Find me here:
  The Paranormal Guide
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Atlas
  • Glossary

Sir William Wallace

6/12/2013

Comments

 
Picture
William Wallace, immortalised in the film "Braveheart", is one of the most famous historical figures in Scotland. He fought for its independence over 700 years ago.

He was eventually captured, taken to London and executed in a tragic, brutal manner, by King Edward I.

Victory!

PictureWilliam Wallace
The story of Sir William Wallace has been immortalised by Mel Gibson’s portrayal in Braveheart. But want to know the real, tragic story?

Born around 1272, he is generally thought to have been the second child to Sir Malcolm Wallace, the Laird of Elderslie and Auchinbothie. He was not the eldest child, so was not assumed to inherit, and as such, spent much of his early life with his uncle, a priest. He was taught martial arts, horsemanship and swordsmanship. Unfortunately, Wallace’s Father and Brother were killed in a battle, making Wallace the heir to his father’s title.

King Edward I of England, otherwise known as Longshanks, had long desired to settle Scotland under his rule. When the King of Scotland died suddenly, without issue, his opportunity arose. The reasons for Longshanks invading Scotland are long and sordid… and are only relevant to this story in that they are what caused William Wallace to start his rebellion. So I will leave out all of the nitty gritty and just get to Wallace’s story.

PictureThe Battle of Stirling Bridge
Due to the number of English soldiers polluting the Scottish countryside, the nationalist fervour was on the rise. There was a scuffle in the town of Lanark, with an English Sheriff being killed in a market brawl. A young noble named William Wallace found himself at the heart of a fast spreading movement, against the English. More and more Scottish folk joined this movement, which culminated in a battle at Stirling Bridge. Wallace led the battle and won an astonishing victory, completely annihilating a large English army, who were lavishly equipped, under the command of Longshank’s viceroy, Surrey.

It is said that Wallace’s victory was only so absolute because the English horses were unable to manoeuvre their way through the marshy ground, coupled with the fact that the English troops where were trapped on a narrow bridge. It still sounds like strategic genius to me, so complete credit goes to Wallace.

Defeat!

PictureThe Wallace Sword
Wallace then began a guerrilla campaign, and fought the English under his own terms, until the English led a large army north in 1298 and pitched a second large battle at Falkirk. The horses were able to ride and the archers had freedom to move and see the battle ground, and this resulted in a stunning victory to the English, crushing the Scots.

This victory crushed Wallace’s spirits, and he was never again able to regain the status he had. In late 1299, Wallace decided to travel abroad and try and enlist foreign help. He travelled to France, and to Rome, hoping that the Pope would exert influence to try and curtail English deprivations in Scotland. He was finally captured by the English in 1305 and taken to London, and that is when his tragic death began…

Wallace was bound and marched through London in the middle of summer, as though he was some sort of military trophy. His trial was carried out in Westminster Hall on 23 August, 1305, before a bench of noblemen. His crimes were read out, a long indictment, which detailed his military victories, but which also included the murder of many English prisoners-of-war and treason against the King. Wallace yelled out, admitting all the charges against him except treason, arguing that he had never sworn allegiance to the English throne. Although this was a valid point, it mattered little, as Longshanks wanted him dead. Revenge tasted better than justice. Of course he was found ‘Guilty’. It is said that Edward Longshanks decreed that treason was a triple crime: against God, against man and against the King, so therefore a triple death sentence was issued – that he be hanged, eviscerated and decapitated.

Freedom!

PictureThe trial
Wallace’s sentence was carried out directly following his sham of a trial. He was chained to a hurdle (a piece of fencing) and dragged through the filthy street so the public could stone and mock him.

He was dragged to the Tower of London, and then on to Smithfield. He was then hanged, but before he could strangle to death, his noose was loosened.

While still held upright by the hangman’s rope, his genitals were cut off and burned in a brazier placed in front of him.

His stomach was then cut open and he was ritually disembowelled, with his entrails also being burnt in the brazier.


Picture
Although close to death, Wallace was still alive at this point. The executioner then cut open his chest and removed his heart, the final act in killing the man. Legend tells that the executioner then announced “Behold the heart of a traitor”, but no official documentation records this.

The rest was done fairly quickly, as Wallace had died by now, so the ‘fun’ was gone. Wallace was decapitated, then ‘quartered’, his body cut into four pieces. Parts of his body were sent to Berwick, Newcastle upon Tyne, Stirling and Perth, to demonstrate the price of treason. His head was set on a spike and mounted above London Bridge.

The King thought this horrible death would quell any talk of rebellion, but he was very wrong. In June, 1314, Robert the Bruce of Scotland defeated a much larger English army under Edward II at the Battle of Bannockburn. This battle marked a significant turning point in the battle between the English and the Scottish people.


By Peet Banks 2013
Put together by Ashley Hall 2013
Comments
comments powered by Disqus

    The Paranormal Guide Articles

    Here you will find all of the articles written for The Paranormal Guide on all things paranormal, strange, dark, macabre, weird, strange and bizarre!

    All photos with the blog posts remain the property of their respectful owners. If one of your photos is featured here without attribution please leave a comment on the blog and full credit will be given.

    Categories

    All
    Bizarre Experiments
    Conspiracy
    Cryptozoology
    Cursed And Haunted Objects
    Curses Demons And Exorcisms
    Earth Mysteries
    Fakes Frauds And Hoaxes
    Ghosts And Hauntings
    Ghosts Ghouls And Demons
    Interesting And Inspiring People
    Investigations
    Miracles
    My Paranormal
    Paranormal Photos
    Paranormal Vocabulary
    Phobias And Philias
    Post Mortem Practices
    Psychics Predictions And Seers
    Questions And Discussions
    Reviews
    Spirituality And Miracles
    Spirituality And Miracles
    Strange And Macabre Places
    Strange And Tragic Deaths
    This Week In Dark History
    Tragedy
    True Crime And Punishment
    Ufos And Aliens
    Unsolved Mysteries
    Urban Legend Superstition And Folklore
    Weird Odd And Bizarre


    Ashley Hall -
    The Paranormal Guide

    Ashley Hall explores The Paranormal, True Crime, Strange Deaths, Dark History, The Weird, The Strange and The Bizarre! Fact or Fiction? You decide!

    Picture

    Contributors

    Picture
    Matty Sweeney
    Picture
    Peet Banks
    Picture
    Nic Hume

    Picture
    Check out The Paranormal Guide Podcast and join three paranormal investigators and researchers for honest and raw discussions on all things paranormal, strange, dark and macabre HERE!

    Archives

    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

    Please note that dates are from when the article was originally made.
    The Paranormal Guide does have posts all the way up to the current date.


    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.