The stuart monarchs who succeeded bruce's son, david ii, had close connections with france, england's enemy. with the beginning of the scottish reformation french influence and the catholic church were attacked. in 1567 the catholic monarch, mary, queen of scots, had to abdicate the scottish throne in favour of her son, james vi, who after the death of elizabeth i, queen of england, in 1603, succeeded the english throne as king james i. scotland and england remained separate kingdoms until 1707 when the parliaments of both countries passed the act of union as a result of which scotland became an integral part of the united kingdom.