The Treaty of Haddington: Mary, Queen of Scots’ French Alliance
On July 7, 1548, Scotland and France signed the Treaty of Haddington, forging a powerful alliance during the conflict known as the “Rough Wooing.” The agreement came after England’s attempts to force a marriage between the young Mary, Queen of Scots and the future Edward VI of England, leading Scotland to seek French protection.
Under the treaty, the five-year-old Mary was promised in marriage to the French Dauphin, the future Francis II of France. She was sent to France for her safety and raised at the French court, where she would eventually become Queen of France before returning to Scotland to face a turbulent reign.
The Treaty of Haddington strengthened the historic alliance between Scotland and France and shaped the future of European politics. Mary’s French upbringing would leave a lasting mark on her identity, religion, and claim to power.
