OCR Specification focus:
‘England’s position in Europe in 1485; Henry VII’s aims; relations with France; the treaties of Redon and Etaples.’
Henry VII inherited a fragile throne in 1485 and pursued cautious, pragmatic diplomacy to secure his dynasty’s survival, focusing first on France and European stability.
England’s Position in Europe, 1485
When Henry Tudor became king after the Battle of Bosworth in August 1485, England’s international position was weak:
England had been scarred by decades of civil war during the Wars of the Roses.
Continental powers viewed Henry as a usurper with limited legitimacy.
England was relatively financially and militarily weak compared with major continental monarchies such as France and Spain.
France was the strongest European state, boasting immense resources and a professional standing army. Spain, newly united under Ferdinand and Isabella, was rising in influence. The Holy Roman Empire remained a loose confederation but could exert significant weight through alliances. England’s isolation made Henry’s diplomacy especially important for securing recognition and preventing foreign support for Yorkist claimants.
Political map of Europe around 1500, with England, France, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire clearly labelled. Use it to orient the balance of power Henry VII faced at the start of his reign. Borders reflect circa-1500 configurations relevant to early Tudor diplomacy. Source
Henry VII’s Foreign Policy Aims
Henry’s objectives were shaped by insecurity and caution:
Dynastic security: Gain recognition from foreign monarchs to strengthen his shaky claim to the throne.
Prevent support for Yorkists: Disrupt potential alliances that might back pretenders such as Lambert Simnel or Perkin Warbeck.
Financial restraint: Avoid costly wars that could destabilise his precarious rule and drain resources.
Peaceful alliances: Build relationships through treaties and dynastic marriages to give England credibility abroad.
Dynastic security: The safeguarding of a ruling family’s right to the throne through recognition, alliances, and suppression of rivals.
Henry thus sought pragmatic diplomacy rather than expansionist warfare.
Henry VII (oil on panel, c.1505), National Portrait Gallery, London (NPG 416). Use alongside the policy section to connect dynastic security and fiscal caution with the ruler who negotiated Redon (1489) and Étaples (1492). Artistic details lie beyond the syllabus scope but the identification is historically valuable. Source
Relations with France
Early Tensions
Henry’s relations with France were central to his foreign policy. Initially, relations were cordial: the French crown had supported Henry’s exile in Brittany before 1485. However, tension soon emerged:
France aimed to annex Brittany, a semi-independent duchy that had sheltered Henry.
If France succeeded, its control of the Breton coast would pose a serious strategic threat to England across the Channel.
The Brittany Crisis
In 1487, France moved to absorb Brittany by supporting Duchess Anne’s forced marriage into French royal control. Henry could not ignore this:
A French-controlled Brittany threatened England’s security.
Map of France c.1477 with major duchies and counties labelled; Brittany appears clearly on the northwest coast. This clarifies the geographical stakes behind the Brittany crisis and the Treaty of Redon (1489). The map includes extra provincial detail beyond the OCR syllabus; focus on Brittany and its position. Source
Henry owed a personal debt to Brittany for his earlier refuge.
But direct war with France was dangerous and costly.
Henry balanced caution with action, aiming to defend Brittany without open-ended commitment.
The Treaty of Redon, 1489
In February 1489, Henry signed the Treaty of Redon with Brittany:
England agreed to send 6,000 troops (funded by Brittany) to resist French absorption.
In return, Brittany promised not to conclude peace with France without England’s approval.
This treaty demonstrated Henry’s resolve to contain France but also his caution: England provided military aid, but Brittany bore the financial cost.
International Context
Henry secured wider diplomatic backing:
He gained Spanish support through the Treaty of Medina del Campo (1489), which promised Anglo-Spanish cooperation against France.
He also received moral support from the Holy Roman Empire, though material assistance was limited.
Despite this, the English expeditionary force was too small to halt French advances decisively.
