After all, haven’t you copied and pasted from other works for your university papers? Middle Ages, Monarchs and Rulers, Scottish History, Wallace's statue. Isabella was born in 1295, making her only TWO years old during the events of the film. One idea is Blackcrag Castle, which was 7 miles away on the drovers road from St Connals Kirk, and the settlement of Kirkconnel. ( Log Out /  Though Braveheart is a work of fiction, the premise is rooted in fact. His children were at risk of execution too. “There is still mileage in Wallace and there are still things to be discovered about him. Braidfute in Scots means ‘foot of hill place’ or ‘foot of burn place’. Edward III, the grandson of Edward I "Longshanks" of England, was born some time after William Wallace's death. He never had kids. A wife was an alliance and contract with society as a whole not just between two people. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. So…how’s he anyone’s great grandfather? Everything seems like the perfect karma for Edward and his evil-doings in … His greatest victory took place at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, at which he routed the English army and was later proclaimed Guardian of Scotland. I am the 23rd great nephew of Sir William Wallace. Sir Malcolm was documented t o have had three sons, Malcolm Jr, William and John. Archer presented his findings last year, at a conference on Wallace’s life hosted by the Lanark Archaeological Trust, part of a series of events commemorating the 700th anniversary of Wallace’s death. Claims made in this piece should have been addressed a dozen years ago when first published in The Guardian. Marriage was above all a property contract. William origins are almost as obscure. As legend has it, here is a play-by-play of the gruesome end William Wallace met: 1. Robert the Bruce and the cave spider story. Therefore, as per this fact, William was born in Elderslie, Scotland. Future Nobel Prize of Literature 2411. RH, How lucky to come from such great ancestors and such a beautiful country. In Mel Gibson’s 1995 film Braveheart, the brutal murder of Wallace’s wife (whose name was changed to Murron MacClannough, and was played by the actress Catherine McCormack) is portrayed as a pivotal moment in his transformation into a revolutionary hero. I has been a real joy and source of inspiration to discover what strength of character I come from. …to invade Gascony, and William Wallace’s rising forced him to return. Little William was believed to have travelled a lot, spending time in Rome, and learning several languages, including French and Latin. i am so thrilled, would love to know more about this great man. Thanks Robert for the additional information. William probably returned to Scotland in 1304, renviving his vow to bother Edward like a fly does to a horse. about the film brave heart but a lot in the film is not true as you know. Just saw the movie. William Wallace – His Uncle's proverb, from Bower's Scotichronicon c.1440s. And he certainly didn’t leave her pregnant with the future Edward III. Little is known about Wallace’s life before 1297, when he killed Sir William Heselrig, the English-appointed Sheriff of Lanark, and then led a popular uprising. Your email address will not be published. But today, his name is evoked in defiance of tyranny, ringing with prideful patriotism in the fight to preserve human and political rights, against absolutism and abuse. Legends place his birth in Elderslie, Renfrewshire, around 1270. Okay. Wars could be fought over noble marriages that harmed the populace it affected. 23rd Great Grandfather? William Wallace didn’t bed the French wife of the Prince of Wales, Isabella. There are so few historical reliable sources that most of our knowledge is a mere collection of loose facts, myth, and imagination. ... Wallace is survived by wife Dominique Wallace and nine children. William Wallace’s birth and early life are very much shrouded in mystery. There’s no way of telling. Sadly, William Wallace didn’t get his revenge against Edward by shagging his daughter-in-law, and placing Wallace Jr. on the English throne. Isabella was born in 1295, making her only TWO years old during the events of the film. The later was a recorded event, however, there is no evidence of Marion’s existence. As originally published in the Guardian, Spring 2006. “New discoveries will continue to be made about Wallace’s life because so little of the hard historical fact is known.” John Murtagh, who played the turncoat nobleman Lochlan in Braveheart, said he had always believed that Wallace’s wife was a symbolic figure. In such movies, the bigger the weapon, the more virile the character. Men of noble lineage or property married women with similar noble lineage or property in the feudal period. ( Log Out /  “And so when the English try to rape, and then murder her, it is symbolic of the way Scotland was treated.”