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Henry VII + Wolsey Foreign Policy, TICKED - Coggle Diagram
Henry VII + Wolsey Foreign Policy
France
Henry sought to revive his claim to the French crown, mirroring the 110 Years’ War.
France was seen as the traditional enemy due to past territorial losses (e.g., Normandy) and dynastic rivalry.
Scots defeated Flodden (1513), success solidifying military reputation + prestige- killing James IV to secure nothern border
Wolsey prevented further war, negotiating a Perpetual Peace with France (1514) after Francis I’s accession
1512: England joined anti-French coalition, but initial campaign failed
Wolsey’s diplomatic maneuvering to secure French support for his papacy ambitions.
1511: Henry signed a mutual aid pact with Ferdinand of Aragon + joined holy league with pope
Battle 1513 Spurs
Tournai was expensive to maintain
Thérouanne had little strategic value
Captured Tournai and Therouanne
However were soft targets and beneffited Maximiliam more
Though France remained dominant
Aims
Desire for peace (though often unsuccessful).
Papal interest (supporting the Pope).
National interest (prestige & security).
Satisfying Henry VIII’s demands (honour & glory).
Self-interest (personal ambition).
War remained the centrepiece of his foreign policy, but actual warfare was constrained by practical limits (money, allies, logistics).
Pope
Pollard: Wolsey’s main aim was securing the independence of the Papacy, potentially to become Pope himself.
Wolsey never visited Rome or ingratiated himself at the Papal court.
He didn't increase English influence in the Curia.
His political ambitions in England were more important than ecclesiastical advancement.
Papal cooperation before Wolsey:
1511: Anglo-Papal alliance against France (Julius II’s anti-French League).
1524: Gained legatus a latere (extended Papal authority in England).
1521 & 1523: Henry backed Wolsey’s failed Papal election attempts.
Charles V first appears to have planted the idea of aspiring to become the Pope in Wolsey's head
Wants to win Wolsey's favour to secure his support in English diplomacy
Unsuccess Charles V gained even more power over the pope due to Battle of Pavia and dominance of Rome where he placed Pope on house arrest
Role as Peacemaker
Field of Cloth of Gold
Example of Wolsey's peace making ability in organisation of field of Cloth
It was expensive and superficial – cost England over £15,000 but yielded little concrete benefit.
Limited significance: Henry's secret alliance with Charles V in treaty of bruges
strengthened the image of Henry as a Renaissance monarch engaging directly with other rulers.
Met in Calais, led to 18 days of feasts, tournaments, banqueting houses, around 12,000 from court
1518 treaty of London
As this had taken place in London it looked like Henry had united the whole of Europe in peace
Based on French predominance but elevated England’s status
.
Wolsey brokered the Universal Peace, a diplomatic agreement that sought to end the hostilities between European powers
Short-lived: hostilities between France and Spain resumed by 1521 (War of the League of Cognac).
Seen by many as a glorified truce rather than a genuine step towards lasting peace.
England lacked the military or economic strength to enforce the treaty if war resumed.
Wolsey's efforts to position England as 'Arbiter of Europe' illustrates how he aimed to serve Henry's ambitions
Importance of prestige and diplomacy over military action
Guistiniani: Wolsey liked being “arbiter of Christendom”.
War policy
1525 Battle of Pavia
Charles V defeats and captures Francis I- major shift in European power- Habsburg dominance
Consequences for England: Charles no longer needed Henry, Henry ambitions collapsed as refused to help divide France
Richard de la Pole killed at the Battle of Pavia (1525) → removal of a major pretender.
Wolsey reverses policy → seeks peace with France.
Shift in European power- 1519
1519: Charles V becomes Holy Roman Emperor→ Creates major Habsburg-Valois (France) rivalry with Francis I.
England no longer able to play neutral mediator → forced to choose sides.
Wolsey’s dilemma: maintain balance of power vs Henry’s desire for glory
Shift towards war with France
Treaty of Bruges (1521):
Secret alliance with Charles V against France.
Promised joint invasion + mututal military support against France
Shows shift toward Habsburg alignment.
Henry VIII’s aim: Gain military glory and reclaim French lands
Key issue: Wolsey preferred diplomacy but Henry pushed for war
War with France (1522-1523):
Henry’s desire to invade France to claim glory, despite Wolsey’s preference for peace.
English troops advanced within 50 miles of Paris- Charles Brandon to reinforce Henry claim where he could be crowned king
Campaigns were: Financially unsustainable + poorly co-ordianted with Charles V
1523 campaign failure despite French weakness.
Wolsey realised: England lacked resources for large scale war
Reveals limitations of England as a secondary European power.
Used up Henry VII had built up sizeable monetary reserves by the end of his reign
Diplomatic isolation & collapse
League of Cognac- 1526
Rome sacked by Charles V’s unpaid army
Clement VII effectively controlled by Charles
Annlment becomes unlikely
Forces England into Anti-Habusburg position
Failed due to England weak influence
Failure of alliances: England unable to maintain balance between France and Habsburgs.
1527: Sack of Rome: Charles V dominates → Pope weakened.
Important for Henry’s later divorce crisis.
1529: Peace of Cambrai- France + Habsburgs make peace without England + Demonstrates complete diplomatic isolation.
1528- Henry enters war with Charles V
England now fights Charles V (controls Burgundy) depends on economically
Wolsey calls for trade embargo to avoid direct warfare
This trade stop caused unemployment + social unrest- then the embargo abandoned + policy failure
TICKED