page_title: Treaty of London (1518)
section_title: Terms
hierarchical_section_title: Treaty of London (1518) / Terms
caption_attribution_description: English: Later copy attributed to Hans Eworth, after Hans Holbein the Younger's destroyed mural at Whitehall Palace. The original cartoon, slightly different in pose, also survives (National Portrait Gallery, London), but no original Holbein version of this iconic image does.
context_page_description: The Treaty of London in 1518 was a non-aggression pact between the major European nations. The signatories were Burgundy, France, England, the Holy Roman Empire, the Netherlands, the Papal States and Spain, all of whom agreed not to attack one another and to come to the aid of any that were under attack.
  The treaty was designed by Cardinal Wolsey and so came to be signed by the ambassadors of the nations concerned in London. Pope Leo X originally called for a five-year peace while the monarchs of Europe helped him fight back the rising power of the Ottoman Empire, which was encroaching into the Balkans. Wolsey was very keen on instead making lasting peace and persuaded Henry to avoid war and take a more diplomatic route in foreign affairs.
context_section_description: All European countries were invited to London (Grand Duchy of Moscow and the Ottoman Empire were not considered to be a part of Europe, but of Asia at that time). The treaty hoped to bind the 20 leading states of Europe into peace with one another, and thus end warfare between the states of Europe. In October 1518 it was initiated between representatives from England and France. It was then ratified by other European nations and the Pope. The agreement established a defensive league based upon the following:
  The terms committed states with an active foreign policy to not only commit to a stance of non-aggression, but also to promise to make war upon any state which broke the terms of the treaty. At the time, it was thought a triumph for Thomas Wolsey and allowed Henry VIII to greatly increase his standing in European political circles, to the extent that England became seen as a third major power.
caption: The treaty reflected considerable glory upon the reign of King Henry VIII
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