What was the Foreign Policy of Henery VIII?

Inheriting a stable throne and a united kingdom, which his father left for him, Henery VII was determined to play a distinguished role in the existing drama of Eurobear politics.

Like his father, he cherished the dream of enhancing the position of England by securing for her. a commendable place on the diplomatic stage of Europe. He but filled his desire through the doctrine of Balance of power.

The Doctrine of Balance of Power:

Painfully Henery found only two dominating countries of Europe, France and Spain, before whom England sunk low both in wealth and position.

To make England equal or even higher to them Henery VIII followed a policy that would preserve balance between the two. This was the famous doctrine of Balance of power.

The keynote of this doctrine was to prevent any one of them from becoming over whelmingly powerful. And that he wished, to accomplish by supporting at one time France, at another time Spain and if necessary, by playing off one against the other.

Henery in playing this game got an astute player to support him. He was cardinal wolsey his Chief Minister during the first phase of his reign. At his instruction he played game first with France and then with Spain.

His Relation with France and Spain:

In dealing with France, Henery VIII followed the policy of which his father was the architect. Like him, Henery VIII was eager to curb growing power of France; of course, to his advantage the long-drawn conflict between France and Spain for the possession of the rich territories of Italy worked miracles.

During that time Italy was under the. During that time Italy was under tae French ‘possession and the presence of a French army in Italy alarmed both Julius II, the Pope of Rome and Ferdinand, the emperor of Spain. In order to expel the French from Italy. Pope and the Spanish emperor formed a Holy League in 1511.

The emperor Maximilian of the Netherlands joined it afterwards. The members of the league feared that France might be more than a match for them. So Ferdinand persuaded his son-in-law. Henery VIII to join the league. He was hitherto waiting for such a chance to play his masterly game.

So losing no moment he readily joined. Without waiting for anybody Henry alone led an expedition against France of course he hoped to get at least the assistance of his father-in-law, if not of other members of the league.

But his hope turned into a disaster consequently his first expedition against France proved to be a dismal failure But Henry was not the man to leave the matter there. Next year he led his second expedition and this time he him self took the field. Fortune could betray him no more.

At the battle of Spurs (1513) he defeated Louis XII the emperor of France. Much of the credit in achieving success of the campaign was due to Thomas Wolsey.

Meanwhile the events moved fast and the European situation began to change rapidly. Henry somehow came to know that his so-called friends were unfaithful and unsurupu- lous and they were secretly negotiating for peace with Louis XII.

Henery was then put in the midst of a turbulent ocean, not knowing how sail against the currents. It was at this perilous hour, stood at the steering wheel the able pilot, Thomas Wolsey who gave a total turn to the- situation.

Rightly he advised his master to give up his selfish friends and cement an alliance with France. Henery gladly, accepted and withdrew England from the Holy League Meanwhile the queen of the French emperor died and he was then on the look­out of a new bride.

Master diplomat Wolsey here again played a masterly game in bringing about the marriage of Louis XII, aged fifty-two with Henery’s Younger sister, Mary, aged eighteen It may appear some what unusual, but nothing is impossible in the game of politics.

The thin victory that was so skillfully achieved by Wolsey was shipwrecked next year, when Louis XII died and his window Mary married the Duke of Suffolk with whom she was in Love.

The young and ambitious Francis I succeeded to the French throne. He was keen on restoring the supremacy of France in Italy.

With this in view he launched a war and reconquered the Duchy of Milan in Italy European powers were again alarmed at the success or France. For a time being the balance in Europe Wavered to and fro. About this time Ferdinand of Spain passed a way from the scene and his grandson, a grave and shy boy of sixteen, Charles V became his successor, In 1518 the Emperor Maximilian followed Ferdinand to the grave.

Then appeared a fresh problem in European politics. This was regarding the choice of the successor of Maximilian. Each of the emperors-Henery VIII, Francis I and Charles-offered himself as a candidate for the vacant throne. Here again, Walsey, playing successfully, scored a diplomatic victory.

His policy of being things cheap and selling them dear achieved success. He wanted England to hold the balance between France and Spain and make rich profit by playing of one against the other. He advised Henery to withdraw his condi- dature and on his advice he withdrew.

