England, 1485–1603 – consequence in this period through the following key…

The idea

Tudor foreign policy shifted dramatically from Henry VII’s defensive alliances, such as the Treaty of Medina del Campo, to Henry VIII’s aggressive campaigns and subsequent isolation following the Break with Rome. Elizabeth I later adopted a reactive stance, culminating in the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Securing the succession was equally volatile. Henry VII used dynastic marriages to cement his legitimacy, whereas Henry VIII’s desperate quest for a male heir led to multiple marriages and shifting Succession Acts. The crisis deepened with Edward VI’s failed Devise for the Succession and Mary I’s unpopular Spanish marriage. Ultimately, Elizabeth I refused to name a successor, and the succession was only secured upon her death when James VI of Scotland acceded by hereditary claim.

What earns the marks

• Evaluate the shifting aims of Tudor monarchs in foreign policy, contrasting Henry VII's pursuit of security with Henry VIII's desire for glory.
• Assess the impact of the Reformation on England's diplomatic isolation and alliances, particularly under Elizabeth I.
• Analyse the methods used to secure the Tudor dynasty, including dynastic marriages, treaties, and parliamentary Succession Acts.
• Examine the succession crises of the mid-Tudor period, including Edward VI's attempt to alter the succession and Mary I's lack of an heir.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Treating Tudor foreign policy as a single, consistent strategy.

  Put it right: Differentiate between the distinct aims of each monarch, such as Henry VII's financial caution versus Henry VIII's expensive military campaigns.

• Assuming the succession was only a problem for Henry VIII.

  Put it right: Acknowledge that succession remained a critical vulnerability throughout the period, including Edward VI's minority and Elizabeth I's refusal to marry.

• Confusing the terms of various treaties.

  Put it right: Accurately attribute specific treaties to the correct monarch, such as linking the Treaty of Etaples to Henry VII and the Treaty of Nonsuch to Elizabeth I.

Exam tips

• Link foreign policy directly to domestic stability and the succession, showing how external threats often exacerbated internal dynastic insecurities.
• Use specific treaties and marriage agreements as concrete evidence when evaluating the success or failure of a monarch's foreign relations.
• When assessing change over time, explicitly compare the beginning and end of the period, noting both turning points and underlying continuities.