BattlefieldsLeith Siege 1560 — French Garrison Besieged
Tudor

Leith Siege 1560 — French Garrison Besieged

1560
Scotland
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
French garrison
Forces
French garrison at Leith c.3,500
VS
Victor
English and Protestant Scottish lords
Forces
English and Protestant lords c.12,000
Outcome
French garrison negotiated withdrawal under Treaty of Edinburgh; Reformation established in Scotland
The Battle

History & Significance

The climax of the Scottish Reformation crisis. An English army of 8,000 men under Lord Grey joined the Protestant lords to besiege the French garrison at Leith. The French held the strongly fortified port despite repeated English assaults including a disastrous frontal attack in May 1560 that cost the English 1,000 men. Mary of Guise died in Edinburgh Castle during the siege. The Treaty of Edinburgh in July 1560 ended the siege, withdrew French troops, and established Protestant government in Scotland.

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