Foreign Policy 1530-1547

Foreign Policy in the 1530s

• Henry made a fragile alliance with France - France in a weak position
• King francis made a marriage alliance with his son and Popes Niece - Henry had to break with Rome
• No immediate consequence for Henry
• henry tried to reinforce his position by making an alliance with the League of Schrmalkden
• 1536 Henry's postion improved -
• -Death of Catherine of Aragon and execution of Anne Boleyn opened up possibility of a renewed alliance with the Emperor
• -Renewal of fighting between Emperor and France reduced danger of England being isolated
• By 1538 Henry became more vulnerable;
• -Chalres and Francis buried their differences and signed treaty of Nice - agreed no alliance with England and began fire prosecution of protestants
• -Pope Paul III published a bull deposing Henry - absolving English catholics from need to obey their ruler - henry felt isolated and feared an invasion from Europe
• -Pope sent envoys to France and Scotland
• In reality henry was more secure than he appeared
• Francis and Charles didn't trust each other

Foreign Policy in the 1530s

• Also explains the next move in his foreign policy, to create an alliance with German Princes
• Alliance to be sealed though marriage of Henry to Anne of Cleves
• He had never met Anne before the wedding - he only saw a picture painted bu hans Holbein sent by Cromwell which flattered her personal appearance
• Henry hated the site of her and called her 'flanders mare'
• Cromwell resigned

Ireland

• Henry had few concerns over Ireland
• English authorities controlled the pale
• Gerald Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare dominant Irish nobleman
• Kildare was dismissed and Henry found it difficult to govern Ireland
• His dismissal led to a major rebellion in 1534
• It was led by his son Thomas Fitzgerald
• It was suppressed with difficulty and considerable expense
• Ireland became an increasing drain on crown resources

Foreign Policy 1540-47

• Henry's most useful ally in foreign affairs had been Emperor Charles
• 1542 mutual fear over France had restored good relations between England and Holy Roman Empire
• Franco-Scottish alliance formed in 1538 was a serious threat tp security of England

Scotland

• 1542 alliance was agreed which there was to be a joint Anglo-Imperial invasion of France - alarmed Scots
• Scots responded by launching a series of Border raids into England
• Henry sent a strong army under Duke of Norfolk and scots were defeated at Battle of Solway Moss in November 1542
• Death of James V followed in December
• Henry's main aim however was to invade France
• His policy could be seen as 'rough wooing' - he wanted t marry Edward to Mary Queen of Scots
• Henry's ambassador in Edinburgh reported suspicion of English motives
• Scots therefore refused to allow Henry to marry Mary and Edward and for Mary to be brought up in England

France

• Henry needed to agree an alliance with Holy Roman Emperor to invade France
• Henry himself set off as head of the army however did not give much thought to the strategic objectives
• The english army confined itself to area around Calais - they captured Boulogne
• By this time however, Emperor had enough go conflict and made peace with the French
• Situation worsened for Henry in 1545;
• -France sent troops to Scotland to prepare for a possible invasion of England
• -English forces defeated by Scots at Battle of Ancrum Moor
• -Separate French force landed on Isle of Wight
• -Flagship of henry's navy, Mary Rose sank in solent
• French failed to recapture Boulogne and planned invasion from Scotland did not take place
• Both sides were happy to negotiate and end to the conflict - 1546 - neither could afford to continue fighting
• Henry sold of much of the crown estate, borrowed large sums of money and debased the coin - both increasing inflation