William Wallace/Bio & Battles

"We come here with no peaceful intent, but ready for battle, determined to avenge our wrongs and set our country free."

- William Wallace

Sir William Wallace was a 13th century Scottish knight and one of the main leaders of the First War of Scottish Independence against the English king, Edward I. He has become an icon of Scottish history in many parts of the world beyond his own.

Little is known of Wallace's past. He was a member of the Scottish minor nobility, and possibly served as an archer in the army of Edward I. Wallace's youth was during a time of political turmoil. As a succession crisis was finally about to end, Edward, who had been invited to arbitrate, rejected the decision of the Scottish feudal court and declared himself to be Lord Paramount of Scotland, and defeated the lords who rejected his claim in battle.

The noblemen of Scotland were not completely pacified, however, and many of them worked to plot an uprising, Wallace included. The first true act of rebellion was Wallace's assassination of William Heselrig, and English sheriff. Wallace the gathered supports and began to conduct raids on English-held settlements. At the same time, other rebellions began to break out in other parts of Scotland.

Edward sent a large invasion force to put down the rebellions, but it was decisively defeated by Wallace at the Battle of Stirling Bridge, and the raids continued. Wallace was knighted for his efforts at Stirling. He also assumed the title of Guardian of Scotland. The following year, Edward personally lead a second invasion force, and crushed Wallace's army at the Battle of Falkirk. Wallace escaped, but his reputation suffered and he surrendered his title to Robert the Bruce.

Wallace traveled throughout mainland Europe in an attempt to gather support from England's enemies, with little success. He returned to Scotland and evaded capture for several years, but he was eventually arrested by a Scottish knight loyal to Edward. He was found guilty of treason and war crimes by the English, and sentenced to death. He was hanged, drawn, and quartered, and his dismembered body parts were displayed across Britain as a warning.

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