If you should visit Paris today, and were to cross the Pont de la Tournelle from the Ile St Louis, & continue walking away from the Seine up the Rue du Cardinal Lemoine, you'd probably notice a solid, somewhat forbidding palais that soon looms up on your left.  It's a building that dates from pre-revolution Paris & one that has seen better days.  Before the act of union in 1707 it was Scots territory & a focus for Scots life in the French capital, owing its allegiance to the Roman Catholic authorities in Scotland.  The College des Ecossais, or Scots College, in Paris, stands as the most abiding memorial to Scotland's historic links with France, "the Auld Alliance."

     The alliance was first established in 1295 & formally came to an end with the treaty of Edinburgh in 1560. However, the close relationship between Scotland & France continued throughout the 17th & 18th centuries & bequeathed a sense of mutual sympathy & intellectual respect that survives to this day! 

     In fact the reason that Edward I of England (Longshanks) invaded Scotland was because of this treaty with France & because King John would not provide Scots troops to the English in their war against the French.  Many of the Scots nobles had to fight on the side of the English to secure their freedom from imprisonment, not necessarily because they wanted too.

     The popular myth is that the very roots of this alliance go back even further to the time of the Frankish emperor Charlemagne who ruled over most of mainland Europe in the 9th century.  He was so impressed by the fact that Acchaius, who was supposed to be a king of Scots, had defeated the Saxons after having a dream in which he was shown a Saltire in the skies, that he granted the king the right to carry the Fleur de lys along with the Lion Rampant in his banner.  Appealing though this story is it has no historical foundation.

     The first treaty of 1295 said that France would counsel the Scots in peace & war 'to the best of their power as loyal allies' & similarly, should there be war between England & France, Scots would be obliged 'to make war on the King of England to the utmost of our power.'

     Among the first Scots to benefit from this alliance was William Wallace himself, who received financial support while he was at the French court, pleading our case for independence.  As well as war the alliance had cultural & religious impact as well.  In the 14th century young Scots would travel to France to study law in Paris & Orleans.  Many of the leading Scots clergy were also regular visitors to the papal court at Avignon during the 14th century.

     Many Scots also fought in the French army in support of the alliance, indeed they fought with Joan of Arc at the relief of Orleans, & it was John Carmichael (a Scot) who as bishop welcomed Joan into that city.

     The alliance was strengthened through marriage of many of the most important people in both countries.  The alliance reached a zenith around about 1548, when the 5 yr old Mary (queen of Scots) was committed to the 'faith & credit' of the French king, and France to the defence of Scotland.  The two nations were now virtually united, to be ruled by 'Francis & Mary, king & queen of France & of Scotland.'