Scotland's rejection of this 1543 Anglo-Scottish marriage treaty triggered eight years of military conflict known as the Rough Wooing.
Key Facts
- Date Signed
- 1 July 1543
- Ratified by Earl of Arran
- 25 August 1543
- Rejected by Scottish Parliament
- 11 December 1543
- Proposed Marriage
- Edward VI of England and Mary, Queen of Scots
- Resulting Conflict Duration
- 8 years (Rough Wooing)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Henry VIII of England sought to unite the English and Scottish crowns through dynastic marriage, pursuing a plan that would bind Scotland to England politically. Negotiations were conducted with Scottish representatives, and the Earl of Arran, as regent of Scotland, was persuaded to sign and later ratify the accord.
Two agreements signed on 1 July 1543 at Greenwich established peace between England and Scotland and proposed the marriage of the infant Mary, Queen of Scots, to Prince Edward of England. The treaty allowed Scotland to retain its own laws while requiring Mary to be raised partly in England under English supervision until her marriage.
The Parliament of Scotland rejected the Treaty of Greenwich on 11 December 1543, nullifying the proposed union. This rejection precipitated eight years of Anglo-Scottish military conflict, known as the Rough Wooing, as Henry VIII attempted by force to compel Scotland to honour the marriage alliance.
Political Outcome
Treaty rejected by the Parliament of Scotland on 11 December 1543, leading to the Rough Wooing conflict.
England and Scotland at peace but politically separate
Treaty nullified; renewed Anglo-Scottish hostilities over the next eight years