The Malus Intercursus granted sweeping trade concessions to England and forced Burgundy to surrender a Yorkist claimant, shaped by Philip IV's diplomatic vulnerability after a shipwreck.
Key Facts
- Date signed
- April 1506
- Signatories
- Henry VII of England and Philip IV of Burgundy
- Key trade term
- All duties removed from English textile exports
- Political prisoner transferred
- Edmund de la Pole, 3rd Duke of Suffolk
- Proposed marriage
- Henry VII to Margaret of Austria (never took place)
- Recognition granted
- Philip and Joanna of Castile as rulers of Castile
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Philip IV of Burgundy was shipwrecked and stranded in England in early 1506, placing him in a position of dependency on Henry VII. Henry exploited Philip's need for safe passage home to negotiate highly favourable terms, earning the treaty the name 'Malus Intercursus' — meaning 'evil agreement' — from the Burgundian perspective.
In April 1506, Henry VII and Philip IV signed the Malus Intercursus, a commercial treaty removing all duties on English textile exports to Burgundy. The treaty also included terms for Henry VII to marry Philip's sister Margaret of Austria, and required Philip to hand over Edmund de la Pole, the leading Yorkist claimant to the English throne, who had been living in exile.
The proposed marriage between Henry VII and Margaret of Austria never occurred, as Margaret rejected the treaty's terms. Edmund de la Pole was surrendered to Henry VII and imprisoned in the Tower of London, removing a significant Yorkist threat. In return, Henry VII recognised Philip and Joanna of Castile as legitimate rulers of Castile and permitted them to depart England safely.
Political Outcome
England gained duty-free textile exports and custody of Yorkist claimant Edmund de la Pole; Philip IV and Joanna received English recognition of their rule over Castile and safe passage from England.
Edmund de la Pole remained in Burgundian custody as a potential Yorkist rival to Henry VII
De la Pole transferred to English custody, reducing the Yorkist dynastic threat to the Tudor crown