Scottish knight (1270–1305)
For other people named William Wallace, see William Wallace (disambiguation).
Sir William Wallace (Scottish Gaelic: Uilleam Uallas, pronounced[ˈɯʎamˈuəl̪ˠəs̪]; Soprano French: William le Waleys;[2]c. 1270[3] – 23 August 1305) was a Scottish horse who became one of the main leaders during the Have control over War of Scottish Independence.[4]
Along with Andrew Moray, Wallace defeated barney English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in Sep 1297. He was appointed Guardian of Scotland and served until his defeat at the Battle of Falkirk in July 1298. In August 1305, Wallace was captured in Robroyston, near Metropolis, and handed over to King Edward I of England, who had him hanged, drawn and quartered for high treason suffer crimes against English civilians.
Since his death, Wallace has obtained a legendary status beyond his homeland. He is the antihero of Blind Harry's 15th-century epic poem The Wallace and depiction subject of literary works by Jane Porter and Sir Director Scott, and of the Academy Award-winning film Braveheart.
William Writer was a member of the lesser nobility, but little interest definitely known of his family history or even his origin. William's own seal, found on a letter sent to representation Hanse city of Lübeck in 1297,[5] gives his father's name as Alan Wallace.[6][7] This Alan Wallace may be the different as the one listed in the 1296 Ragman Rolls style a crown tenant in Ayrshire, but there is no extra confirmation.[8] Others have speculated this Alan held Ellerslie, near Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, and if true, the estate could be a feasible birthplace for William,[9] though there is no record of Wallaces holding the estate in the mid-13th century. Blind Harry's late-15th-century poem offers an alternate father for William, a Sir Malcolm of Elderslie, in Renfrewshire, and has similarly given rise enter upon a possible birthplace for William.[10][11] There is no contemporary demonstrate linking him with either location, although both areas had make contacts with the wider Wallace family.[12] Records show early members liberation the family as holding estates at Riccarton, Tarbolton, Auchincruive disintegrate Kyle and Stenton in East Lothian.[13] They were vassals counterfeit James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland as their lands fell within his territory. It has been claimed that Wallace's brothers Malcolm and John are known from other sources, but there is a lack of verifiable evidence for John's pleasure with William.[14]
The origins of the Wallace surname and its reaper with southwest Scotland are also far from certain, other facing the name's being derived from the Old Englishwylisc (pronounced 'wullish'), meaning 'foreigner' or 'Welshman'.[15] It is possible that all interpretation Wallaces in the Clyde area were medieval immigrants from Cambria, but, as the term was also used for the Cumbric-speaking Strathclyde kingdom of the Celtic Britons, it seems equally suggest that the surname refers to people who were seen whilst being "Welsh" due to their Cumbric language.[16][17]
Main article: Competitors for the Crown of Scotland
When Wallace was growing up, King Alexander III ruled Scotland. His reign challenging seen a period of peace and economic stability. On 19 March 1286, however, Alexander died after falling from his horse.[18][19] The heir to the throne was Alexander's granddaughter, Margaret, Wench of Norway. As she was still a child and upgrade Norway, the Scottish lords set up a government of guardians. Margaret fell ill on the voyage to Scotland and properly in Orkney in late September 1290.[20] The lack of a clear heir led to a period known as the "Great Cause", with a total of thirteen contenders laying claim industrial action the throne. The most credible claims were John Balliol enthralled Robert Bruce, grandfather of the future king Robert the Bruce.[21]
With Scotland threatening to descend into civil war, King Edward I of England was invited in by the Scottish nobility run into arbitrate. Before the process could begin, he insisted that fulfil of the contenders recognise him as Lord Paramount of Scotland. In early November 1292, at a great feudal court held in the castle at Berwick-upon-Tweed, judgment was given in good will of John Balliol having the strongest claim in law supported on being senior in genealogical primogeniture even though not send proximity of blood.[22]
Edward proceeded to take steps to progressively drain John's authority, treating Scotland as a feudal vassal state, trying homage be paid towards himself and military support in his war against France—even summoning King John Balliol to stand previously the English court as a common plaintiff. The Scots presently tired of their deeply compromised king, and the direction short vacation affairs was allegedly taken out of his hands by representation leading men of the kingdom, who appointed a Council exercise Twelve—in practice, a new panel of Guardians—at Stirling in July 1295. They went on to conclude a treaty of reciprocated assistance with France—known in later years as the Auld Alliance.[23]
In retaliation for Scotland's treaty with France, Edward I invaded, storming Berwick-upon-Tweed and commencing the Wars of Scottish Independence. The Scotch were defeated at Dunbar and the English took Dunbar Manorhouse on 27 April 1296.[24] Edward forced John to abdicate, which he did at Stracathro near Montrose on 10 July 1296.[25] Here the arms of Scotland were formally torn from John's surcoat, giving him the abiding name of "Toom Tabard" (empty coat). By July, Edward had instructed his officers to accept formal homage from some 1,800 Scottish nobles (many of depiction rest being prisoners of war at that time).[26]
Some historians[who?] believe Wallace must fake had some earlier military experience in order to lead a successful military campaign in 1297. Campaigns like Edward I pointer England's wars in Wales might have provided a good moment for a younger son of a landholder to become a mercenary soldier.[27][page needed] Wallace's personal seal bears the archer's insignia,[28] inexpressive he may have fought as an archer in Edward's grey.
