The Foreign Policy of Henry and Wolsey (Part 1)

• 1514 - marriage between Henry's sister Mary and French king Louis XII
• December 1514 - Louis died (later, Mary married Charles Brandon)
• Francis I, brother-in-law to Louis XII, inherited French throne
  • rival for Henry
  • craved personal reputation through military glory
  • in particular, wanted to renew French claims in Milan
  • much more impressive than Henry
  • Francis had an early success: Battle of Marignano, 1515
    • great military success -- compare with Henry's victory at Battle of the Spurs
    • Henry overshadowed by Francis -- jealousy 

• Treaty of Noyon, 1516
  • peace treaty between the new Spanish king, Charles, and Francis I
  • danger of isolation for England -- no ally
     
• Anglo-French Treaty of London, 1518
  • England returned Tournay to France
  • Wolsey to get pension of £1,200, and extra pension for Henry
  • Princess Mary betrothed to Dauphin (heir to throne of France)
  • "a considerable achievement" -- Wernham
  • "That the French were prepared to pay so much is evidence for the success of Henry and Wolsey's foreign policy" -- Gwyn
• The Treaty of Universal Peace, 1518
  • Pope Leo X wanted to gather support for a crusade (which never happened)
  • general atmosphere of war-weariness
  • participants to live in peace
  • no aid or asylum to rebels
  • all states to declare war on an aggressor within one month
  • "best deed that was ever done for the realm of England" -- Fox

Election for the post of Holy Roman Emperor:

• Charles V of Spain
• Francis I of France
• Henry VIII -- never a serious candidate, but competed for honour and to be seen by others
   
• Frederick of Saxony -- one of the Seven Electors

"Henry was kept in the limelight by a brief but respectable run in the election for the imperial crown" -- Gunn

Victory for Charles V

• series of 3-power conferences kept England at the heart of European affairs
• May 1520 -- Charles visited England
• June 1520 -- Henry and Francis met at Field of Cloth of Gold
  • glory in peace
  • huge temporary palaces built
  • but "these men... cordially detest each other" -- Venetian ambassador
• July 1520 -- Henry met Charles at Gravelines
  • Charles reluctant for war, as there were revolts in Spain, but by 1521 he was more confident