Henry VIII - Early Years

HENRY NEEDS:

• a bride
   
• an ally against France
  • Henry wished to be like the warrior kings of old, exerting his power over France in a blaze of glory
     
• an heir, a son if possible
  
  
• to marry a princess
  • not English -- would raise another noble family too high, giving them dynastic claim to the throne
    
    
• to "cut a dash"
  • wants to be seen as a glorious and wonderful king

• married Katherine of Aragon -- 1509
  • beautiful
  • daughter of King and Queen of Spain - useful ally
  • Arthur's wife
  • in many respects, an ideal bride
    
    
• birth of Prince Henry -- 1511
  • male heir
  • DIED WITHIN THE MONTH 

How successful?

-- not very: although he married successfully, gaining a bride, he did not fufil his most important requirement, which was getting a son.

HENRY NEEDS

• to establish new and better relationships with the nobility
  • better relations than Henry VII had had
  • needed their support for war
    
    
• to keep a good reputation with the Council
  • mainly made up of skilled conservative gentry
  • Henry wanted war; Council not in favour
    
    
• to participate in court events
  • desired to be a participator, unlike his father

• executes Empson and Dudley -- 1510
  • show that he's new and different
  • to get rid of hated figures
    
    
• cancelled bonds and recognisances
  
  
• abolished Council Learned in the Law
  • unfair and controversial law court of Henry VII
    
    
• Great Council summoned
  
  
• oyer et terminer sent out
  • investigated recent offences to ensure a fair decision had been taken
    
    
• calls Parliament -- 1510
  
  
• participates with the nobles                                 (cont'd) 

How successful?

-- very successful. Quickly liked by most nobles.

-- when he finally fights in Calais, every able and fit nobleman supports him with troops

-- however, he was not successful in persuading the Council to go to war until 1511

(NB: The Council and The Council Learned in the Law were not the same!!!)

HENRY NEEDS:

• war with France
  • traditionally, English kings were titled "King of England, King of France and Lord of Ireland".
  • Henry wanted to assert his claim to France
     
• to keep England safe from Scotland
  • the "Auld Alliance" between France and Scotland traditionally stated that when England was fighting France, the Scots would attack in the North
  • Henry needed to ensure that whilst he was fighting France, the North of England was well defended

• Holy League against France -- 1511
  • gives Henry the excuse he needs to attack
• marriage to Katherine -- ally in Spain
  
  
• Campaign in Spain -- 1512
  • army go to Spain with plans to invade South West France
  • drinking and defecating; little attacking
  • utter failure of campaign
    
    
• Attack of Northern France -- 1513
  • landed in Calais with 25,000 men and 23 nobles
  • Therouanne captured
  • Battle of the Spurs
    • rout
    • 6 standards, 1 duke, 1 marquis and the vice-admiral captured
    • ransomed back to France
  • Tournay captured
  • expensive; the towns were described as "ungracious dogholes" 

• The Battle of Flodden Field -- 9th Sept 1513
  • Auld Alliance - Scotland attacked with Henry away in France
  • James IV invades North of England
  • great victory at Flodden Field
    • James IV killed
    • 12 earls and 10,000 Scots killed
    • BUT not Henry's victory; Katherine and Earl of Surrey ruling
• Anglo-French Treaty -- 1514
  • two powers at peace
  • Henry to keep Therouanne and Tournay
  • Henry to receive a pension from France
  • Louis XII to marry Henry's sister, Mary
    
    

 How successful?

-- not very; cost to crown was £922,000 1511-14, wasting the reserves of Henry VII, gained very little.
-- only great successes: Spurs (which was a rout, not a glorious battle) and Flodden Field (which was not Henry's victory)