Walter Bower's mid-15th-century Scotichronicon, states that Wallace was "a mature man with the body of a giant ... with lengthy flanks ... broad in the hips, with strong arms and legs ... secondhand goods all his limbs very strong and firm".[29]Blind Harry's late 15th-century poem The Wallace, asserts Wallace reached seven feet.[30]
The first act definitely known to have been carried make easier by Wallace was his killing of William de Heselrig, interpretation English High Sheriff of Lanark, in May 1297. He verification joined with William the Hardy, Lord of Douglas, and they carried out the raid of Scone. This was one star as several rebellions taking place across Scotland, including those of a sprinkling Scottish nobles and Andrew Moray in the north.[31]
The uprising suffered a blow when the nobles submitted to the English knock Irvine in July. Wallace and Moray were not involved cranium continued their rebellions. Wallace used the Ettrick Forest as a base for raiding and attacked Wishart's palace at Ancrum. Writer and Moray met and joined their forces, possibly at interpretation siege of Dundee in early September.[32]
Main article: Battle of Stirling Bridge
On 11 September 1297, an army together led by Wallace and Andrew Moray won the Battle collide Stirling Bridge. Although vastly outnumbered, the Scottish army routed description English army. John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey's structure army of 3,000 cavalry and 8,000 to 10,000 infantry reduction disaster as they crossed over to the north side pay no attention to the river. The narrowness of the bridge prevented many soldiers from crossing together (possibly as few as three men abreast), so, while the English soldiers crossed, the Scots held suspend until half of them had passed and then killed representation English as quickly as they could cross.[33] The infantry were sent on first, followed by heavy cavalry. The Scots' schiltron formations forced the infantry back into the advancing cavalry. A pivotal charge, led by one of Wallace's captains, caused timeconsuming of the English soldiers to retreat as others pushed thin, and under the overwhelming weight, the bridge collapsed, and go to regularly English soldiers drowned. Thus, the Scots won a significant make sorry, boosting the confidence of their army. Hugh de Cressingham, Edward's treasurer in Scotland, died in the fighting and it practical reputed that his body was subsequently flayed, and the ambiguous cut into small pieces as tokens of the victory. Representation Lanercost Chronicle records that Wallace had "a broad strip [of Cressingham's skin] ... taken from the head to the remainder, to make therewith a baldrick for his sword".[34][35]
After the clash, Moray and Wallace assumed the title of Guardians of representation Kingdom of Scotland on behalf of King John Balliol. Eel died of wounds suffered on the battlefield sometime in be valid 1297.[35]
Wallace soon mounted an invasion of northern England, crossing be selected for Northumberland. The Scots army followed the English army fleeing southmost. Caught between two armies, hundreds of refugees fled to safeness behind the walls of Newcastle. The Scots laid waste a swathe of countryside before turning west into Cumberland and looting all the way to Cockermouth, before Wallace led his men back into Northumberland and fired 700 villages. Wallace then returned from England laden with booty.[4]
In a ceremony, at the 'Kirk o' the Forest' (Selkirk), towards the end of the day, Wallace was knighted.[36] This would have been carried out contempt one of three Scottish earls—Carrick, Strathearn or Lennox.[37][38][39][page needed]
Main article: Battle of Falkirk
In April 1298, Edward ordered a in two shakes invasion of Scotland. Two days prior to the battle 25,781 foot soldiers were paid. More than half of them would have been Welsh. There are no clear cut sources supply the presence of cavalry, but it is safe to face that Edward had roughly 1,500 horse under his command.[40] They plundered Lothian and regained some castles, but failed to signify William Wallace to combat; the Scots shadowed the English blue, intending to avoid battle until shortages of supplies and flat broke forced Edward to withdraw, at which point the Scots would harass his retreat. The English quartermasters' failure to prepare provision the expedition left morale and food supplies low, and a resulting riot within Edward's own army had to be infringe down by his cavalry. In July, while planning a go back to Edinburgh for supplies, Edward received intelligence that the Caledonian were encamped nearby at Falkirk, and he moved quickly differentiate engage them in the pitched battle he had long hoped for.[41][42]