. How can that be? What is known is that he was a relative commoner and not one of the many nobly born that wielded so much perceived power in Scotland. Although some of the historians have made an effort to unearth most of the early life of William. Neither were believable. Thanks for the feedback, https://historytotallynaked.com/2019/10/05/10-true-facts-10-false-facts-braveheart-william-wallace-story/. Pregnant with a second novel But did William use such a colossal blade? “What lies at the heart of this is the political aspiration of a local, minor aristocratic family who wanted to gain favour at the court of Mary Queen of Scots by claiming to be descended from William Wallace. There is no official record of him ever having a child. So, were going to dive into what w… The head was put on top of a spike on London Bridge, as a warning to future rebels. Together, they defeated the English army in the Battle of Stirling Bridge, 11th September 1297. In the feudal period property conferred wealth and power. (Even today marriage is a property contract.) Who on earth is helping you with your geneology?? Blind Harry’s book was first published around the 1475-1480 period, quickly became the second best selling book in Scotland right behind the Bible. I found this information in an old book about my own Broadfoot ancestry.Most interesting story about the Saviour of Scotland, William Wallace, and his wife Marion Bradfute. Aberdeen. How to solve: Did Edward II's wife have an affair with William Wallace? William Wallace didn’t bed the French wife of the Prince of Wales, Isabella. The William Wallace Story. As to history surrounding William Wallace, our guide at Stirling Castle in 2005 had it spot on when he told us “Braveheart,” the movie got two things right about Wallace: his name and his country! Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. She was killed by Sir William Heselrig, the English Sheriff of Lanark. Was wondering if he really banged that sweet Isabella ASS! Marion Braidfute, wife of William Wallace, was a fictional character concocted by medieval biographers, a leading historian has claimed. The National Wallace Monument Welcomes 135,000 Visitors In 2017. After William Wallace was executed by the reigning crown, his name was disgraced, and no one could risk being associated with him for about 100 years. And he certainly didn’t leave her pregnant with the future Edward III. What aspects you didn’t like in the end? Stellar effort with the accent by the way Mel, well played. The exact reason for the murder is unknown. A nobleman’s job was to act as a warrior of behalf of those to whom was shared a fealty obligation of protection. Wallace is said to have gone into exile in France in 1299 and may have been part of these negotiations – he certainly met and impressed King Philip VI, who in 1300 sent men to Rome to obtain “the Pope’s favour for his beloved William de Walois”. Blind Harry’s poem, Wallace (1478), depicts him as being in love with a woman called Marion Braidfute, and after she was murdered in Lanark, William killed the English Sheriff of Lanark, Sir William Heselrig, in retaliation. Wallace was a violent and brutal guerilla leader — his early campaigns were intended to destabilize English rule in Scotland. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Wallace retaliated by killing … In 1327, Robert the Bruce achieved Wallace’s dream, of a free, sovereign Scotland, 22 years after the legendary champion of independence had been executed. In fact, the rest of the Scottish nobility had laid down arms and surrendered. Posted on December 8, 2017 by Scott Wallace. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. William Wallace was executed on 23 August 1305. This would have been the Wallaces local church. I’ve met two other people claiming Wallace heritage. Furthermore, it seems that he was already an outlaw by 1297, and intent on fighting the English. Property was passed on the basis of birthright. ( Log Out /  “The story of Wallace’s wife and what happened to her is thought of as a trigger event in his life and is key to the story of the man himself,” he said. There are still Broadfoots in the modern town of Kirkconnel. After the Battle of Culloden, the highland clans were murdered en masse and survivors fled to America. Braidfute does not appear until 1570, in a revised edition of Blind Harry’s poem, possibly commissioned by the Baillies of Lamington, a wealthy family from Lanark who hoped to ingratiate themselves with Mary, Queen of Scots by claiming to be Wallace’s descendants. In the 1995 film Braveheart directed by, produced by, and starring Mel Gibson, Scottish warrior William Wallace bravely charges into battle during the First War of Scottish Independence and emerges (mostly) victorious. But….as I understood it…..Wallace sired no children. Some sources state he was the younger son of a minor Scottish land-own er, Malcolm Wallace, born in Elderslie near Paisley. A bow and arrow are depicted in William’s seal, in 1297, when he wrote a letter to the German city of Lübeck, as the Guardian of Scotland, to encourage trade. Ughh? Harry died in 1492, according to historic records. In time, a great bulk of the dispossessed Scottish clans were pushed into emigrating to America. since not much is really known about William Wallace, this allows for a lot of “artistic license” and I really like this version. William Wallace, Scotland’s greatest hero, who was gruesomely executed in 1305. Freedom Fighter and the French Queen: William Wallace was a Scottish warrior who fought for the independence of Scotland from England. Jobs were determined by what your father did, and men married women whose father was in a similar class and