England's Position in Europe in 1485

Map of England in 1485

In 1485, England was not very involved in European affairs. It had not been since the end of the Hundred Years War in 1453. Due to its proximity to other foreign powers and its limited military forces, England was vulnerable to attacks and invasions. These conditions positioned England with a minor power.

England's Concerns in 1485

• The Netherlands, especially Antwerp, had to remain accessible to England's clothing industry.
• Foreign powers could back Yorkist claimants to the throne.
• Calais, a highly valued English foothold on the continent, was still under England's control.

Henry VII's Aims

1. Establish a positive relationship with the major states in Europe
2. Develop good diplomatic ties with leaders in Europe to prevent them from supporting other claimants to the English throne

Treaty of Medina del Campo

The agreement was signed in March 1489 between England and Spain with three main conditions:

3. Spain and England would provide aid to each other should one declare war on France
4. Reduction of tariffs between the two countries
5. Arrangement of marriage between Henry VII's heir, Arthur, and daughter of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, Catherine

Treaty of Redon

The agreement was signed in February 1489 in Redon, Ille-et-Vilaine between Henry VII and representatives of Brittany with Henry sending 6000 English troops to fight for Brittany's independence within the kingdom of France. This move marked a transition in England's policy from acquiring and holding territories in France to a more defensive programme.

Treaty of Etaples

The agreement was signed between Charles VIII of France and Henry VII in November 1492 with the conditions:

6. England would accept French control of Brittany
7. The French would withdraw support for Warbeck
8. War indemnity would be paid to the English Crown

Situated in the North-West of France, Brittany had been home to Henry Tudor for many years during his exile. Henry owed the duchy a debt of gratitude. This put an end to the Breton crisis.

Truce of Ayton

This arrangement was made between Henry VII and James IV of Scotland in 1497 due to the Cornish rebellion. It led to the Treaty of Perpetual Peace in 1502, sealed with the marriage of Henry VII's daughter Margaret Tudor to James IV of Scotland. Additionally, the treaty sought to outline various guidelines for overseeing the English and Scottish borders and prevent war from escalating from local cross-border conflicts.

Marriage Negotiations

The king's eldest son, Prince Arthur, was betrothed to Spain's Catherine of Aragon in 1489 under the terms of the Treaty of Medina del Campo. Their marriage occurred in 1501 but was not consummated due to Arthur's death in 1502. The king had another male heir, Prince Henry, who could marry Catherine of Aragon with the Pope's dispensation to continue the Anglo-Spanish alliance.

Henry VII's eldest daughter, Margaret, was arranged to be married to James IV of Scotland following the terms of the Truce of Ayton further agreed on in the Treaty of Perpetual Peace. Their marriage in 1503 aimed to improve the security at England's northern border.

The king's other surviving daughter, Mary, was betrothed to Charles of Burgundy in 1507. The marriage was called off in 1513.

Trade Agreements

In 1486, Henry VII negotiated a treaty with France that removed all restrictions on Anglo-French trade but this did not fully materialise until 1497 due to the Breton crisis.

The Treaty of Medina del Campo was successful in establishing strong trading relations between Spain and England.

In 1490, Henry VII signed a treaty that would allow English wool to be imported into Pisa, the main port of Florence. Then he restricted the sale of wool to the Venetians, who imposed very large tariffs on all English goods imported into their state. Consequently, the Venetian government lifted import duties on English goods fearing that Florence would overpower them in the wool trade.

Antwerp in the Low Countries, the Burgundian Netherlands, was one of England's major export markets. The cloth trade was both important to Burgundy and England. Margaret of Burgundy's meddling in early Tudor politics resulted in a trade embargo issued by Henry VII and reciprocated by Duke Philip IV of Burgundy.

This policy could negatively affect England's expansion of trade but due to successful trade agreements with France and Spain, English trade routes became diverse and depended less on Antwerp. This allowed Henry VII to maintain the embargo for three years until, in 1496, Margaret of Burgundy had to accept the Intercursus Magnus with the terms: Margaret would acknowledge the Tudor succession and would cease supporting Warbeck.

A 1515 woodcut of the 1496 treaty between England and the Low Countries

When Duke Philip and his wife, Joanna of Castile, were shipwrecked off the coast of England in 1506, Henry VII took this opportunity to turn the terms of their trade agreement in England's favour by holding the two as hostages. Philip had to agree to the Malus Intercursus with the terms:

9. Duties would be removed from English textile exports without reciprocity and with little compensation for the Burgundians
10. Henry VII's rival, Edmund de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk would be handed over to England
11. Philip's sister, Margaret of Austria, would marry Henry VII, a widower at the time

Margaret of Austria

Suffolk was released to England but the other terms were never ratified upon Philip's death. A third treaty was signed in 1507, which saw a near-complete return to the terms of the Intercursus Magnus.

Glossary of Terms

Wars of the Roses

A series of civil wars that preceded the Tudor dynasty, was fought between the houses of Lancaster and York.

Act of Attainder

Parliamentary acts that remove land, property and rights from a noble as punishment.

Royal Council

A group of advisers who supported the king in making key decisions.

Battle of Bosworth

One of the significant battles of the Wars of the Roses was fought on 22 August 1485.

Privy Chamber

A part of the royal household, peopled by close personal servants who had direct access to the monarch.

Justice of the Peace

Men from the local gentry who were responsible for law and order in the countryside.

Glossary of Terms - Treaties

Treaty of Medina del Campo

An agreement between England and Spain, in essence about the marriage of Catherine of Aragon to Prince Arthur.

Treaty of Etaples

An agreement between England and France, about the French compensation to Henry VII for the abandonment of English interests in Brittany.

Intercursus Magnus

The Great Treaty resumed good trading relations between England and Burgundy.

Treaty of Redon

An agreement between England and Brittany, in essence about the English aid to the Breton independence.

Truce of Ayton

Truce following the execution of Perkin Warbeck and sealed by the marriage of Margaret Tudor to James IV of Scotland.

Malus Intercursus

A trade agreement between England and Burgundy was more favourable to England than to the Netherlands.

End of Module Summary Questions