Henry VII’s Foreign Policy – Relationships with different countries

By Elliot Mackness

Henry VII’s Foreign policy‘European affairs’

Polish-Lithuanian

Commonwealth

HRE

Spain

France

Danish

Scan

dinav

ia

England

Reconquista Lands

Brittany and France

The ‘Blue blob’ and the Petty Kingdom

Brittany

Henry VII did have support on the European continent – the independent Duchy of Brittany had provided Henry with refuge when he fled England in 1471. Brittany was important, as the independent duchy was the last part of the historic empire of Francia which was not reincorporated into

the French empire.

However, France had provided Henry with financial aid for his invasion of England in 1485 – the French had the largest most professional army in all

of Europe, and would always be more financially secure than England. France was the enemy.

Scotland

Scots and the ‘Auld Alliance’

The Scottish were much weaker than the English, however, they had a secret (not really) – the ‘Auld Alliance’. This likely friendship was

very dangerous – in any war with France England would have to commit all their troops – with Scotland as an ally, France and

Scotland could invade on 2 flanks.

Although there was no war, there was constant clashes at borders, so England had to maintain expensive forts to defend the Northern

Border.

They were only a nuisance to the ‘mighty’ English – who could easily defeat Scotland on their own…

As was seen during the Scottish invasion in support of Warbeck.

Spain (not technically)

The ‘loose federation’ of those Iberian states

Spanish Federation (plus Navarra)

Moors! (Reconquista)

Terra

inco

gnita

Although Spain was not officially a nation at this time, the marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon (he had claims from Naples - Italy) and Isabella of Castile (claims on

Granada) brought the two nations into a loose federation.Their aim was to get rid of Granada and take lands from France, which would

make them a valuable ally.

Spain may also have saw England as an ally (distraction) against the French!

Burgundy

Burgundian Trade!

Fearless Netherlands?Mighty Burgundy?

Low Counties?

Burgundy

Blue blob

Antwerp

HRE Imperial princes (Go Habsburg)

Trade wise, this country was very important for England – as the Burgundians controlled the Antwerp trade port – the gateway of the

English cloth trade.

However, being controlled by Duchess Margret of Burgundy, and the Duke of Burgundy – it was pro-Yorkist; so they offered a place for

Yorkist supporters to stay.This was a direct threat, but could he challenge the mighty

Burgundians who controlled English trade into Europe.

Holy Roman Empire

Not Holy- Not Roman- Not an EmpireUnstoppable Habsburgs (Austrian)

HRE Im

peria

l Prin

ces

(ruled

by th

e Aus

trian H

absb

urgs)

The Holy Roman Empire was considered the most powerful coalition of nations – they were ruled by a common emperor, Maximillian at this

time.

Burgundy had joined the mighty HRE in 1477, so the HRE was a very important ally for England.

The HRE had many claims in Italy, where the Papal States reigned supreme, it is here where the major conflict of the period would occur.

Italian States

Italy? No?

PayPal States, Mantua, Grapes, Modena, French puppet, Flooded Canals, Milan, Tusks… (oh and Florence Nightingale)

Pope!

Naples/grapes

Venice/flooded canals

Savo

y/Fre

nch

Pupp

et

Tuscany/Tusks

Italy wasn’t actually a country – but it was multiple city states, of which the most powerful were, Venice, Florence, Milan, Naples and the

Papal States.

They were crucial for Mediterranean trade, and many had territorial claims there – they took the lime light from Henry, allowing him to

consolidate his position and attempt a small scale invasion of France.

Thank You for reading this presentation on Henry VII and the countries he was most concerned with.