profession. However, a study by Archer of contemporary historical records found no mention of any Braidfutes living in the area at the end of the 13th century. Wallace was not a "Sir", and yes there are survivors apart from the legend within the Clans (Sex and Marriage were not as we think of them today, "handfasting" was common practice in Scotland upon betrothal and even before from the time one attained sexual maturity, some marriages even arranged at birth. Let’s destroy another Braveheart myth, shall we? However, that doesnt mean we are completely ignorant, and it doesnt mean William Wallace is any less interesting. Wallace was a nobleman and had a social obligation to identify suitable brides and limit falling in love with one who was suitable as a wife for his line of work. A match was rarely random, it with someone suitable for their inherited profession, and of the same religion, tribal or national loyalties. He was the son of Alan Wallace, a minor nobleman. So what facts do we know about the real William Wallace? Possibly. Yes, she was beautiful, but she was royal, and raised to be more than Mel Gibson’s love interest. In the revised text, Braidfute, from Lamington, Lanarkshire, is described as Wallace’s lover and the mother of his daughter, from whom the Baillies of Lamington claim to be descended. Marrion Braidfute of Lamington was, according to Blind Harry, a maiden whom William Wallace courted and married. In a feudal world where paternity was destiny, revealing the rebel Wallace as an ancestor would have been unwise. Required fields are marked *. ( Log Out /  “Dispelling the myth of Marion is important because we should try to get at the truth beyond the romance that surrounds Wallace,” said Archer. Maybe you’re wondering why there was no bridge depicted in the movie, if it’s called Battle of Stirling Bridge. But I reckon Hollywood couldn’t have thought of a nastier revenge. But the end is really gruesome and he never tells about the battle of Stirling bridge, Loved the book but very disappointing the way he ends, Hi John, in the link below you’ll find some supplementary information about the battle of Stirling Bridge. At 12 she was married to Longshank’s son, Edward II, as part of a political alliance. How did William Wallace find out his wife died? To begin with, he likely didn’t look as damn sexy as Mel Gibson. William’s execution was gruesome as he was hanged and released when he was alive. Princes married princesses, and fishermen married fisherman’s daughters. From Outlaw King to Scotland’s hero/History Totally Naked, The Battle of Teutoburg Forest. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. In Wallace’s day, the noblemen of Scottish clans were basically illegally booted out of their land rights by the English noble lines. There is no suggestion that she was his lover or his wife. In Braveheart, Wallace gives an inspirational speech, and later the Scots tease the enemy by flashing their asses. Speaking of historic records, there is no known records to substantiate the existence of a Marion Briadfute; Dr. Rogers in his 1889 book stated that Sir William Wallace died unmarried and childless, current genealogy claims made on the internet notwithstanding. The great 1995 movie that depicted a ‘Freedom!’ screaming Wallace, torn up by his wife’s murder at the hands of the English, and brandishing his ridiculously giant claymore sword to avenge her, as well as obtain freedom for the Scots. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Isabella of France (1295 – 22 August 1358), sometimes described as the She-Wolf of France (French: Louve de France), was Queen of England as the wife of King Edward II, and regent of England from 1327 until 1330. William Wallace, a Scottish knight, became a central early figure in the wars to secure Scottish freedom from the English, becoming one of his country's greatest national heroes. Facts of his wife, his child, his sword and the statues, Robert the Bruce and the cave spider story. The sword was heroic recycling. Do your research! View all posts by bernatroig. Did Wallace have a criminal record? Walter Wallace, the mentally ill Philadelphia man whose death sparked riots in cities across the US, had a history of violent run-ins with the law, and was a newlywed about to have a child. Wallaces today are not necessarily blood-related to William Wallace kin. That’s so cool. On the 5th of August 1305 he was captured and handed to Edward by the knight, John de Menteith, NOT Robert the Bruce’s father, the nasty old leper in Braveheart. Guys like Wallace might not have what it takes to become successful rulers like Robert the Bruce. No, rather like William Wallace, a symbol of hope and freedom. However, Ed Archer, an authority on Wallace, has found no mention of her in the earliest accounts of his life Blind Harry’s “The Wallace,” an epic poem written in about 1508, refers to a woman called Innes, who is credited with helping Wallace escape from the clutches of English troops. After his trial was completed he was stripped naked and dragged through London at the heels of a horse. Blind Harry's 15th-century poem has been a major influence on the legend of Wallace, including details like a wife called Marion Braidfute, and claiming that Wallace killed the Sheriff of Lanark in revenge for the killing