Sir William Wallace Is Executed
Sir William Wallace was a Scottish patriot and a key figure in the struggle for Scotland's independence from English rule in the late 13th century. Born around 1272, he emerged as a leader following the death of King Alexander III, which led to a power vacuum and a series of conflicts over the Scottish throne. Wallace gained fame after his remarkable victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, where he, alongside a coalition of Scottish nobles, defeated the English forces. However, his success was short-lived, as he suffered a defeat at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298. After several years of evading capture, he was ultimately betrayed in 1305 and handed over to the English.
On August 23, 1305, Wallace was executed in London under the orders of King Edward I, following a brutal period of torture. His execution was intended as a warning to others who might consider rebelling against English authority. Wallace's legacy has endured over the centuries, symbolizing the fight for national identity and resistance against oppression. His life and struggles were notably dramatized in the 1995 film "Braveheart," which contributed to his status as a national hero in Scotland.
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Sir William Wallace Is Executed
Sir William Wallace Is Executed
Sir William Wallace, a Scottish patriot and national hero, was executed by the English on August 23, 1305, after several years of fighting for Scotland's independence.
Scotland, now part of the United Kingdom, occupies the northern portion of the island of Great Britain. In ancient times it was settled by the Celts, who displaced the earlier population of Picts. They in turn were subjected to invasions and other influences by peoples from Germany, Scandinavia, and elsewhere. Celtic society was based on loyalty to tribal subdivisions known as clans, rather than to the tribe at large or any kind of nation-state. This system divided the Celts and made them vulnerable to their more advanced enemies, particularly the English, whose country to the south was far more populous and economically developed than Scotland. (Even today, Scotland has only about 5 million inhabitants.) The English came to dominate the more settled Lowland regions, such as the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, from an early time. However, the Celts were fierce warriors, and the rugged mountains of the Highlands would never truly be conquered by the English until the 18th century.
Scotland had its kings, like England, but their authority was far more tenuous with no firm line of succession or guarantee of loyalty from the various clan leaders. Therefore, when King Alexander III died in 1286 with no one but his baby granddaughter Margaret, “the Maid of Norway,” to take his throne, there was a struggle for succession. Margaret's father was the king of Norway, but he was only 16 years old, and Margaret herself died in 1290 while aboard a ship on her first trip ever to Scotland. Over a dozen claimants to the throne fought to become the next ruler, and King Edward I of England took advantage of the situation by supporting the Baliol clan's bid for power. John de Baliol became the nominal king, but he was England's vassal and Edward was the real ruler of Scotland. When Baliol tried to rebel, Edward invaded and crushed his army in 1296, taking direct control of the country.
Beginning in 1297, there was another rebellion, this time led by William Wallace. Little is known about his early life, although it is believed that he was born sometime in the year 1272, probably at Elderslie near Paisley. Wallace was also most likely a member of the lesser gentry, the son of a landowner whose descendants would later become part of the Stewart royal family. He became a leader among the Highlanders, and with the assistance of many Scottish nobles he defeated the English on September 11, 1297, at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. However, Edward counterattacked and defeated Wallace and the Scots at the Battle of Falkirk on July 22, 1298. Wallace was able to avoid capture for several years, either by taking refuge in France or among Scottish guerrilla forces, but he was betrayed in 1305 and handed over to the English. Edward had him tortured and executed on August 23, 1305, in London, and Wallace's body parts were put on display in several cities as a warning to future Scottish rebels. The Oscar-winning film Braveheart (1995) was loosely based on the events of Wallace's life.