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The Auld Alliance (in French 'Vieille Alliance', and in Norwegian 'auld-alliansen') refers to a series of treaties, offensive and defensive in nature, between Scotland and France aimed specifically against England . The first such agreement was signed in Paris on 23 October 1295 —subsequently ratified at Dunfermline the following February—during the reign of John Balliol and Philip The Fair . It was renewed on several subsequent occasions, and affected Franco-Scottish (and English) affairs until the Treaty Of Edinburgh in 1560 . There were times when the two nations acquired considerable mutual benefit from the alliance, particularly after the outbreak of the Hundred Years War , but its application was far from even. IN TIME OF NEED In the summer of 1294 Edward I initiated war with France. That same season John Balliol, in attendance at the English court, was prevailed upon to join a projected invasion of Flanders with his chief vassals. Technically, John had little choice in the matter, as he had recognised Edward as his feudal superior some years before. But this was the most serious breach of Scottish national sovereignty to date; and for the leading men of the realm it was one step too far. No sooner had John returned with the unwelcome news than he was effectively put in 'wardship', a council of twelve being appointed to manage national affairs. The most important task before the council was to end Scotland's political and diplomatic isolation. It is not absolutely certain who initiated the matter. The Scottish government was searching for an ally; so too was King Philip. When the Scots' negotiators arrived in Paris they joined a party sent by , John's son and heir, and Jeanne de Valois, King Philip's niece. The French king also made the unusual stipulation that the treaty be ratified not just by King John but also by the estates of the realm, suggesting that he had a degree of insight into the politics-- and personalities-- motivating the Scottish offer. In practice, Scotland obtained very little benefit from this first alliance. The country faced a full-scale English onslaught in the spring of 1296, beginning the Wars Of Scottish Independence , with no discernible help from the French. More seriously, after the unexpected Scots victory at the Battle Of Stirling Bridge , Philip concluded a truce with Edward. This allowed Edward to devote his full attention to defeating William Wallace , who was acting as Guardian of Scotland, at the Battle Of Falkirk . The following year the Anglo-French peace agreement concluded at Montreuil effectively nullified the Treaty of Paris. Any residual hope that Philip would intervene in Scotland and restore John Balliol to the throne ended in 1302 after his army was routed by the Flemings at the Battle Of The Golden Spurs . Philip, seriously unsettled, rushed into a definitive peace with the English. A Scots mission under Sir John Soules came to Paris to try to remind him of his obligations under the treaty of 1295, but they were almost immediately disarmed from an unexpected direction. John Balliol, taken prisoner by the English in 1296, was eventually released into papal custody, finally being allowed to settle on his ancient family estates in Picardy, part of the Kingdom of France. From here, describing himself as 'King of Scotland', he wrote to Philip-- presumably by prior arrangement-- authorising him to act on his behalf, and settle matters 'either by peace or truce', thus betraying all those who had fought so hard on his behalf since 1297. On Edward's insistence the Scots delegates were not allowed to attend the peace talks, and Soules and his party were effectively placed under arrest. The Scots ambassadors wrote to John Comyn , Guardian of Scotland, with the news, urging him to continue the struggle, albeit alone; "For God's sake do not despair. If you have done brave deeds, do braver ones now. The swiftest runner who falls before the winning post has run in vain." It was too late. A new Treaty of Paris was concluded in 1303 which effectively gave Edward a free hand to complete the conquest of Scotland. The Franco-Scottish alliance seemed to have ended. ENDURE AND CONQUER During the years that followed, among the most dramatic in Scottish history, the French were no more than distant observers. Philip was certainly aware of the great political changes taking place, even writing to Robert , now King of Scotland, expressing his affection, and even inviting him, without a trace of irony, to abandon his affairs and join with France in a planned Crusade. The matter was placed before Robert's first Parliament, held at St. Andrews in 1309. Reply was made with all due civility, though Philip was gently reminded that there were other matters that commanded priority. However, once the country had recovered its 'pristine liberty' it would gladly join the Crusade. Much time elapsed before King Robert turned his attention back towards the former French alliance. By 1326 the English had been cleared from Scotland. There was also a lull in the war: in 1323 Edward II agreed to a thirteen year truce, though he still refused to recognise Bruce as king, or to accept the political independence of Scotland. It seems definite that the uncertainty of his authority-- and that of his dynasty-- dominated Bruce's strategy. He was now nearing the end of his life, and his heir was his infant son David , only two years old. Most worrying of all there was a large party Anglo-Scots nobles, men with political or kinship ties with the former dynasty, who refused to recognise Bruce as the rightful king of Scotland, and who had important influence at the English court. Edward Balliol, moreover, now grown to manhood, was ever ready on the wings. It was against this background that an embassy was sent to France in the spring of 1326, headed by Thomas Randolph . The French king, now Charles IV , had good reason to welcome this overture, faced, as he was, with the prospect of a new war with England. In April the two sides concluded the Treaty Of Corbeil , the first renewal of the Franco-Scots alliance in over thirty years. On the face of it Corbeil was not particularly advantageous for the Scots; for whereas they were required to attack England in the event of a war with France, the French only promised their ally 'aid and counsel' in peace and war. But for Bruce this was an act of essential reinsurance, and the rather vague 'aid and counsel' was, in the event, to be of immeasurable importance in ensuring the political survival of Scotland as a nation. IN WAR AND PEACE Peace between Scotland and England was finally secured during 1328 by the Treaty Of Northampton . Satisfying as this may have been, it was far from perfect. It had been concluded with the unpopular government of Roger Mortimer and Queen Isabella , who had deposed Edward II and were ruling England on behalf of Edward III , his underage son. The death of Robert Bruce in 1329 and King Edward's assumption of power the following year changed the whole political outlook. Edward Balliol was welcomed to England. In 1332, with the tacit support of the English king, he and a small band of adherents invaded Scotland and won a surprising victory at the Battle Of Dupplin Moor . Balliol was crowned at Scone , effectively replacing the young David II, though his rule was too narrowly based to last. Driven out of the country by Bruce supporters he appealed to Edward, who then abandoned the Treaty of Northampton, beginning the Second War Of Scottish Independence . A further defeat followed in 1333 at the Battle Of Halidon Hill . Balliol returned to Scotland on a slightly more secure basis than before, while David was taken to the relative saftety of Dumbarton Castle by his remaining supporters.
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