Great Scottish Knight:

William Wallace 

Main Life Accomplishments:

Was a knight and Scottish patriot who led a resistance to the English occupation of Scotland during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Technically, having sworn fealty to the English King, Wallace can also be correctly labelled a traitor.

Wallace was the inspiration for the poem The Acts and Deeds of Sir William Wallace, Knight of Elderslie by the 15th century minstrel Blind Harry. This work is purported to be a piece of creative writing, creating a myth-history rather than empirical historical document, and is responsible for much of the legend encompassing Wallace. The 1995 fictious film Braveheart is based on the poem.
 

Basics:

Born: Born c.1270s in Elderslie, Scotland

Died:  August 23, 1305

Nationality:  Scottish

Religion:   

Fields:   Military

Main Accomplishments:  Basis of fiction biopic Braveheart.

 

Chronology of Life Events:

c. 1270

Birth of William Wallace

 

1296 - 1297

Wallace was involved in several actions where the English invariably lost.

 

May 1297

The young maiden Wallace courted and married in Blind Harry's tale.

 

Jul 1297

Wallace left Selkirk Forest with his followers to join Andrew Moray at Stirling.

 

Sep 11 1297

Wallace won the Battle of Stirling Bridge

 

1298

Wallace lost the Battle of Falkirk.

 

Apr 1 1298

The English invaded Scotland at Roxburgh

 

Sep 1298

Wallace had decided to resign as Guardian of Scotland in favour of Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, and John Comyn of Badenoch, ex-King John Balliol's brother-in-law. Wallace left with William Crawford

 

1302

Wallace spurned such moves towards peace.

 

1303

Squire Guthrie was sent to France to ask Wallace and his men to return to Scotland,

 

Aug 5, 1305

Wallace evaded capture by the English

 

Aug 23, 1305

Wallace was taken from the hall, stripped naked and dragged through the city at the heels of a horse to Smithfield Market. He was executed.

 

Early Life:

Wallace's birthdate and birthplace are disputed. While some suggest Wallace was born around 1270, the 16th century work History of William Wallace and Scottish Affairs claims 1276 as his year of birth. Traditionally his birthplace is claimed to be Elderslie, near Paisley in Renfrewshire, although it has been suggested that his birthplace was closer to Rowlands Gill, an alternative name for Derwent Park, near Hurlford and Kilmarnock in Ayrshire. In support of the Elderslie origins some proposed that William's traditional father—known as Malcolm Wallace until recently when David Wallace's seal was found — David Wallace of Low Fell, a knight and vassal to James the Steward, actually came from Riccarton, Ayrshire, near Loudoun.

At the time of Wallace's birth, King Alexander III had reigned for over twenty years. His rule had seen a period of peace and economic stability, and he had successfully fended off continuing English claims to sovereignty. In 1286, Alexander died after falling from his horse. None of his children survived him. The Scottish lords declared Alexander's four year-old granddaughter, Margaret (called "the Maid of Norway"), Queen. Due to her age the Scottish lords set up an interim government to administer Scotland until she came of age. King Edward I of England took advantage of the instability by arranging the Treaty of Birgham with the lords, betrothing Margaret to his son, Edward, on the understanding that Scotland would preserve its status as a separate kingdom. Margaret, however, fell ill and died at only seven years old (1290) on her way from her native Norway to Scotland. A number of claimants to the Scottish throne came forward almost immediately.
 

Wife Background:

Marion Cornellia Braidfute born ABT 1276 in Lamington, Scotland died, May 1297 (Executed by William Hezelrig, Sheriff of Lanark).

In revenge Wallace killed the sheriff in revenge and rises up against the English. However there is no solid evidence of Wallace ever being married to a Marion Braidfute, and many historians believe Wallace did not fight for a woman but only for his country’s freedom. Although this possibility is considered to perhaps be true, that indeed Wallace's wife/spouse was killed by the unspeakable Heselrig after a unsucessful attempt to capture Wallace after his wife/spouses family had aided his escape. Wallace in revenge gathered some desperate men and fell by night on the Sheriff and his armed guard, with Wallace himself slaying the Sheriff, legend says hewing him into pieces with his sword, and then burning the buildings with the English guards inside. From here on there was no turning back, for the first time one of the high officials of the hated conquerers had been slain and a ripple of unrest and jubilation soon spread through the opressed Scottish.
 

Father Background:

Sir Malcolm Wallace was Lord of Elderslie, Scotland, and father of the William Wallace. He was born in 1249 and married Lady Margaret Craufurd. They had five children: Two older girls, then Malcolm 2nd, Sir William, and Sir John. When Sir Malcolm and his son Malcolm 2nd refused to swear allegiance to Edward I of England, they stole away in hiding for several months. Upon their return, at the Battle of Loudoun Hill, they were ambushed by the English and killed brutally.

Malcolm Wallace died on 23 Aug 1305

 

Mother Background:

Margaret Craufurd, a daughter of the Craufurds of Loudon, the hereditary sheriffs of Ayr. From this acorn, grew the Wallace oak at Elderslie and to this day the town with its magnificent Wallace Monument is hailed as the birthplace of William Wallace.

 

Who was married to his father Sir Malcolm Wallace of Riccarton near Kilmarnock in Ayrshire.

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