to Protestantism

April 1550- Charles issued an edict allowing inquisition to arrest any heretics in Netherlands

Inquisition helped to collapse Antwerp cloth market

Charles V considered invasion in 1551

England put temporary embargo on sale of cloth to Netherlands

Due to economic pressures and Charles need for support - led to improvement in trading relations in June 1552

Relations with Charles V

Alliances with England been helpful to Charles V in war with Valois War Kings

Angered by sharp swing towards Protestantism under Northumberland

Upset by harassment of his cousin Mary Tudor

Upset by English ambassador at imperial court, Sir Richard Morison who demanded right to hold Protestant services

Northumberland pursued a policy of neutrality

Edward himself doesn't seem to have played substantial role in determining policy

Assessment of foreign policy focus on Somerset and Northumberland

Somerset had control of foreign policy at a difficult time, bound to uphold unsuccessful policy from Henry VIII. England in a weak position.Somerset room for manoeuvre reduced by fact Englands monarch was a minor

Somerset can be fairly criticised for not capitalising his achievements and not seeing long term consequences of actions:

Defeated Scots at Battle of Pinkie, but decision to garrison was costly mistake

Decisiveness made him in blinkered commander in chief

Policy in Scotland undoubtedly failed and obsession affected other areas negatively including rebellions of 1549 out of control, had to adopt slow more ambiguous development of religion to keep Charles V on side, Financial situation disastrous causing heavy debts, high inflation, poor exchange rate.

Northumerland seen by historians as pragmatic and successful practitioner of foreign policy

Recognised Englands financial and military weakness meant the surrender of Boulogne

Guided England through three difficult years due to peak of Habsburg Valois Wars

Cutting Englands losses meant he turned his attention to reforming finances and pursing a religious policy at home

Foreign policy possibly most significant for its effect on domestic policies

- Affected finances and religion