William Wallace
• Overview :- William Wallace was
made “Guardian of Scotland after his
success at the Battle of Stirling
Bridge in 1297. He was later stripped
of this honour after his humiliating
defeat at the Battle of Falkirk in
1298.
• Wallace was the third son of a Noble, Sir Malcolm
Wallace of Elderslie.
• Wallace became involved in the Wars of
Independence after murdering William Heselrig,
the Sheriff of Lanark in a revenge attack
• Heselrig had previously murdered Wallace’s wife
Marion Braidfute
• This was because she helped him escape after he
refused to sign the Ragman’s Roll
• Wallace along with Sir William Douglas then raided
various areas of Dumfries before heading North to
Stirling
• Wallace went into hiding aware that King Edward
was hunting him down.
• Andrew Murray had been fighting the English in
the North and chased them south
• He soon met up with Wallace and formed a strong
partnership.
• Wallace and Murray now headed the newly formed
“Army of Scotland”
• They eventually met the English at Stirling Bridge
on September 11th 1297
• The English led by Hugh De Cressinham, a much
hated tax collector and the Earl Surrey made
many mistakes
• Surrey firstly slept in, and the attack was halted
• When the “Battle” started the English were too
eager, instead of heading 2/3 miles to a wider
ford, they decided to cross the narrow bridge
• With a vastly superior army in both size and
fighting experience, Wallace had to get his tactics
correct
• Wide enough for only 2 horses, Wallace waited
until they were on the bridge and attacked
• With nowhere to turn and weighed down by their
heavy armour horses reared abd the bridge fell
• As Wallace and his men killed at ease, the English
retreated
• A famous victory was won !!
• De Cressingham was killed and skinned and the
English headed back across the border
• King Edward hastily returned from France and set
out to gain revenge on Wallace
• They would meet again at Falkirk in 1298
• Again Wallace was heavily outnumbered
• His tactics had changed
• He now relied on his archers and a formation
known as the Schiltron
• Unfortunately this time the superior English army
defeated Wallace’s men
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Wallace now went on the run
He had been stripped of his Guardianship
He was later betrayed by Sir John Monteith
Once captured he was taken to the Tower of
London where he was hung, drawn and quartered
• His arms and legs were cut off and sent to the
four corners of Scotland as a warning to anyone
else.
• After reading Section C you should be able to
answer the following questions:• Why would William Wallace not have been asked to
obey King Edward?
• Would the Scottish Nobles have made themselves
popular or unpopular at Irvine?
• Why would Wallace’s attack on Haselrig and
Ormsby made him popular?
• Make a list of the things Wallace and Murray did
to win the Battle of Stirling Bridge?
• List the things De Cressingham did to lose the
Battle?
• Why was it important that Wallace was made
Guardian?
• Why was it important to have a Scotsman made
Bishop of St Andrew’s?
• Why did Wallace have to organise a Scots army?
• Describe the Battle of Falkirk and the reasons why
Wallace was defeated?
• Did King Edward have control over Scotland after
this Battle?
• Give reasons why King Edward was able to punish
the Scots so severely in 1304?
• Why did King Edward punish William Wallace so
cruelly?