Scotland And France - Middle Ages To 1603

2724 Words11 Pages
"These fertile plains, that soften'd vale,
 Were once the birthright of the Gael;
 The stranger came with iron hand,
 And from our fathers reft the land." Sir Walter Scott. Lady of the Lake The period of conflict between England and Scotland from the Middle Ages to the accession to the throne of the first Scottish King James I in 1603 can be rooted in three ways. The border between the two countries was highly disputable and frequently contested which made battles and skirmishes more frequent, which lead to the relationship bitter and hate filled. The Auld Alliance whose spirit predated its signing in 1296 was an irritation to the English for much of the Medieval era. In turn this alliance fostered cultural and diplomatic relations between Scotland and France. Scotland’s rebel leaders, William Wallace and Andrew Murray, became folk heroes and symbols of resistance as England continued its quest to control Scotland Throughout the Middle Ages England had tried to control the Scots through military campaigns and diplomacy. They were unable however to break the strong alliance between France and Scotland. There were cultural ties and ancestral ties that linked Scottish nobility to French families. There was also The Auld Alliance, a diplomatic accord whereby France and Scotland agreed to defend each other in the event of an attack from England. Scotland and France had cultural links that date back to the Norman Conquest and diplomatic ties that pre-date the Auld Alliance that was signed by Scotland, France and Norway in 1295. After the Conquest of 1066, waves of Normans came into Scotland, building castles and founding noble families who would provide some future kings, such as Robert the Bruce (de Brus or de Bruys). Other families such as
Open Document