Sir William Wallace Essay, Research Paper

Sir William Wallace

When the king of Scotland died without an heir to the throne the nephew of the king also the king of England nicknamed Edward the Longshanks (Edward I) took the throne for himself and complete control of Scotland.

William WallWhen the king of Scotland died without an heir to the throne the nephew of the king also the king of England nicknamed Edward the Longshanks (Edward I) took the throne for himself and complete control of Scotland.

William Wallace was Born in January of the year 1272. He was the second of three sons. He was born in the town of Elerslie, which was in Scotland. His Father Sir Malcolm Wallace held the title of knight but had little to no political power. Wallace s Father was involved in a revolt called Turnberry Band when William was 14 years old and was sent to live with his uncle Argile. His Uncle taught William Latin and French and how to be a swordsmen.When William s father returned from the revolt at Turnberry Band William was 17 years old. Fighting between rival families and rival towns were heating up. Civil War was about to Break out in Scotland. Brawling and riots inside towns turned into full scale battles, Where in the Battle of Loudoun Hill William s father was involved and killed. William Stayed with his mother For two years until he met Murron Braidfoot and married her in the year 1272. There are many tales on how William Wallace became and outlaw after his marrige, one such is that one day Wil liam was fishing at a near by lake when a group of english soilders approached him and demanded william give them the fish he had caught. William trying to get food for himself and his wife said they could only take half. The soilders enraged lunged at William. But William fought off and killed both of the guards, forever becoming an outlaw. In The month of may 1272 A group of english soilders under the command of The English Sheriff of Lanark, William de Hazelrig ordered the death of William s wife. It seems that William had already started his revolt against England when his wife was murdered in an attempt to arrest Wallace. Wallace s huge act of rebellion attracted the attention of common folk and Scots nobles alike, all of whom were unwilling to bear Edward the Longshanks laws.

Rebelion forces under William Wallace were scattered all over scotland but they all submerged together and met a larger more equipped english army at the Battle of Stirling. The Battle of Stirling happened a little differently than portrayed in the film Braveheart. On September 11, 1297, The English forces were arrayed around Stirling Castle, while the Scots were opposite them across the forth, which wound through a valley. All that seperated the two armies was a bridge across the forth. Because of poor commanding by the English leaders, The english were trapped as they crossed the bridge and were slaughtered by the Scots.

In March of 1298 Wallace was Knighted by the scottish noble man Robert the bruce and was appointed guardian of Scotland.

Edward I finally headed for Scotland with his army in July of 1298 Sadly the english army was much larger than the Scots and despite Wallace s best efforts the english decimated the Scots at the battle of Falkirk. Wallace himself barely escaped and Some historians do belive that Robert the bruce helped Wallace escape from english soilders.

After Scotland s loss at Falkirk Wallace resignes as guardian of Scotland, no one knows what Wallace did for the next 3 years But some belive he led mild raids into england which only enraged King Edward I more. Many belive that someone betrayed Wallace at his capture near Glasgow by english forces where he was immiediatly sent to london to be executed for treason. The Sentance was immiediatly carried out Wallace was wrapped in oxhide and dragged several miles to Smithfield. Where he was hanged until almost unconscious and then tied two a table and disemboweled where the english set his entrails on fire while still attached to his body, he was possibly castrated as well and then beheaded.