William Wallace: Hero or Traitor?

Wallace was born in around 1270 in Ayrshire, Scotland. He and his brother Malcolm trained in the martial arts of the time, - including horsemanship and swordsmanship. Writers say that William was a large, powerful man. He reportedly stood more than six and a half feet tall, - a giant at a time when the average height of an infantryman was only slightly more than five feet.

His father was Sir Malcolm Wallace, Laird of Elderslie and Auchinbothie, a small landowner and little-known Scottish knight. It is likely that the death of his father at the hands of the English contributed to Wallace's lifelong desire to fight for his nation's independence. William Wallace's father was killed in a skirmish with English troops in 1291.

Wallace murdered Sir William Heselrig in May, 1297 and cut up his corpse, supposedly to avenge the death of Marion Branduite the young maiden Wallace allegedly courted and married in secret. The story has not be confirmed.

Little is known about Wallace's life during this period, except that he lived the life of an outlaw, moving constantly to avoid the English, and occasionally confronting them with characteristic ferocity.

William Wallace’s sword

The Campbells aided Wallace in his pursuit of Scottish freedom.

A Little History King Edward I (known as Edward "Longshanks") came to the throne of England in 1272, two years after Wallace was born. King Edward had a son who later became Edward II Scotland was occupied by the English at this time and hadits own internal conflicts. The various Scottish nobles plotted against one another, variously aligning themselves with King Edward or defying their loyalty to him when it suited them. At the same time English troops operated freely throughout Scotland from stockaded camps and fortified garrisons. Civilian life was dangerous, and abuses by the English against the common people were numerous. The Scottish nobles did little to maintain the rule of law and protect Scots from harm.

Princess Isabelle of France Prince Edward, later Edward II King Edward I, Longshanks

Sir William evaded capture by the English until August 5, 1305, when a Scottish knight loyal to Edward, turned Wallace over to English soldiers. Wallace was transported to London. He responded to the charge, "I could not be a traitor to Edward, for I was never his subject." However, Wallace was declared guilty. On August 23, 1305, following the trial Wallace was removed from the courtroom, stripped naked and dragged at the heels of a horse to Smithfield Market. He was strangled by hanging, but released near death, castrated, drawn and quartered, and beheaded. His head was placed on a pike atop London Bridge, and his limbs were displayed, separately, in different English and Scottish cities.

Almost immediately after Wallace’s death, Robert I the Bruce revived the national rebellion that was to win independence for Scotland. He succeeded and was crowned king of Scotland in 1306.