Product Description

The 'Auld Alliance' originated as an offensive and defensive treaty made by John, King of Scots, and Philip IV of France, directed against Edward I of England, in 1295-6. Remarkably, this original treaty of Paris/Dunfermline was frequently renewed throughout the course of the next two-and-a-half centuries, becoming latterly a cornerstone of Scottish foreign policy. Combining narrative and analysis, this book covers the uncertain beginnings of the Alliance, moving on to the major military commitment of the Scots to the French side in the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) with England, the subsequent settlement of Scots in France in the fifteenth century, the close naval and military links between James IV and Louis XII of France in the early sixteenth century, and the climax and end of the Alliance following the marriage of Francis II of France to Mary, Queen of Scots (1558).

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #685692 in Books
• Published on: 2001-07-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 168 pages

About the Author
Norman Macdougall is Senior Lecturer in Scottish History at the University of St Andrews. His previous publications include the highly successful James IV, and he is editor of the Stewart Dynasty in Scotland series.

Customer Reviews

The Auld Alliance: a perfect historical guide
A few recent publications have dealt with punctual aspects of the links between France and Scotland, yet there still wasn't any study summing up all the previous researches on the subject. Macdougall's works ideally fills this gap. It presents a clear and complete history of the Auld Alliance, from 1295 to 1560. The book significantly starts with the signature of the first treaty and finishes with the death of Mary of Guise, who actually was the last real defender of the Alliance in Scotland.

What makes Macdougall's approach particularly interesting is the importance he gives to the "Auld Enemy" in his work. Studies on the Auld Alliance are most of the time focused on the history of Scotland and France, yet the first motivation of this military and political link was uniting to fight England. As it clearly shows in this book, the evolution of English politics had a decisive impact on the ups and downs of the Franco-Scottish cooperation. Clearly, the Auld Alliance gains at being considered as more than just a mere dual link: it was a triangular process.
Macdougall draws the main lines of six periods, from the "uncertain beginnings" until the end of the "Indian Summer". In each case, he develops the nature and importance of the Alliance, and the part that England played in the expansion or reduction of exchanges between the two other kingdoms. This study accurately puts Scotland, France and England in their contemporary context. The needs of each countries and their mutual dependence stands out more clearly from the description of the European political chessboard, and puts an emphasis on unexpected discrepancies. The Hundred Year War and the Lutheran Reformation, for instance, gave a capital importance to Scotland: the role of the Scots soldiers in Joan of Arch's army is often underestimated, as well as the religious dimension of James V's Catholic kingdom at the time of Henry VIII's schism.
This study might present a wide vision of the Auld Alliance question, covering more than two hundred and fifty years, yet it doesn't lack accuracy. Famous and less famous actors of the Auld Alliance are mentioned according to their real importance, and the references to local tensions involving Scottish people in the Touraine show a remarkable knowledge of the question and of the sources. This erudite work puts an end to long-lasting "clichés", offering for instance a much more coherent version of James V's last words, even if less romantic.
The lack of notes might be quite frustrating for a keener reader, despite a rich and varied bibliography. Yet, the quality of this study makes it an essential book for whoever is interested in the history of the Auld Alliance. The simplicity and clarity of the style renders this highly documented work very accessible, without loosing anything of the quality of the background university researches that nourished this study. It is definitely the most perfect historical guide to the Auld Alliance ever written.