William Wallace

William Wallace

Sir William Wallace was a Scottish knight who became one of the main leaders during the First War of Scottish Independence. He is the protagonist of Blind Harry’s 15th-century epic poem The Wallace and the subject of literary works by Sir Walter Scott and Jane Porter. Little is definitely known of his family history or even his parentage. The origins of the Wallace surname and its association with southwest Scotland are also far from certain.

About William Wallace in brief

Summary William WallaceSir William Wallace was a Scottish knight who became one of the main leaders during the First War of Scottish Independence. Along with Andrew Moray, Wallace defeated an English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in September 1297. In August 1305, Wallace was captured in Robroyston, near Glasgow, and handed over to King Edward I of England, who had him hanged, drawn and quartered for high treason and crimes against English civilians. Since his death, Wallace has obtained an iconic status far beyond his homeland. He is the protagonist of Blind Harry’s 15th-century epic poem The Wallace and the subject of literary works by Sir Walter Scott and Jane Porter, and of the Academy Award-winning film Braveheart. Little is definitely known of his family history or even his parentage. The origins of the Wallace surname and its association with southwest Scotland are also far from certain, other than the name’s being derived from the Old English wylisc, meaning ‘foreigner’ or ‘Welshman’ It is possible that all the Wallaces in the Clyde area were medieval immigrants from Wales, but as the term was also used for the Cumbric-speaking Strathclyde kingdom of the Celtic Britons, it seems equally likely that the surname refers to people who were seen as being ‘welsh’ due to their Cumbic language. Wallace’s brothers Malcolm and John are known from other sources. The lack of a clear heir led to a period known as the \”Great Cause\”, with a total of thirteen contenders laying claim to the throne.

The most credible claims were John Balliol and Robert Bruce, grandfather of future king. Before the process could begin, he insisted that all 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 favour of JohnBalliol having the strongest claim in law based on being senior in genealogical primogeniture even though he was not in proximity to the court. In retaliation for Scotland’s treaty with France, Edward I invaded Scotland, storming Berwick and commencing the Scottish Wars of independence. They went on to conclude a treaty of mutual assistance with France with later years as the Auld Alliance. In 1295, they went to Stirling and concluded a treaty on mutual assistance to conclude the Treaty of Berwick on Stirling in July 1295. The treaty was signed by James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland as their lands fell within his territory. The Scottish lords set up a government of guardians. As she was still a child and in Norway, Margaret, Maid of Norway, died in Orkney in late September 1290. Margaret fell ill on the voyage to Scotland and died inLate 1290, and the Scottish Lords set up an government of Guardians.