William Wallace:

Freedom fighter of Scotland

by Premasara EPASINGHE

In world history, there are many heroes. They may be political or military leaders. Sometimes, they fought for the freedom of their country. Therefore, their names are engraved in gold in the history of their countries. Some leaders, spring up, from political and social obscurity.

They become, the first leaders of their people, in wars of liberation. Some of them, achieve command for some time or few years, but some who do not possess experience in good governance, fall by the wayside.

This national hero of Scotland reminded me so much of our own freedom fighter Veera Puran Appu. Of course he was captured, but he was not executed in the way William Wallace's tragic ending.

Scotland's national hero William Wallace, of Elderslie is a son of a country knight who came to fame, as he fought the Scotland against Edward I's aggressive imperialism. It is true that William Wallace achieved command, but he was unable to retain it. After the defeat at the Battle of Falkirk, he was captured and King Edward I, brutally killed him.

I presume, in world history William Wallace's killing, was the most brutal. King Edward I, really took vengeance and he did it under the most brutal fashion in a very inhumanly manner. In 1297, William Wallace led the rebellion and defeated the English forces at Stirling Bridge.

In 1305, the English put Wallace to death as a traitor.

In 1306, Robert the Bruce becomes King Robert and was crowned in at Scone. After a defeat he spent a year in exile.

As a student of history, it is difficult to study the true picture about William Wallace as there is no real available evidence about his life in the history of Scotland. Some reports are vague. Of course, William Wallace was the centre of attraction for many novel, film (brave heart), and Victorian statues.

The primary research centres found the study of Blind Harry's - Wallace Epic.

It is stated, that a verse biography which was written in Latin by Blair, the Chaplain of Wallace was the main source and Blind Henry or Harry was influenced by this biography probably. Of course, he may have added something more.

Battle of the Stirling Bridge

The greatest victory that William Wallace scored in the battlefield was the "Battle of Stirling Bridge" King Edward I, sent a large army under Hugh de Clissingham to Strivelin (Stirling). On September 11, 1297, at the bridge over River Forth, the England Commander Clissingham was killed.

Then in the same year, 1297, William attacked England - the land of Allerdale, was burnt down by him and carried the "Booty" to the kingdom of Scotland.

The battle of Falkirk

The Scots garrisoned in the North of the River Sterline attacked the Englishmen as they crossed the Stirling Bridge. He was assisted by Muray and who sustained injuries and died.

The Battle of Falkirk marked the downfall of William Wallace. In July 22 1298, a pitched battle was fought. Robert of Bruce, (who ruled Scotland later) cross-sides and fought on the side of Edward I. Moray, who was an able leader of William Wallace died earlier and this was a great blow for William Wallace.

At the outset, William Wallace, seized control of the Government, and became the leader of the people of Scotland, in a war of liberation. His enemy was England.

For nearly 60 years the wars ruged between Scotland and England. The Scalacronica of Sir Thomas Grey very vividly describes the wars between the Scottish and English in the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries.

After the battles of Falkirk, Fordoun, Bower Robert Bruce, were largely responsible for Falkirk disaster, William Wallace was badly defeated.

William Wallace's trial was one sided. The trial was never a fair one. He was charged with treason. The trial was not to prove the guilt of Wallace, but it was a Trial which demonstrated the might and power of the king of England - Edward I. (The king Edward I, used this Trail to show to the Scottish people, anyone who challenges the King resisted the kingship of Edward I, will have to face horrible, terrible consequences even at the time of their deaths.

The European History lessons - We learned at Nalanda Vidyalaya, Colombo in late 1950, under the great history teachers of the calibre of the late K.M.P. Rajaratne, Dr. Shelton Kodikara (who was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya) V.C. Goonetileke, former Attorney General came to my mind.

William Wallace was supposed to be taken to the Scaffoled, dragged on a hurdle behind a horse, for nearly four miles for the London city dwellers to see the "Saga".

Thousands flock to see the rare sight. William Wallace was wrapped in a tide. Scotland's Great Hero, William Wallace, was dragged from Westminster to the Tower, from there to Aldgate, and final destination of his fate, to Smithfield. He was given to hang by the neck, but not until the last breath.

While William Wallace still alive, he was cut down. The War Hero was not unconscious. His Torso was split. Organs removed.

They were burnt on a "Brazier", they say. William Wallace's head was displayed on the famous London Bridge. Parts - four quarters of his body were hung, displayed in New Castle, Berwick, Perth and Sterling - where William Wallace routed the Englishmen - Edward I Army. William Wallace, was a Great Man of Great Stature one time, but, King Edward I made him a Man of yesterday.