The Treaty of Étaples, 1492
In 1492, Henry launched a calculated campaign in France. He landed an army at Boulogne, a show of force rather than an attempt at conquest. France, distracted by ambitions in Italy, sought peace quickly.
The resulting Treaty of Étaples (November 1492) included several favourable terms for Henry:
France agreed to withdraw support from Perkin Warbeck, a Yorkist pretender.
France paid Henry an annual pension of £5,000, roughly 5% of the royal income.
Henry’s forces withdrew, securing peace without extended conflict.
Pension: A regular payment made by one state to another, often as part of a diplomatic settlement or tribute.
The treaty strengthened Henry’s position at home, as he could claim military success, financial gain, and diplomatic recognition.
Significance of the Early French Treaties
The treaties of Redon and Étaples illustrated Henry’s careful balance of caution and assertiveness:
He avoided reckless entanglement but acted decisively to secure England’s interests.
His diplomacy prevented France from aiding Yorkist threats, a major concern of his reign.
The financial benefits of Étaples contributed to his reputation for fiscal prudence.
Key consequences included:
Recognition of Henry as a legitimate monarch by Europe’s most powerful kingdom.
A demonstration that England could act independently in European affairs despite limited resources.
The establishment of a foreign policy pattern: cautious engagement, avoidance of overcommitment, and use of diplomacy for dynastic and financial advantage.
Henry’s European context in 1485 and his treaties with France reveal a monarch prioritising survival, security, and credibility through skilful diplomacy rather than military adventurism.
FAQ
Brittany lay directly opposite southern England across the Channel. If annexed by France, its coastline could serve as a launch point for invasion or raids.
The duchy had also provided refuge to Henry Tudor before 1485, creating a personal as well as strategic motivation for Henry VII to defend its independence.
The pension amounted to around £5,000 annually, roughly 5% of Henry’s ordinary income.
It offered predictable, stable revenue not reliant on parliamentary taxation.
This reduced the risk of domestic discontent linked to new taxes.
It enhanced Henry’s ability to fund government without overburdening subjects.
Perkin Warbeck was a Yorkist pretender who threatened Henry’s throne.
France initially offered him support, but one of Henry’s key aims in negotiating the Treaty of Étaples was to end this backing. France agreed to withdraw recognition of Warbeck, greatly reducing his credibility and weakening opposition to Henry.
France was preparing for campaigns in Italy and wanted to avoid prolonged distraction in the north.
Henry’s landing at Boulogne was a calculated display of pressure, not a full invasion. France chose to buy off England through payment and recognition rather than divert resources away from Italian ambitions.
The treaty aimed to preserve Breton independence by funding English troops.
However:
English forces were too small to prevent French dominance.
Brittany eventually lost its independence when Duchess Anne married Charles VIII of France.
Despite failure in military terms, Henry gained diplomatic credibility by acting and secured the basis for further negotiations, culminating in the more successful Treaty of Étaples.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
Name the two treaties Henry VII made with France in 1489 and 1492.
Mark scheme:
1 mark for correctly identifying the Treaty of Redon (1489).
1 mark for correctly identifying the Treaty of Étaples (1492).
(Maximum 2 marks)
Question 2 (6 marks):
Explain how Henry VII’s aims in foreign policy were reflected in his dealings with France between 1485 and 1492.
Mark scheme:
1–2 marks: Answers offer simple description of events, e.g. mentioning Henry sending troops to Brittany or signing the Treaty of Étaples, with limited explanation of aims.
3–4 marks: Answers show some understanding of how events linked to Henry’s aims, e.g. linking support for Brittany to preventing French dominance, or Étaples to removing support for Yorkist pretenders.
5–6 marks: Answers demonstrate clear and developed explanation of the link between Henry’s aims (dynastic security, financial caution, preventing Yorkist threats) and his actions, showing understanding of how Redon and Étaples both advanced these aims.
(Maximum 6 marks)
