James V's foreign policy 1513-1542

Abstract

The involvement of Scotland in international politics during the latter years of the reign of James IV led indirectly to an outbreak of conflict between England and Scotland, a conflict which resulted in the death of the King of Scots.

The death of James IV King of Scots at the Battle of Flodden Field on the 9th September 1513 had unhappy consequences for Scotland. James's death signalled a long period of unrest and instability, for the heir to the throne was a child little more than one year old, which meant a long minority. Scotland had experienced minorities in the past and these periods had proved to be troublesome as different parties sought to gain control of the person of the young monarch. The difficulties caused by the length of James V's minority, fifteen years, were compounded by the action of his mother Queen Margaret in marrying Archibald Douglas, Sixth Earl of Angus; the interference of Henry Vill in Scottish affairs: and the political climate of Europe, which affected Scotland, through her ancient alliance with France. The end result for Scotland was poor government, dissipation of the finances of the crown and the spread of lawlessness throughout the community.

The personal rule of James V beginning in 1528 brought change and order to Scotland in domestic matters. He quieted the Borders an area which had long troubled the central government, and was equally successfull in bringing order to the northern parts of the Kingdom. Indeed throughout his reign he displayed a genuine desire to bring law and order to the country as a whole. His success in recouping the finances of the Crown and the manner in which he set about it, not only brought down condemnation on his head, but has tended to colour extant accounts of his reign. James Vs foreign policy brought Scotland to a prominence out of all proportion to her size and importance in the European scheme of things. James was of course assisted by the religious and political climate of Europe, which presented him with opportunities never before afforded a Scottish monarch, opportunities which he recognised and exploited to the full. The young King of Scots showed an independence of mind and a singleness of purpose which brought him two French brides, favourable trading agreements with the Empire, and France, and the enmity of Henry VIll. The latter was in the end to have dire consequences for Scotland