Power of England

The Auld Alliance

first signed 23 October 1295

first treaty formalising an alliance between Scotland and France

said that if either country was attacked by England, the other would invade English territory

England had land in France so fighting on this land didn't need to bring the treaty into force

the cost of any war between Scotland and England had to be carried by the Scots

didn't prevent the English constantly invading Scotland

Main powers in the 15th century

France

Spain

Burgundy

Concerns to England in the 15th century

Scotland

Ireland

Henry VII's foreign policy

defensive

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France

1485 offered assistance by the French King, felt a debt towards him

1492 Charles VIII of France invades Brittany (still an independent territory)

Henry had spent his exile here and was friendly with Duke and Duchess of Brittany

Henry needed to show power to Charles and other European leaders, as well as support of Duchess Anne

Couldn't afford to spend a huge amount of money on a full invasion

October 1492 invades France with a small number of troops (many provided by Anne), late in the year showing he was not planning for a long campaign

November 1492 Charles makes peace and signs the Treaty of Etaples

Gave Henry pension of 745,000 gold crowns

Swore not to support any pretenders to the throne such as Perkin Warbeck

Burgundy

Enemy of England

Trade with the low countries was crucial for England's commercial development

Burgundy family had ties with the Yorkists

Wanted to see the Yorkists return to the throne

Supported the de la Poles and Perkin Warbeck

Emperor Maximilian, whose wife was the Duchess of Burgundy, accepted Warbeck as Richard IV, Warbeck declared Maximilian as the heir to the English throne

Henry imposed economic sanctions on Maximilian rather than take military action

1496 Maximilian forced to sign the Magnus Intercursus

Burgundy in a state of decline, relations improved

1506 Philip of Burgundy hands over the Duke of Suffolk (Edmund de la Pole)

Spain

1479 Spain is united by Isabella of Castile's marriage to Ferdinand of Aragon (Catherine of Aragon's parents)

Shared suspicions about the rise of France, both countries used each other to counterbalance France's power

Alliance cemented in 1501 with the marriage of Catherine and Arthur

Clear acceptance of Henry as a major figure in European politics

1502 Arthur dies and Henry is put forward as a match for Catherine

Spain and France are at peace so Ferdinand asks for better terms

After the peace is broken Henry is able to forge an anti-French alliance between Spain, England and the Netherlands

Scotland

Traditional enemy, at war since 1328

Since Henry wanted to reduce military spending he sought a peace treaty with Scotland

Signed a 7 year truce with James III

James III was murdered soon afterwards, and relations with James IV were more difficult

James IV welcomed Perkin Warbeck into his court, even marrying him to a rich Scottish heiress

James also allied with Burgundy, which threatened Henry with the possible cost of fighting a war north and south of England at the same time

1497 James and Henry renewed the truce, and James agreed to give up Perkin Warbeck

1502 relations had improved so much that a full treaty was signed and Henry's daughter Margaret married James

Ireland

Both Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck's rebellions had started in Ireland

Henry felt that it had been treated too lightly

He sent the Earl of Kildare to rule the Pale (Dublin) in Henry's name