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May 3rd, 1297 - Action at Lanark
For More Events on This Day in Scottish History - https://bagtownclans.com/index.php/thisday/may-3/
Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we journey to the town of Lanark, on May 3rd, 1297—a date that would ignite one of the most potent symbols of Scottish resistance. It was on this day that William Wallace, a man not yet legend, took his first bold step into the fires of rebellion by slaying the English-appointed Sheriff of Lanark, Sir William de Heselrig. And if you’re curious about other fascinating events that happened on this day in history, be sure to check out my blog at bagtownclans.com/thisday. The link will be in the description!
To understand the gravity of this moment, we must first recall the suffocating climate of English occupation. Since the death of Alexander III and the subsequent crisis of succession, Scotland had fallen into turmoil. King Edward I of England—ever ambitious, ever domineering—saw opportunity. He installed his own authority across Scotland, placing English sheriffs and constables to govern Scottish towns, collect taxes, and enforce his rule. Lanark, a key town on the River Clyde, was one such place where English boots stomped heavily upon Scottish soil.
Wallace, by most accounts, was still a young man in 1297. The details of his early life remain cloaked in myth and legend, but what is certain is his fierce disdain for English rule. Some chroniclers say it was personal tragedy that brought him to the edge—his wife, Marion Braidfute, was reportedly murdered by English soldiers or directly by Heselrig himself after Wallace refused to bow to authority. Whether myth or truth, this tale captured the spirit of a man driven by both personal and national vengeance.
On that fateful day, Wallace and a small band of rebels descended upon Lanark. What unfolded was less a battle and more an act of precise and purposeful fury. Heselrig was killed, his garrison scattered or slain, and the English grip on the town temporarily broken. The sheer audacity of the attack sent ripples across the land.
In killing Heselrig, Wallace did more than avenge a personal wrong—he sent a clear and thunderous message. The Scots were no longer willing to be governed by foreign law. This was not a spontaneous riot. It was a calculated strike, and its symbolism would light the fire of rebellion across southern Scotland.
What followed was nothing short of astonishing. Word of Wallace’s stand spread like wildfire. Local leaders, peasants, and warriors who had long suffered in silence now saw that resistance was not only possible but stirringly real. Small uprisings flared in Ayr, Renfrew, and beyond. Wallace, once an outlaw, was now becoming the face of a people’s fight.
The action at Lanark marked the beginning of what would become Wallace’s campaign of resistance. In the months to follow, he would strike at English forces with unrelenting guerrilla tactics, culminating in his most famous victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in September 1297. But it all began here—with a single, visceral act that reverberated throughout a nation.
It’s important to note, though, that Lanark was never meant to be the final blow. Wallace was not driven solely by vengeance. He envisioned a Scotland free from the yoke of tyranny—a Scotland governed by its own laws, its own customs, and its own people. And while his story ends in betrayal and brutal execution, his legacy was immortal. The Lanark uprising transformed him from a local rebel into a national hero, a martyr, and a symbol of Scottish defiance.
Today, Lanark remembers Wallace not just as a warrior, but as a catalyst of change. A statue now stands in the town, bearing his likeness—long hair, broadsword, and a gaze fixed defiantly toward the horizon. And while history can sometimes blur the lines between fact and legend, the impact of that May morning in 1297 remains crystal clear.
Thank you for joining me today on This Day in Scottish History. I hope you’ve enjoyed this tale of rebellion, loss, and unyielding courage. Don't forget to check out my blog for more historical events at bagtownclans.com/thisday. Tune in tomorrow for another journey through Scotland’s remarkable past. I'm Colin MacDonald—Haste Ye Back!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bagtown.substack.com
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By Bagtown ClansFor More Events on This Day in Scottish History - https://bagtownclans.com/index.php/thisday/may-3/
Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we journey to the town of Lanark, on May 3rd, 1297—a date that would ignite one of the most potent symbols of Scottish resistance. It was on this day that William Wallace, a man not yet legend, took his first bold step into the fires of rebellion by slaying the English-appointed Sheriff of Lanark, Sir William de Heselrig. And if you’re curious about other fascinating events that happened on this day in history, be sure to check out my blog at bagtownclans.com/thisday. The link will be in the description!
To understand the gravity of this moment, we must first recall the suffocating climate of English occupation. Since the death of Alexander III and the subsequent crisis of succession, Scotland had fallen into turmoil. King Edward I of England—ever ambitious, ever domineering—saw opportunity. He installed his own authority across Scotland, placing English sheriffs and constables to govern Scottish towns, collect taxes, and enforce his rule. Lanark, a key town on the River Clyde, was one such place where English boots stomped heavily upon Scottish soil.
Wallace, by most accounts, was still a young man in 1297. The details of his early life remain cloaked in myth and legend, but what is certain is his fierce disdain for English rule. Some chroniclers say it was personal tragedy that brought him to the edge—his wife, Marion Braidfute, was reportedly murdered by English soldiers or directly by Heselrig himself after Wallace refused to bow to authority. Whether myth or truth, this tale captured the spirit of a man driven by both personal and national vengeance.
On that fateful day, Wallace and a small band of rebels descended upon Lanark. What unfolded was less a battle and more an act of precise and purposeful fury. Heselrig was killed, his garrison scattered or slain, and the English grip on the town temporarily broken. The sheer audacity of the attack sent ripples across the land.
In killing Heselrig, Wallace did more than avenge a personal wrong—he sent a clear and thunderous message. The Scots were no longer willing to be governed by foreign law. This was not a spontaneous riot. It was a calculated strike, and its symbolism would light the fire of rebellion across southern Scotland.
What followed was nothing short of astonishing. Word of Wallace’s stand spread like wildfire. Local leaders, peasants, and warriors who had long suffered in silence now saw that resistance was not only possible but stirringly real. Small uprisings flared in Ayr, Renfrew, and beyond. Wallace, once an outlaw, was now becoming the face of a people’s fight.
The action at Lanark marked the beginning of what would become Wallace’s campaign of resistance. In the months to follow, he would strike at English forces with unrelenting guerrilla tactics, culminating in his most famous victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in September 1297. But it all began here—with a single, visceral act that reverberated throughout a nation.
It’s important to note, though, that Lanark was never meant to be the final blow. Wallace was not driven solely by vengeance. He envisioned a Scotland free from the yoke of tyranny—a Scotland governed by its own laws, its own customs, and its own people. And while his story ends in betrayal and brutal execution, his legacy was immortal. The Lanark uprising transformed him from a local rebel into a national hero, a martyr, and a symbol of Scottish defiance.
Today, Lanark remembers Wallace not just as a warrior, but as a catalyst of change. A statue now stands in the town, bearing his likeness—long hair, broadsword, and a gaze fixed defiantly toward the horizon. And while history can sometimes blur the lines between fact and legend, the impact of that May morning in 1297 remains crystal clear.
Thank you for joining me today on This Day in Scottish History. I hope you’ve enjoyed this tale of rebellion, loss, and unyielding courage. Don't forget to check out my blog for more historical events at bagtownclans.com/thisday. Tune in tomorrow for another journey through Scotland’s remarkable past. I'm Colin MacDonald—Haste Ye Back!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bagtown.substack.com