Do you agree with the view that Henry VIII foreign policy should be seen as a costly failure?

It can be agreed that Henry VIII and Wolsey’s foreign policy was an expensive failure to a large extent, but there is some evidence from the sources showing otherwise and demonstrating some success. Sources 1, 2 and 3 all support the source to a certain extent, some more than others, however Sources 1 and 3 also disagree with the question and show some successes to Henry and Wolsey’s policy. Despite this, the idea of their policy being expensive is consistent throughout the sources for costing over a years income for Henry.

Henry VIII and Wolsey’s foreign policy can be seen as an expensive failure as shown in all three of the sources. Sources 1, 2 and 3 all refer to the king’s expenses in one way and having not gained much from it. In source 2, it refers to the King as receiving ‘no more land in France’ on top of what his father had already gained, whilst costing the King an ‘infinite sum of money’ demonstrating that Henry had not had much success in his reign but had still spending extreme figures. Using this source, along with our own knowledge we know that Henry failed in securing the French crown for himself as well as the partition of France to himself, Charles and Bourbon, after the Battle of Pavia in 1525. Alongside this, the failures of Henry’s campaign during the war with France including the evaporation of Wolsey and Henry’s passing enthusiasm for another intervention. Source 1, a painting of the Field of the Cloth of Gold, demonstrates a grand celebration made up of extreme wealth, however, it does not comment on the financial side of the spectacle. But, using our own knowledge, we know that the event can be seen as a failure as no decisions were made, nor was there any diplomatic success from the event. Alongside this, we also know that it cost a years income for Henry, consisting of £110,000, which clearly states that it was very expensive for a single event and that it was a failure as not much was achieved. This can also be seen in Source 3, where it mentions the 1520 celebration, which we know cost a substantial amount and achieved minimal lasting significance. ‘Large-scale failures’ of Henry and Wolsey’s policy are also mentioned in what is stated in Source 3, between 1525 and 1529.During this time, we know that there was the League of Cognac in 1526, which proved to be ineffective. This was when Henry refused to sign the agreement in Cognac opposed to London and after eventually signing it in 1526, was dragged into conflict in order to acquire allies in Europe, contributing to the failure of Henry and Wolsey’s foreign policy. We know that Henry failed to obtain his marriage annulment in this year also, leading up to 1529.