The Habsburg Valois Rivalry

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The Habsburg Valois Rivalry

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*Francis wanted to gain Milan because it would bring him international prestige, glory and wealth.

*The election of the HR Emperor in 1519 caused dislike between Charles and Francis. Francis thought after hi victory at Marignano in 1515 he would become the HR Emperor. He spent 400,000 ecus in bribes to the electors. Francis was upset when he narrowly lost the election to Charles.

*France was active in Italy from 1521, but the imperial forces routed them at Pavia in 1525 and captured Francis. Animosity was made worse by the Treaty of Madrid in 1526. Francis was captured after the Battle of Pavia(1525) he was forced to sign the Treaty of Madrid here he agreed to surrender all claims on Italy and the Netherlands and to return French Burgundy. Francis then refused to acknowledge it. Charles then held Francis sons hostage till Francis paid a ransom for their return(1529).

*In May 1536 possibility King and Emperor would settle their differences by single combat in a duel.

*Charles was distracted by other problems involving Turks and German Protestants i.e. the Schmalkaldic League. France exploited both of these problems. 1530 Francis met representatives from the Schmalkaldic League, he even financed their armies.

*HVR ended because in 1559 to 1598 France became involved in a major political crisis.

*Henry II of France and Philip II of Spain were concerned with the growth of Protestantism in their land which allowed the wars to end.
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*Finance became a problem. 1557 Philip II had to declare himself bankrupt, Francis I and Henry II also had financial difficulty. A major cost of warfare was payment for mercenary troops. France used Swiss and German mercenaries. Also sieges lasted longer = more cost. Latter stages of the HVR was characterised by sieges i.e. Metz in 1552, St Quentin in 1557 and Calais in 1558. Frances taxes were the taille, gabelle and aides. Frances had to sell jobs in the parliaments, seize money for the Catholic Church, 1543 placed a tax on walled towns, borrowed from banks and ...

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