Henry VIII's 1540s Foreign Policy: War with France and Scotland

Henry VIII's foreign policy during his early reign saw some successes for England, on account of Wolsey.

With the Treaty of London and Field of Cloth of Gold, England took the spotlight in international affairs, and with the victory at the Battle of Spurs, Henry VIII had a taste of military glory.
However, by the 1530s, England's break with Rome resulted in unpleasant relations with Catholic nations in Europe.
Cromwell arranged the King's fourth marriage in 1540 to strengthen Anglo-German relations, which seemed purposeless after a few months.
The later years of Henry VIII saw battles and negotiations with France and Scotland, which dubiously served the King's early aims.

Timeline of Henry VIII's Foreign Policy in the 1540s

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1542 November: The English defeated the Scottish at the Battle of Solway Moss

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1543 July: Anglo-Scottish Treaty of Greenwich was signed. This created peace between England and Scotland and also arranged that Henry's son Edward would marry James's daughter Mary. December: Scottish parliament rejected the Treaty of Greenwich, which led to eight years of Anglo-Scottish battles, known as the Rough Wooing.

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December: Henry and Charles V signed a treaty pledging to invade France in person by 20 June 1544. Each was to provide an army of no less than 35,000 infantry and 7,000 cavalry.

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1544 Henry sent an army of some 40,000 men to Calais under the command of Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, and Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. July: Henry himself travelled to Calais to join his army and began a siege of the town of Boulogne. September: The English captured Boulogne. September: Charles V made peace with the French with the Treaty of Crépy, without informing Henry first.

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1545 February: The English were defeated by the Scottish at the Battle of Ancrum Moor. May: The French assembled a large fleet in the estuary of the Seine with the intent to land troops on English soil. In addition to the fleet, 50,000 troops were assembled at Havre de Grâce. July: The French fleet sailed for England and entered the Solent unopposed with 128 ships on 16 July. The English had around 80 ships with which to oppose the French, including the flagship Mary Rose. The Mary Rose went into battle against the French on 19 July and was sunk whilst leading an attack on these French ships.

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1546 June: The Treaty of Camp, also known as the Peace of Ardres, was signed between England and France to reach a peace settlement. Under its terms, England received indemnity from France and was allowed to retain the French port of Boulogne for eight years.

Henry VIII's aim to steal the French Crown led to costly campaigns and financial difficulties in England and ultimately ended with a peace treaty. Anglo-Scottish tensions were reduced in the short-term with no resolution in sight as the Treaty of Greenwich was rejected. By the time of Henry VIII's death, England was at relative peace with Scotland and France. Apart from gaining Boulogne, the king's ambitious military victory remained unrealised.

Glossary of Terms

Renaissance

A period in European civilisation immediately following the Middle Ages which was characterised by a surge of interest in classical scholarship and values

Royal Supremacy

The legal sovereignty of the civil laws over the laws of the Church in England

Privy Council

A select body of personal advisers who were appointed to advise the king

Henrician Reformation

The Reformation in England under Henry VIII in the 1530s which was neither Protestant nor Catholic

Protestantism

A movement that began in northern Europe in the early 16th century as a reaction to medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices.

Papal Legate

A personal representative of the Pope to foreign nations

Parliament

A legislative body of government with two chambers, namely the House of Lords and House of Commons

Papal Supremacy

The supreme and universal power of the Pope

Dissolution of Monasteries

Administrative and legal processes that disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries, in England, Wales and Ireland

Pilgrimage of Grace

A series of rebellions in northern England in 1536

End of Module Summary Questions

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What were the actions employed by Henry VIII to achieve his aims?

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What was the significance of Anne Boleyn in the English Reformation?

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How did Wolsey and Cromwell shape Henry VIII's reign?

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Why was England's break with Rome both a political and religious issue?

Henry VIII’s 1540s Foreign Policy: War with France and Scotland Simplified Revision Notes for A-Level Edexcel History

Henry VIII's 1540s Foreign Policy: War with France and Scotland

Timeline of Henry VIII's Foreign Policy in the 1540s

Glossary of Terms

Renaissance

Royal Supremacy

Privy Council

Henrician Reformation

Protestantism

Papal Legate

Parliament

Papal Supremacy

Dissolution of Monasteries

Pilgrimage of Grace

End of Module Summary Questions

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