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After Edward I's conquest of Scotland in 1296, Scottish resistance was led by one of the most famous figures in British history — William Wallace. His dramatic rise, his stunning victory at Stirling Bridge, his defeat at Falkirk, and his brutal execution made him a national hero and a symbol of Scottish independence.
After Balliol's surrender, Edward treated Scotland as a conquered territory:
| English Action | Impact on Scotland |
|---|---|
| English officials appointed to govern Scotland | Scottish nobles were sidelined; resentment grew |
| Heavy taxation imposed | Scottish communities were forced to fund English wars |
| English garrisons placed in Scottish castles | A visible symbol of occupation |
| The Stone of Scone taken to England | The most sacred symbol of Scottish kingship was removed |
| Scottish nobles forced to sign the Ragman Rolls | A document acknowledging Edward as their lord — humiliating for the Scottish aristocracy |
Key Term: The Ragman Rolls were documents signed by approximately 1,500 Scottish nobles, clergy, and burgesses acknowledging Edward I as their overlord. The name may derive from the ribbons (ragments) attached to the seals, or from a game called "Ragman." Signing the Rolls was seen by many Scots as a national humiliation.
William Wallace was a minor Scottish knight — not a great lord or nobleman. He came from Elderslie in Renfrewshire (near modern Glasgow).
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth | c.1270 (exact date unknown) |
| Family | Minor gentry; his father was Sir Malcolm Wallace |
| Status | A knight, but not a major landholder or nobleman |
| Motivation | Resistance to English occupation; reportedly, the English killed members of his family |
| Significance | His humble origins made him a symbol of popular resistance, unlike the noble-led revolts that preceded him |
In May 1297, Wallace killed the English Sheriff of Lanark, William Heselrig, reportedly in revenge for the murder of his wife (or sweetheart). This act sparked a wider revolt across Scotland.
Wallace joined forces with Andrew de Moray, who was leading a separate uprising in the north of Scotland. Together, they gathered a growing Scottish army.
Stirling Bridge was one of the greatest Scottish military victories in history. It demonstrated that an army of common Scots could defeat the professional English military.
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| English army | Led by John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey and Hugh de Cressingham (Edward's treasurer in Scotland); approximately 10,000 men including heavy cavalry |
| Scottish army | Led by William Wallace and Andrew de Moray; approximately 6,000 men, mostly spearmen |
| Location | The narrow wooden bridge over the River Forth at Stirling |
| English approach | The bridge was so narrow that only two horsemen could cross abreast |
| Phase | Events |
|---|---|
| English cross the bridge | Warenne sent his troops across the narrow bridge in a slow, disorganised column |
| Wallace springs the trap | When approximately half the English army had crossed, Wallace attacked, trapping the English between the river and the Scots |
| Slaughter on the north bank | The English on the north bank were cut off from reinforcements and surrounded. Heavy cavalry was useless in the marshy ground. |
| The bridge collapses | The bridge broke under the weight of retreating English soldiers, plunging many into the river |
| English rout | The remaining English forces on the south bank fled. Cressingham was killed and, according to tradition, his skin was used to make a sword belt for Wallace. |
| Outcome | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scottish victory | A stunning and complete victory against a superior force |
| English losses | Approximately 5,000 killed, including Cressingham |
| Andrew de Moray | Mortally wounded; died of his injuries shortly after the battle |
| Wallace | Appointed Guardian of Scotland — effective ruler of the country in Balliol's absence |
| Invasion of England | Wallace led raids into northern England, devastating Northumberland and Cumberland |
Exam Tip: Stirling Bridge was important not just as a military victory but as a psychological one. It proved that the English could be beaten and inspired further Scottish resistance. When writing about its significance, consider both the military and morale effects.
Edward I was furious about Stirling Bridge. He personally led a massive army into Scotland in the summer of 1298.
| Force | Composition |
|---|---|
| English | Approximately 15,000–25,000 men; included 2,500 heavy cavalry and 10,000–15,000 longbowmen and infantry |
| Scottish | Approximately 6,000–10,000 men; mainly spearmen formed into schiltrons (tight circular formations bristling with 12-foot pikes) |
| Phase | Events |
|---|---|
| Scottish schiltrons hold | The Scottish spearmen formed dense schiltrons that initially repelled the English cavalry charges |
| English longbows deployed | Edward ordered his longbowmen to fire into the packed schiltrons from a distance. The Scots had no answer to this. |
| Schiltrons broken | The arrow fire thinned the schiltrons, creating gaps that the English cavalry then exploited |
| Scottish rout | The Scottish cavalry and nobles fled the field early. The common spearmen were slaughtered. |
| Outcome | Detail |
|---|---|
| English victory | Decisive English victory; Scottish army destroyed |
| Scottish losses | Thousands killed, including many of Wallace's best fighters |
| Wallace | Resigned as Guardian of Scotland; went into hiding and possibly travelled to France seeking support |
| Scotland | The resistance continued under other leaders, including Robert the Bruce and John Comyn |
Wallace evaded capture for seven years. He was finally betrayed on 3 August 1305 by Sir John de Menteith, a Scottish knight loyal to Edward, and captured near Glasgow.
Wallace was taken to London and tried at Westminster Hall. He was charged with treason — though Wallace denied this, arguing he had never sworn loyalty to Edward and therefore could not be a traitor.
| Stage of Execution | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dragged through the streets | Tied to a horse and dragged through London to Smithfield |
| Hanged | Hanged but cut down while still alive |
| Drawn | His entrails were removed and burned before his eyes |
| Beheaded | His head was cut off and displayed on a spike on London Bridge |
| Quartered | His body was cut into four parts, sent to Newcastle, Berwick, Stirling, and Perth as a warning |
Exam Tip: Wallace's execution was intended to crush Scottish resistance, but it had the opposite effect. His death made him a martyr and a symbol of Scottish freedom. Within months, Robert the Bruce would launch his own bid for the Scottish throne, and the wars would continue long after Edward I's death.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| May 1297 | Wallace kills the Sheriff of Lanark; revolt begins |
| 11 September 1297 | Battle of Stirling Bridge — Scottish victory |
| 22 July 1298 | Battle of Falkirk — English victory |
| 3 August 1305 | Wallace captured near Glasgow |
| 23 August 1305 | Wallace executed at Smithfield, London |
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