There remained Francis and Charles and out of them Charles was elected as the successor of Maximilian This new assignment made him by far the greatest monach in Europe. The Franco-Spanish rivalry was renewed and behind this Wolsey the brain.

As foreseen by Wolsey, both Francs and Spain tried to win him and his masts for getting their support. The French emperor, Francis I, took the chance first by arranging an interview with Henery in a place which for its gorgeous display of pomp and ceremony was known as the Field of the cloth of Gold.

Henery made no treaty with him. The professions of friendship were merely exchanged. The meeting was a mere show, an eye wash, because secret interviews between Henery and Spanish emperor Charles V had already taken place before his meeting with Francis.

After convincing Henery VIII, the emperor Charles V came to England to win Wolsey. He knew that Wolsey was them dreaming of becoming the pope. So he promised him that at the next papal election he would use his influence in his favour.

This was too great a temptation for Wolsey. Moreover, between the two rivals-France and Spain, Henery chose Spain for two reasons. First, his wife Catherine was the aunt of the emperor of the Netherlands which was a strong commercial ally of England.

So in 1521 was signed a treaty between England and Spain. For strengthening the tie, the treaty suggested a marriage between, Charles and Henery’s daughter, Mary. An invasion of France was agreed upon.

On the strength of the treaty Spain declared a war against. France England was found on the side of the emperor of Spain. Fighting took place in several places.

In 1525 Charles defeated Francis at Pavia and took him as a Prisoner. After this victory it seemed that entire Europe lay at the feet of Charles V. He appeared to be a monarch of all that he surveyed. Wolsey and his master found their plan beading destruction.

So they suddenly carried out a reversal policy and made an alliance with France. This police of Henery made Charles indignant. So he threw off princess Mary and married a Portuguese girl, putting the Anglo-Spanish alliance to cold- storage, Meanwhile, Francis I after his release from the prison wanted to renew his alliance with England Henery and Wolsey aladly accepted it as they did not with to see Charles growing powerful and preponderant.

It might again upset the balance of power in Europe. Moreover Wolsey was disappointed. Twice the papal throne had been vacant and on both occasions Charles conveniently forgot his promise. So Anglo-Spanish alliance was abandoned and in its place, was signed a peace treaty with France.

At this moment the French Emperor incited the pope Clement VII to form a league against Spain When Charles came to know about it, he chastised Rome and arrested pope. Meanwhile, the French emperor managed to sign an agreement with pope and Charles, By the Treaties of Cambrai (1529) the Pope was restored to his former position.

It was at this disastrous moment that England withdrew from the European politics as Henery VIII wanted to get rid of Queen Catherine by arranging a divorce.

Relation with Scotland:

The relation of Henery VIII with Scotland was far from being cordial although the Scottish king James IV had married the elder sister of Henery VIII. But in politick self-interest is of primary importance and the king kinship is secondary.

In 1513 taking the advantage absence at home the scots invaded England as an ally of the French. Henery hurriedly came back home and met the Scottish army in the battle of Fiodden. The Scots were defeated. The king along with his nobles was cut down like the flower of the forest.

The next king of Scotland James V followed the same principle of maintaining friendly alliance with France. He too invaded England but was defeated at solways Moss in 1542.

Soon he died leaving his infant daughter Mary as the heir to the Scottish throne. Henry cherished a desire to unite the two countries through a Matrimonial alliance. He proposed the marriage of son Edward with Mary. But due to greater influence of the French in Scotland his plan could not be materialised.

After dealing with all the powers, only Ireland remained to be tackled.

Relation with Ireland:

Henery VIII saw Ireland was then a hot-bed of the Anglo-Norman lords, who constituted there the most powerful class. They rose in revolt against Henery in 1535. But it was no big a task for Henery VIII.

He suppressed them easily and curbed their power. Then he assumed the title of the king of Ireland, a title which was not assumed by any sovereign till then.

Thus, the foreign policy of Henery VIII was almost a success. It raised high the prestige of England in securing for her a majestic status in the European affairs.

But Prof Ramsay Muir is of the opinion “His foreign policy was more showy than advantageous and Henery VIII was never able to play a dominating power in European affairs.” But the doctrine or Balance of Power which emerged in Europe from his time enabled him to steer the English ship against tumultous waves and formidable rocks. The Chief architect of this doctrine was Thomas Wolsey.