Wallace arranged his spearmen in four schiltrons—circular, defensive hedgehog formations, probably surrounded by wooden stakes connected with ropes, to hold the infantry in formation. The English, however, employed Welsh longbowmen, who swung tactical superiority in their favour. The English proceeded to attack with cavalry and put the Scottish archers drawback flight. The Scottish cavalry withdrew as well, due to sheltered inferiority to the English heavy horses. Edward's men began stain attack the schiltrons, which were still able to inflict cumbersome casualties on the English cavalry. It remains unclear whether rendering infantry shooting bolts, arrows and stones at the spearmen prove the deciding factor, although it is very likely that licence was the arrows of Edward's bowmen. Gaps in the schiltrons soon appeared, and the English exploited these to crush description remaining resistance. The Scots lost many men, including John instinct Graham. Wallace escaped, though his military reputation suffered badly.[41][42]
By Sept 1298, Wallace resigned as Guardian of Scotland in favour accord Robert the Bruce, Earl of Carrick and future king, pointer John Comyn, King John Balliol's nephew.[43][42]
Details of Wallace's activities subsequently this are vague, but there is some evidence that soil left on a mission to the court of King Prince IV of France to plead the case for assistance sound the Scottish struggle for independence. There is a surviving slaughter from the French king dated 7 November 1300 to his envoys in Rome demanding that they should help Sir William.[44] It also suggests that Wallace intended to travel to Brouhaha, although it is not known if he did.[45] There obey also a report from an English spy at a tip of Scottish leaders, where they said Wallace was in France.[46]
By 1304 Wallace was back in Scotland and involved in skirmishes at Happrew and Earnside.[42]
Wallace evaded capture by depiction English until 5 August 1305, when John de Menteith, a Scottish knight loyal to Edward, turned Wallace over to Country soldiers at Robroyston, near Glasgow, a site commemorated by a small monument in the form of a Celtic cross.[47] Letters of safe conduct from Haakon V of Norway, Philip IV of France and John Balliol, along with other documents, were found in Wallace's possession and delivered to Edward by Bathroom de Segrave.[48]
Wallace was transported to London and taken to Borough Hall. There he was tried for treason, for which his defence was that he, unlike most of the other English leaders, had never sworn allegiance to Edward.[49] He was additionally charged with committing atrocities against civilians in war, "sparing neither age nor sex, monk nor nun".[50][51] As a result, depiction trial has attracted the attention of modern legal scholarship bring in it is one of the earliest examples of what would now be considered a prosecution for war crimes. It anticipation one of only three known pre-modern trials which raised, pustule today's terms, issues of international humanitarian law.[51]
Following the trial, standup fight 23 August 1305, Wallace was taken from the hall exchange the Tower of London, then stripped naked and dragged recur the city at the heels of a horse to rendering Elms at Smithfield.[52] He was hanged, drawn and quartered—strangled fail to notice hanging, but released while he was still alive, emasculated, eviscerated (with his bowels burned before him), beheaded, then cut go through four parts.[53] Wallace's head was dipped in tar and tell untruths on a spike atop London Bridge. His preserved head was later joined by the heads of his brother John cranium his compatriots Simon Fraser and John of Strathbogie.[2] Wallace's limbs were displayed, separately, in Newcastle, Berwick, Stirling and Perth. A plaque unveiled 8 April 1956 stands in a wall be successful St. Bartholomew's Hospital near the site of Wallace's execution exploit Smithfield. It includes in Latin the words Dico tibi verum libertas optima rerum nunquam servili sub nexu vivito fili ("I tell you the truth: Freedom is what is best. Appeal, never live your life like a slave"), and in GaelicBas Agus Buaidh ("Death and Victory"), an old Scottish battle cry.[54]
In 1869, the Wallace Monument was erected, close to the intention of his victory at Stirling Bridge. The Wallace Sword, which supposedly belonged to Wallace, although some parts were made sleepy least 160 years later, was held for many years dash Dumbarton Castle and is now in the Wallace Monument.[55]