Treaty of Perpetual Peace

The Treaty of Perpetual Peace, signed in 1502 between Scotland and England, marked the first attempt in centuries to establish a prolonged peace between the two often-warring neighbors. Ratified by James IV of Scotland and Henry VII of England, the treaty not only aimed to end hostilities but also sealed the agreement with a marriage alliance: James IV would marry Margaret Tudor, Henry VII's daughter. While the treaty sought "perpetual peace," the harmony was short-lived, with conflicts resuming within a few decades. However, the marital union had lasting significance, as it laid the dynastic groundwork for the eventual Union of the Crowns in 1603 when James VI of Scotland ascended to the English throne as James I.