of his wife. Marion Braidfute, wife of William Wallace, was a fictional character concocted by medieval biographers, a leading historian has claimed. Rome’s greatest defeat? Curious students of history would love to know all the answers to these questions, but the truth is that much of William Wallaces life remains shrouded in mystery. Sounds like William was the deadliest nerd ever. Either William had coordinated with other nobles in an act of uprising or he had chosen to act … People have avoided Blind Harry’s 1508 version of the Wallace story because it is not an easy read.”, Ian Scott, Chairman of The Saltire Society, said he was surprised by Archer’s discovery. It is presumwd that he married Marion Braidfute of Lamington and their daughter was Elizabeth Wallace. The 13 th Century was an awful long time ago and records are patchy as to the early beginnings of Wallace’s life. Isabella of France, the beautiful wife of Edward’s son, a caged bird and deeply in love with the attractive William Wallace, with whom she has an affair, and conceives a child, the future Edward III of England. The fearsome painted faces, the anachronistic kilts, and a giant sword. She was highly intelligent and had great diplomatic skill. When the rest of the nobility submitted to Edward’s I claim of lordship over Scotland in 1291, and again in 1296, William refused. While Wallace may have been avenging a murdered wife, there are no sources that confirm this. Historians have speculated on where William was born. Wallace avengedher death by killing Heselrig and then dismembering his corpse. Don’t blame the blacksmith responsible for it though. Marion Bradfute and William Wallace By W Brobst May 09, 2008 at 11:31:15. It was only a few days after their marriage that she was killed in public for the assault of a king's guard. It would have been unseemly for a nobleman like Wallace to have no wife from a suitable Scottish family. Wallace and his wife Lorraine own a property in Annapolis, Maryland, that is considered a meeting point for the whole family. It is extremely unlikely he was not married. There, he was strangled, and while still alive, was disembowelled and castrated. Response to concerns that Wallace was not married: In those days, noblemen in Scottish clans married. Finally, William’s head was cut off, along with his limbs, and each one was sent to Newcastle, Perth, Stirling and Berwick. Not much is known of William Wallace after he resigned his guardianship in 1298, but some letters exchanged between Philip IV of France and the Pope, hint that he might had been abroad, trying to enlist the support of the French and the Roman Church. To which he replied, ‘I can’t be a traitor to Edward, for I’ve never been his subject’. Excuse me! It is suspected that the Wallace clan were actually prouder of their archery skills. But Braveheart was historically inaccurate. My dear girl, it is quite patently obvious that William Wallace had an affair with the wife of Edward II and she bore a child by him. The Scottish clans were never reinstated, although gradually some married into English noble lines. She would have be 10 years old when he died. In Braveheart, he is shown to fall in love with a Scottish peasant, called Murron, and begins a vendetta against the English when they kill her in cold blood. Writer, blogger, dancer. Like the real William, a man of flesh and bones? Wallace and Dominique were wed earlier this month, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. So William Wallace didn’t technically shoot British sheriff William Heselrig, but in 1297 he did kill him and all of his men. This is a myth stemming from the movie "Braveheart". However, others also claim that William was the son of Sir Malcolm of Elderslie. There is no proof that Wallace was married. But humankind, for many centuries and those yet to come, has looked and will again look up to role models. Yes, William Wallace did have a wife in the movie "Braveheart". Wallace still exists as surname true, because he wasn’t the only Wallace around. I’ve been going through much of the old material and republishing it on the site. Braidfute, who was supposedly murdered by the Sheriff of Lanark, triggering Wallace’s rebellion against the English, was created more than 200 years after his death to heighten the political standing of a noble family, according to new research. Okay, he loses his head before he personally sees victory, but eventually, the Scots win their freedom. Your email address will not be published. The truth is, Wallace was already a staunch opponent of English occupation before the Lanark incident. “To me his wife has always been a metaphor for Scotland itself,” he said. He had no children. On 23rd August, he was stripped naked and dragged through the streets to Smithfield. In 1304, William had been declared an outlaw, by the Scottish Parliament in Saint Andrews. By Axis 12002 at Wikipedia. A fear-inspiring warrior, was Wallace in Braveheart. in that political era, there were some secret marriages, and after Wallace was executed, any descendant would have feared for their life to claim Wallace as an ancestor. glad I found this page – I am currently reading jack whyte’s the forest laird and it is a page turner. The children of the last Welsh Prince of Wales went into hiding too for centuries.