The Treaty of Edinburgh is signed by Scotland and England.

The Treaty of Edinburgh, signed in 1560, was a pivotal agreement that marked the end of formal hostilities between Scotland and England, while also effectively terminating the French military presence in Scotland. At its core, the treaty was a result of the Protestant Reformation’s growing influence in Scotland, combined with the geopolitical tensions among England, France, and Scotland. The Scottish Lords of the Congregation, who were aligned with Protestant reform, had risen in opposition to the Catholic regency of Mary of Guise, the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots. England, under Queen Elizabeth I, saw an opportunity to weaken both Catholic France and French influence in Scotland, and thus lent military support to the Protestant Scots. This pressure led France, England, and the Scottish Lords to negotiate a resolution.

The terms of the treaty required the withdrawal of both French and English troops from Scottish territory, ensuring that neither foreign power would interfere further in Scottish affairs. It also called for the recognition of Elizabeth I as the legitimate queen of England, something Mary, Queen of Scots—who was married to the French King Francis II at the time—had previously contested by including the English arms in her own royal insignia. Though France agreed to these terms on paper, Mary, Queen of Scots never ratified the treaty, as she refused to renounce her claim to the English throne. Despite this, the practical result was the end of the Auld Alliance between Scotland and France and a significant reduction of French power in Scottish politics.

The Treaty of Edinburgh also opened the path for the Scottish Reformation Parliament to enact major religious reforms later in 1560. With French forces gone and English support no longer necessary, the Lords of the Congregation consolidated power, leading to the formal establishment of a Protestant Church of Scotland. This treaty not only reshaped Scottish religious identity but also realigned its political trajectory toward closer association with England. While the treaty itself was somewhat fragile in enforcement—given Mary’s refusal to accept its legitimacy—it served as a turning point that diminished French influence and set the stage for eventual union with England.