Wars of Independence: William Wallace

BBC ^

[SoFloFreeper]

'This is the truth I tell you: of all things freedom’s most fine. Never submit to live, my son, in the bonds of slavery entwined.’ William Wallace...

On 11th September Wallace and Murray achieved a stunning victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. The English left with 5,000 dead on the field, including their despised treasurer, Hugh Cressingham, whose flayed skin was taken as a trophy of victory and to make a belt for Wallace’s sword. The Scots suffered one significant casualty, Andrew Murray, who was badly wounded and died two months later.

'Commander of the Army of the Kingdom of Scotland’ - the outlaw Wallace was now knighted and made Guardian of Scotland in Balliol’s name at the forest kirk, at either Selkirk or Carluke.

It was a remarkable achievement for a mere knight to hold power over the nobles of Scotland. In a medieval world obsessed with hierarchy, Wallace’s extraordinary military success catapulted him to the top of the social ladder. He now guided Scottish policy. Letters were dispatched to Europe proclaiming Scotland’s renewed independence and he managed to obtain from the Papacy the appointment of the patriotic Bishop Lamberton to the vacant Bishopric of St Andrews.

[SoFloFreeper]

Yes, and if the legend in the film is correct, he screamed his last words loud enough for the king to hear him, “Freedom!”

[IronJack]

In all likelihood, the king was nowhere near the execution site in Smithfield. And Wallace’s last words were more probably something along the lines of “Ouch!”

But it’s his LIFE that’s important, not the details of his death. Leave glorious deaths to martyrs; we need LIVE soldiers.