The Peace of Boulogne

The Treaty of Boulogne ended a period of conflict involving England, France, and Scotland in the mid-sixteenth century, during the reign of the young English king Edward VI. England had been at war following the campaigns of Henry VIII, occupying the French port of Boulogne and waging the so-called Rough Wooing against Scotland in an effort to force a marriage alliance.

Concluded in 1550, the treaty restored peace between England and France. Under its terms England agreed to withdraw its forces from Scotland and to surrender Boulogne back to France ahead of schedule. In exchange, France paid England a substantial sum of money as an indemnity, allowing the English government, dominated by the Duke of Somerset's successors, to extricate itself from costly commitments.

The settlement reflected England's financial exhaustion and political instability during Edward VI's minority. By abandoning Boulogne and ending intervention in Scotland, England relinquished the territorial ambitions of Henry VIII's final years. The peace stabilized relations with France for a time and freed the English government to concentrate on domestic and religious affairs at home.