BattlefieldsSiege of Leith
Tudor

Siege of Leith

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

Who Fought

Forces
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
Protestant Scots ; England: English total (25 May 1560): 12,466
VS
Victor
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
Catholic Scots ; France: French soldiers in Leith (28 May 1560): 2,300; others 2,000; French evacuated from Scotland in July 1560: 3,613 men, 267 women, 315 children
Outcome
* Catholic/French withstood siege. * Mary of Guise died during the peace process. * Treaty of Edinburgh signed with withdraw of English and French troops from Scotland. * Auld Alliance between Scotland and France was dissolved.
The Battle

History & Significance

The siege of Leith ended a twelve-year encampment of French troops at Leith, the port near Edinburgh, Scotland. French troops arrived in Scotland by invitation in 1548. In 1560 the French soldiers opposed Scottish supporters of religious reformation, and an English army arrived to besiege the French garrison at Leith. The town was not taken by force and the French troops finally left peacefully under the terms of a treaty signed by Scotland, England and France.

Suspected site. The exact location is uncertain.
Casualties & Losses

Catholic Scots ; France: 7 May 1560: 15 | Protestant Scots ; England: 7 May 1560:; English: 800; Scottish: 400

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Sources