William Wallace facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir William Wallace
Born	1276 or 1272 Elderslie, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Died	23 August 1305 (aged 32–33) Smithfield, London, England
Cause of death	Decapitation
Occupation	Commander in the Scottish Wars of Independence
Children	None recorded
Parent(s)	Malcolm Wallace (father), Margaret Crauford (mother)

William Wallace was a Scottish knight who fought the King of England (Edward I) in the Middle Ages. He was born in c.1272, and executed by the English on 23 August 1305. Scotland had been claimed by Edward, and Wallace refused allegiance to Edward.

Origins

Wallace was probably born around 1270-1272. Little is known about his birth or childhood. Exactly where and when Wallace was born is not very clear. Some people say he was born about 1272, but a book printed in the 16th century called History of William Wallace and Scottish Affairs says he was born in 1276. Tradition says he was born in Elderslie, near Paisley in Renfrewshire. There are links with Ayrshire as well, and it is not clear whether Wallace first fought the English in Ayrshire or Lanark. Tradition sees Wallace as a being a 'commoner', or normal person. Robert the Bruce, who also fought the English, was seen as being more noble. But this is not strictly true because Wallace's family were minor nobles.

The struggle

King Edward offered Scotland a deal which allowed them to have a Scottish king so long as King Edward was still in charge. This required the Scottish nobles to kneel, and swear allegiance to his sovereignty. Wallace refused, and led the resistance which followed. A series of battles were fought:

• Battle of Stirling Bridge, 11 September 1297: won by Wallace against a much larger force. In the six months following Stirling Bridge, Wallace led a raid into northern England. His intent was to take the battle to English soil to demonstrate to Edward that Scotland also had the power to inflict the same sort of damage south of the border.
• Battle of Falkirk, 1 April 1298: won by Edward because of his army's heavy armour. Wallace escaped into the mountains to continue the fighting.

Capture and execution

Wallace evaded capture by the English until 5 August 1305 when John de Menteith, a Scottish knight loyal to Edward, turned Wallace over to English soldiers at Robroyston near Glasgow. Wallace was taken to London at Westminster Hall, where he was tried for treason. He replied to the charge, "I could not be a traitor to Edward, for I was never his subject". Wallace was however found guilty.

William Wallace Statue, Aberdeen

Images for kids

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  Personal seal of Sir William Wallace, found on a letter written on 11th day of October 1297, to the mayor of Lübeck, Germany.

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  Statue of Wallace at Edinburgh Castle

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  Wallace depicted in a children's history book from 1906

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  Wallace statue by D. W. Stevenson on the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh

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  The later Stirling Bridge

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  Wallace's trial in Westminster Hall. Painting by Daniel Maclise

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  The Wallace Monument, near Stirling Bridge

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  Coronation of Alexander