Early years of Henry VIII

Aims

• A foreign wife- provide an ally
• a congeneial wife
• a male heir- continue tudor dynasty

Catherine of Aragon

• Married Henry in 1509
• Son of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain.
• loyal wife with no scandel.
• no children in early years.

Aims

• end hostile atmosphere which had marked relations between nobility and H. VII.
• Support of nobilty- hoped they would lead invasions on France,creation of "army royal"

Policies

• Arrest Empson and Dudley (1510)
• Meeting of the Great Council (1509) - commissioned "oyer" and "terminer"
• jousting with nobilty (e.g Marquis of Dorset)
• reinstated Yorkist families- (Greys and Courtenays)
• cancelled bonds and recognaisences.
• Wars provided opportunity for nobles to advance themselves (Sir Charles Somerset was made Earl of Worcester, Charles Brandon created Duke of Suffolk)

Inherited from Henry VII

• William Warham- Archbishop of Canterbury
• Richard Fox- Bishop of Winchester.
• aims clashed with Henry VIII's: didn't want the expense and uncertainty of war.

Aims

• secure alliance with Ferdinand to invade France
• Claim crown on France
• emulate Edward III and Hery VIII

1512 campaign in Spain

• reason: Henry claimed to defend Pope Julius II against Louis XII of France. Really wanted crown and alliance with Ferdinand.
• What happened?: English army of 12,000 men (under Marquis of Dorset) sailed to support F.  
• Evidence of failure: F. only interested in conquerring Navarre. Englsh rotted in Fuenterrabia.
• Low morale and disease caused the English to withdraw.

1513 campaign to invade Northern France

Why?

• Emulate victory of Edward III in capture of Therouanne.

What happened? 

• Landed at Calais with 25,000 men and 23 nobles (30 June)
• 1st Auguest seige of Therouanne began.

Why was it a success?

• French fled
• English captured 6 standards and 1 duke (amonst others)
• Became known as "Bttle of Spurs"
• Tournai captured- Henry came to attention of Maximillian and Grandson Charles- strong European powers.

Why?

• James VI of Scotland took advantage of Henry's absence.
• honouring "Auld Alliance"

Why was it a success?

• Weakened Scotland: James VI dead, 12 earls and  10,000 scots killed.
• Showed Henry as capable militant leader and sent a message to toehr European power.

why?

• Henry was short of money- competition with Ferdinand for treaty with France.

What?

• Peace and mutual defence.
• Henry to keep Therouanne and Tournai.
• French pensions to be increased and reinstated.
• Marriage organised between Louis XII and Mary (Henry's sister)
• Scotland could be included in the peace.

Henry's early wars were very expensive:

• £922,000 since 1511.
• £650,000 in 1513 alone.

Who paid?

• Henry VII's reserves.
• Parliamentary taxtion- reluctance to pay by 1514.