2. Why was foreign policy so disastrous during the years 1547-58?

About this Lecture

Lecture

In this module, we consider the question ‘Why was foreign policy so disastrous during the years 1547-58?’, focusing in particular on: (i) the impact of the English victory over the Scots at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547; (ii) the failure of the English to press home their advantage, and the rebuilding of Scottish political power over the following ten years; (iii) the loss of territory in France, including the town of Boulogne in 1550 and Calais in 1558; (iv) the dire financial situation that England found itself in following Henry’s death in 1547; (v) the political unrest in the late 1540s, particularly the Prayer Book Rebellion and Kett’s Rebellion; (vi) England’s lack of allies in Europe (and the reason for her isolation); (vii) the improvement in England’s political position following Mary’s marriage to Philip of Spain in 1554; and (viii) England’s continued military weakness until the end of Mary’s reign in 1558.

Course

In this course, Professor Susan Doran (University of Oxford) explores Tudor foreign policy through six key questions: (1) Why did Henry VIII spend so much time at war against France?; (2) Why was foreign policy so disastrous during the years 1547-58?; (3) How did the Reformation affect foreign policy?; (4) How and why did England’s relationship with France change under Elizabeth?; (5) Why did Elizabeth go to war against Spain?; and (6) Was Elizabeth’s foreign policy a ‘complete mess’?

Lecturer

Susan Doran is Professor of Early Modern British History at the University of Oxford. She has a substantial publishing record which reflects a particular interest in the religious and political history of the Tudors, especially Elizabeth I. She is also a Senior Research Fellow at Jesus College and Director of Studies in History at Regent’s Park College.