The movie William Wallace was based upon the life of Sir William Wallace, one of the greatest heroes in Scottish history. He was the leader of the Scottish resistance, which fought to free Scotland of English rule in the 13th century. He was born around 1720 in Ellerslie, Scotland and was the second son to Sir Malcolm Wallace and Margaret de Crauford. Wallace is said to have spent most of his early childhood with his uncle who was a priest and he himself would study for the priesthood, which was common of a second son who did not inherit land or titles. The death of Alexander III in 1286 changed Wallace and the life of Scotland as King Edward I of England took advantage of instability in Scotland to occupy the country. In all of this instability there were fights among the English and Scottish and Wallace’s father was killed in a skirmish with English troops in 1291. Many believe this led to Wallace’s lifelong desire to fight for Scottish independence.
There was widespread animosity and defiance against the English throughout Scotland and in the village of Ayr Wallace was involved in a fight with English soldiers killing several of them. He was thrown in a dungeon and left to die, but with the aid of local villages was brought back to health and recruited other rebels to begin his assault against the English. Soon he no longer was a mere outlaw, but instead the leader of the local military and an enemy of King Edward I. On September 11 of 1297 he defeated the English army at a battle near Stirling while being greatly out numbered. He even invaded northern England and ravaged northern towns owned by the English. However, in 1298 England invaded with 90000 men and the Scots were too outnumbered and outmatched by the English Longbow Men. Wallace retreated after this battle and little was know of his whereabouts until 1303.
In August of 1305 he was betrayed by a Scottish knight and arrested near Glasgow. He was condemned as a traitor although he had never declared allegiance to King Edward I or England. He was cruelly tortured and executed, but this punishment did not have the effect the King had hoped as Scots were now more determined than ever to be free. A rebellion was reborn under Robert I the Bruce and they won their freedom in 1306.
