Details

Name

William Wallace

Brief Biography

about 1270–1305, Scottish

Description

Sir William Wallace was a Scottish patriot. Most of his life is shrouded in legend, only the years 1297–99 being firmly documented. He is thought to have been born at Elderslie, Renfrewshire, and to have spent his early life at Dunipace. Outlawed by the English for his slaughter of an Englishman named Selby at Dundee, he gathered around himself a band of followers who attacked the English forces in Scotland. After the Treaty of Irvine of 1927, in which Scottish nobles agreed to acknowledge King Edward as their sovereign lord, Wallace led an insurrection which led to the Battle of Stirling Bridge and to the English being driven from Scotland. Wallace was then elected guardian of the Kingdom. He was, however, defeated at Falkirk in 1298 by Edward’s invading army and was forced to seek safety in flight. Captured, reputedly by treachery, at Robroyston near Glasgow on 5 August 1305, he was taken to London where he was put to death. His legendary bodily strength allied to his fierce patriotism and courage made Wallace an inspiration to his Scottish followers.