Scots Brigade

Scots Brigade aka Anglo-Dutch Brigade aka Anglo-Scots Brigade
Scots mercenaries in Utrecht, 1618
Active	ca 1586–1782
Country	Dutch Republic
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Brigade; between three and six regiments
Garrison/HQ	Dutch Barrier forts
March	The "Scottish March"
Engagements	Eighty Years' War Haarlem Alkmaar Leiden Gembloux Rijmenam Antwerp 1st Bergen op Zoom Turnhout Nieuwpoort Ostend 2nd Bergen op Zoom 's-Hertogenbosch 1st Maastricht Breda Kallo Franco-Dutch War Battle of Seneffe 2nd Maastricht Saint-Denis Nine Years' War England Killiecrankie Steenkerque Landen Namur War of the Spanish Succession Ekeren Ramillies Oudenarde Malplaquet War of the Austrian Succession Tournai Fontenoy Rocoux Lauffeld 3rd Bergen op Zoom
Commanders
Notable commanders	Earl of Leicester Francis Vere Lt-General Hugh Mackay

The Scots Brigade, also referred to as the Anglo-Dutch Brigade or the Anglo-Scots Brigade,^[1] was an infantry brigade of the Dutch States Army. First formed in 1586, by the late 17th century it usually comprised six infantry regiments, three recruited primarily from Scotland and three from England. It was finally dissolved in 1782 following the outbreak of the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War.

Throughout the 16th and early part of the 17th centuries, units of foreign mercenaries were commonly used by all European powers. Domestic opposition to permanent armies as a result of the 1638–1651 Wars of the Three Kingdoms meant British monarchs used the Brigade to create a pool of trained officers, who could be called on when needed. However, in the early 18th century, increasing demand meant permission to recruit in Britain was restricted on a number of occasions and finally banned after 1757.

After the end of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714, the Brigade was reduced to three regiments and primarily used to garrison the Barrier forts. By 1782, many of its officers were British, often from families with a long tradition of service with the Brigade, but the vast majority of the rank and file were Dutch-born. It became regiments 22, 23 and 24 of the regular Dutch army and after 1784 ceased to be a separate unit. Their traditions and battle honours were continued by the 94th Foot until 1881, when the 94th became part of the Connaught Rangers.