Action at Lanark facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Action at Lanark
Part of the First War of Scottish Independence
Date May 1297 Location Lanark Result Scottish victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Scotland	Kingdom of England
Commanders and leaders
William Wallace	William Heselrig  †
Strength
unknown	unknown
Casualties and losses
unknown	unknown

The Action at Lanark was an important event during the First War of Scottish Independence. It happened in May 1297 in Lanark, Scotland. During this time, Scotland was fighting for its freedom from England.

A famous Scottish leader named William Wallace led a surprise attack here. He and his supporters rose up against the English. They targeted William Heselrig, who was the English Sheriff of Lanark. This attack was part of a bigger movement. Many Scots were rising up against English rule across the country.

What Really Happened at Lanark?

It's a bit tricky to know exactly what happened during the Action at Lanark. We don't have many detailed records from that time. The best information we have comes from a book called Scalacronica. This book was written by Thomas Grey. His father, also named Thomas Grey, was actually there when it happened.

According to this account, a fight broke out during a court meeting held by Sheriff Heselrig. William Wallace managed to escape during the chaos. Someone named Innes helped him get away. Some historians think Innes might have been Wallace's wife.

After escaping, Wallace quickly gathered some supporters. He then returned and attacked Heselrig and his men. During this attack, Sheriff Heselrig was killed. Thomas Grey senior, the chronicler's father, was also nearly killed. Wallace's group also set fire to some buildings in Lanark.

This event was a key moment for Wallace. After the Action at Lanark, he continued his fight against the English. His rebellion grew, leading to a major victory just four months later. This big win happened at the Battle of Stirling Bridge.

The Story of Wallace's Wife

A famous poem from the 15th century tells a different version of the Lanark story. This poem is called The Wallace. It was written by a poet known as Blind Harry.

In Blind Harry's poem, Wallace attacks Lanark for a very personal reason. The poem says that Sheriff Heselrig had killed Wallace's beloved wife. Wallace then carried out the attack to get revenge for her death. The poem also claims that Wallace treated Heselrig's body very harshly after killing him.

We don't know for sure who Wallace's wife was. Her name is often believed to be Marion Braidfute. However, some historians question if she even existed. A writer named Ed Archer looked into this in 2005. He found that Marion Braidfute wasn't mentioned in any records before a later version of Blind Harry's poem in 1570. Archer thought this later version might have been changed to help a family called the Baillies of Lamington. They wanted to show they were related to Wallace through the Braidfute family. This connection might have helped them gain favor with Mary, Queen of Scots.

Lanark in Movies

The story of the Action at Lanark has also appeared in movies. One of the most famous is the 1995 film Braveheart. In the movie, Wallace's wife is called Murron MacClannough. Her execution by the English happens just before Wallace leads his attack on Lanark. This event in the film is shown as the main reason for Wallace's rebellion.