William Wallace
Sir William Wallace- A Famous Scottish Patriot
William Wallace (c1270 - 1305) is one of Scotland's greatest national heroes, immortalised in the not totally accurate Hollywood Blockbuster Braveheart. Records of Wallace's life are patchy and often inaccurate. The Wallace - a story by "Blind Harry" a traveling minstrel of the late 15th century provides many of the stories of William Wallace . Unfortunately some of the most famous stories can not be verified by hard evidence and are folklore. The stories were passed down through the generations showing how he made a massive impact on the people of his time - not least the British.
William Wallace was born in around 1270 in Ayrshire, Scotland, (probably near Ellerslie (now Elderslie), the second son of Sir Malcolm Wallace, Laird of Elderslie and Auchinbothie, (a Scottish knight and small landowner). In those days only the first son inherited the father's title and lands and William therefore had to make his own fortune in life.
In 1286 (Wallace would have been about 16 years old at this time) Alexander III died after riding off a cliff during a wild storm. As none of Alexander III's children survived him, his young granddaughter, (Margaret) of only 4 years, was declared Queen of Scotland by the Scottish lords (A Scottish government was set up to govern until she was older). An arrangement was made that Margaret would marry Edward of Caernarvon (afterwards Edward II of England) son and heir of Edward I of England on the understanding that Scotland would remain a separate nation.
It wasn't long before Scotland became occupied by the English and when, in 1290, Margaret died, Scotland was in virtual anarchy. Although there were some 13 claimants to the Scottish Throne the Lords (guardians of the throne) could not decide amongst themselves, some choosing to align themselves with King Edward when it suited. [it was during this period of lawlessness (1291) that William Wallace's father was killed in a skirmish with English troops].
In the absence of a clear successor to the Scottish throne, the claimants to the Scottish throne requested Edward I's arbitration and John de Balliol took an oath of fealty, paid homage to Edward. Edward saw himself as the feudal superior of the Scottish crown and wished to install a Scottish monarch whom he could manipulate but after a dispute Edward marched north with his armies. After only a five-month campaign Scotland was conquered in 1297. Edward deposed and imprisoned John de Balliol and declared himself ruler of Scotland, appointing his own agents to enforce peace across Scotland. [It was at this time that the Stone of Destiny (coronation stone of Scone) was taken south to Westminster].
Opposition to the English was great but without a leader little could be done. It was at this time that Wallace was involved in a fight with English soldiers and, after killing several of them, he was captured. After being starved and left for dead some sympathetic villagers nursed him back to full health. He then set about recruiting local rebels. With a small band of men Wallace set about a systematic and merciless assault on the hated English and their Scottish sympathisers. Possibly driven on by the death of his father Wallace broadened his attacks and in May 1297, he avenged his father's death by ambushing and killing the knight responsible.
Support grew and by August 1297 most of Scotland was in Scottish hands. Wallace and his co-leader, Sir Andrew de Moray, marched their forces towards Stirling Castle and the English army confronted him near Stirling. Vastly outnumbered Wallace knew that the English had to cross a narrow winding bridge across the River Forth and he wisely chose this place for the confrontation. The English, feeling far superior in both numbers and strength were lured into making an impulsive advance and were promptly slaughtered as they crossed the river. Following his overwhelming victory he captured Stirling Castle and plotted to invade northern England
Edward had been away campaigning in France and upon his return he invaded Scotland with a massive army. Possibly embarrased by Wallace's previous victories Edward equiped his 90,000 strong army with the latest equipment which included the new longbow. On July 22 1298 near Falkirk, Edward's army attacked and destroyed a much smaller Scottish force and Wallace's military reputation was ruined. Edward returned to his battles with the French and, after making peace with the French, he returned and captured Stirling Castle in 1304. The Scottish nobles swore allegance to Edward but he pursued Wallace and on Aug 5 1305, he was betrayed by a Scottish knight in service to the English king, and arrested near Glasgow.
He was taken to London, denied the status of a captured soldier, tried for the wartime murder of civilians, condemned as a traitor to the king (even though he had never sworn allegiance to Edward) and on 23rd August 1305, he was dragged to the place of execution, hanged by the neck and disembowelled while still alive having his entrails were burned before his eyes. He was decapitated and his body was divided into four parts (quartered). His head was displayed at London Bridge, his right arm on the bridge at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, his left arm at Berwick, his right leg at Perth, and the left leg at Aberdeen.
His memory was kept alive and in 1869, the National Wallace Monument was completed on a hill near Stirling. This huge tower now dominates the area where the Scots fought their most decisive battles against the English in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries at Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn.
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