What were the aims of English Foreign Policy 1529-1558?

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What were the aims of English Foreign Policy 1529-1558?

At the start of this period, in 1529, Henry VIII was on the throne. His main aim in foreign policy was to split with Rome so that he could set up a Church of England, headed by himself. This can be seen as a case of domestic policy impacting on foreign policy - Henry was obsessed with having a male heir to rule after his death. It was looking increasingly unlikely that Catherine of Aragon would be able to fulfil this wish, and so he needed to get a divorce so that he could marry Anne Boleyn.

The next main aim in foreign policy came in 1539. At this point, there was a lull in the Hapsburg-Valois hostilities between Spain and France. It looked a distinct possibility that these two Catholic countries could forge an alliance and perhaps invade England, as she was becoming more Protestant. Henry therefore had a great need to find Protestant allies to ward off potential aggression. This came in the form of the Anne of Cleves marriage alliance, which was orchestrated by Thomas Cromwell.
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The final change in foreign policy in Henry's reign came right at the end. Henry wanted to marry his son Edward to Mary, Queen of Scots, thus uniting the two countries. However, Scotland didn't want this to happen, so Henry decided to go to war in order to force the marriage. This then drew France into the conflict, and so Henry ended up at war with two countries attacking him from different sides.

After Henry's death, Edward was put on the throne, and the Duke of Somerset installed himself as regent. He carried on Henry's war against ...

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