On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look at the life of a soldier, patriot, murderer, and traitor, Scotland’s own William Wallace. During the war for Scottish independence, Wallace grew to meteoric importance and was a cunning strategist and sometimes cruel warlord. He would fight for freedom wherever there’s trouble (or was that GI Joe?), and ultimately become the highest rank of knight possible in Scotland, while simultaneously becoming the worst villain England had ever known.

Not much is known about William Wallace’s childhood. Historians claim he was born around 1270, and he was born to lesser nobility. Many think (based on accounts of him in battle and his personal crest) that was an archer in a mercenary army as a young man. Either way, he settled down and married Marion Braidfute. Now during all of this, Scotland was in strife. Its king died falling from a horse (like you do), and the country was on the verge of civil war trying to determine who would take the throne. Eventually, King Edward of England decided he would, and he invaded Scotland, where many historians say he ruled with draconian methods.

Wallace’s father died fighting off this invasion, and his wife was killed by a British sheriff. So Wallace said, enough! He went and burned down the sheriff’s town of Lanark with a band of 30 men. The rebellion was born, and a price was put on Wallace’s head. But, he’s William Wallace. So, instead of hiding out, he went town to town and gathered more men to fight with. Eventually, he gathered an army and scored an astounding victory at the Battle of Sterling Bridge. He was woefully outnumbered by seasoned British troops, but he out-played them and slaughtered them. This made the new king of Scotland, John Balliol, declare him a knight of the realm. William Wallace freed towns and captured castles. He motivated all of Scotland to want freedom, and he also made a belt for his sword out of the skin of an Englishman.

After suffering a defeat at the Battle of Fallkirk, he left military life and tried his hand at diplomacy. He recruited the aid of France (though they later backed out of the deal) and was said to even visit the Pope to try and get help. Eventually, he returned to Scotland and returned to fighting. He tried to get another Scottish rebel named Robert the Bruce to join the fight again, and when he was going to meet up, he was double crossed and captured.

So, who set the trap and why would another good Scot capture William Wallace? How was he killed? Was it as bad as it looked in the movie Braveheart, or was it worse? What were his last word’s alleged to be? Listen, laugh, learn.

 

Visit Our Sources:

https://www.biography.com/military-figure/william-wallace

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wallace

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wallace_(poem)

https://www.nationalwallacemonument.com/sir-william-wallace/

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/William-Wallace-Robert-The-Bruce/

https://historycollection.co/excruciating-death-braveheart-execution-revealed-account-william-wallaces-final-days/

https://learnodo-newtonic.com/william-wallace-interesting-facts