2. The Anglo-French war and the Franco-Scottish Treaty
The crisis came when King Edward fell out with the King of France. They argued over lands owned in France by Edward. The French King said that these lands were part of his kingdom and that Edward should pay homage for them and become his vassal. Edward’s response was to go to war. He gathered an army and of course demanded that his vassal King John Balliol should supply knights and soldiers for this war.
The Scots had never fought for any King other than the King of Scotland nor had a Scots army ever left Britain to fight abroad. They refused to fight for Edward. In July 1295, 12 Scottish nobles and Bishops formed a Council to support King John. The Council made a secret treaty with France: Scotland would fight on the side of the King of France against Edward I. This “Auld Alliance” was to have a huge impact on Scottish history for the next 450 years.
Revision Task B2: “My enemy’s enemy is my friend” is a well known saying in time of war between nations. Try to explain how this applied to Scotland, France and England in 1295.
