Key Events and Collaboration

• The Battle of Baugé (1421): French and Scottish troops fought side by side, achieving a decisive victory against the English during the Hundred Years' War.
  
  


• The Siege of Orléans (1429): Scottish soldiers played a role in supporting French forces, indirectly contributing to the efforts led by Joan of Arc.
  
  


• Scottish soldiers in French service: Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, many Scots served as mercenaries in the French armies, gaining a reputation for their fierce loyalty and combat skills.
  
  

Cultural and Political Impact

• Many Scottish nobles and royals spent time in France, influencing the court and culture.
  
  


• The alliance fostered trade and exchange of ideas, including the introduction of French customs and language influences in Scotland.
  
  


• Marriages between Scottish and French nobility helped solidify ties. Notably, Mary, Queen of Scots, was educated in France and later married the French Dauphin, Francis II.
  
  

Duration and Decline of the Alliance

• The rise of Protestantism: Religious changes in both countries strained relations, as France remained largely Catholic while Scotland moved toward Protestantism.
  
  


• Shifting political landscapes: England’s changing relationships with France and Scotland, especially after the Union of the Crowns in 1603 (when James VI of Scotland became James I of England), altered traditional alliances.
  
  


• Formal dissolution: The alliance gradually became obsolete by the early 17th century, particularly after the Treaty of Edinburgh in 1560 and the eventual political union between Scotland and England in 1707.
  
  

Conclusion: How Long Did the Alliance Last?