Latest / The Story of Scotland: Clans, Crowns, and the Fight for Identity — Fexingo History / The Wars of Scottish Independence: From Stirling Bridge to Freedom
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've talked quite a bit about Robert the Bruce and Bannockburn, but I think it's time we went back a little earlier, to the start of the Wars of Independence — and specifically to William Wallace. Most people know the Hollywood version, but the real story is even more remarkable, and in some ways far more tragic. Luna: I've always wondered — how did a relatively minor knight become the symbol of Scottish resistance? Lucas: That's exactly what we're going to get into. To understand Wallace, you have to understand the mess Scotland was in after the death of Alexander III in 1286, and then the Maid of Norway in 1290. That succession crisis gave Edward I of England the perfect excuse to assert his authority as overlord. Lucas: By 1296, Edward had invaded, sacked Berwick — then one of Scotland's richest towns — and forced the nobles to swear fealty to him. John Balliol, the puppet king, was humiliated and eventually deposed. Scotland was effectively a province of England. Luna: So resistance came from the bottom up, not the top. Lucas: Exactly. Wallace wasn't a high lord — he was a younger son of a minor knight, probably from Elderslie in Renfrewshire. He had some military training, but nothing like the resources of a Bruce or a Comyn. What he had was a deep, personal hatred of the English occupation, and an ability to inspire common people. Lucas: His first major act was the killing of Sir William Heselrig, the English sheriff of Lanark, in May 1297. Legend says it was in revenge for the murder of his wife or sweetheart, but that's probably a later romantic addition. What we know is that it sparked a full-scale rebellion. Luna: And that rebellion led to Stirling Bridge. Lucas: Yes — the Battle of Stirling Bridge, 11 September 1297. It's one of the most stunning tactical victories in medieval history. Wallace had joined forces with Andrew Moray, a noble from the north who had his own rebellion going. They met the English army under John de Warenne and Hugh de Cressingham at the bridge over the River Forth near Stirling. Lucas: The English army was much larger, but they had to cross a narrow wooden bridge to get to the Scots. Wallace and Moray waited until a significant portion of the English had crossed, then attacked. The English were trapped — the bridge could only fit two horsemen abreast, so reinforcements couldn't get across quickly. The Scots slaughtered the isolated force. Luna: I've read that Cressingham was killed and his skin was used to make a belt for Wallace's sword. Lucas: That's what the chroniclers say, yes. The English lost somewhere between 100 knights and maybe 5,000 infantry. The Scots lost Andrew Moray, who died of his wounds a few weeks later — a huge blow. But the victory left Wallace as the undisputed leader of the resistance. He was knighted and proclaimed Guardian of Scotland. Lucas: But Wallace's success didn't last. Edward I returned from fighting in France in 1298 and led a massive army north. Wallace met him at Falkirk on 22 July. This time, the English had longbowmen, and they used them to devastating effect against the Scottish schiltrons — those tight spear formations that had worked so well at Stirling. Luna: So the schiltrons were vulnerable to archers if the Scots couldn't close the distance. Lucas: Exactly. With the schiltrons pinned down by archers, English cavalry charged and broke them. Wallace escaped, but his reputation was shattered. He resigned as Guardian and went into hiding or maybe sought help from abroad. For the next few years, he was a fugitive, while Robert the Bruce and John Comyn jockeyed for power. Lucas: In 1305, Wallace was captured near Glasgow by Sir John de Menteith, a Scottish knight who had switched sides. He was taken to London, tried for treason — even though he'd never sworn allegiance to Edward — and executed in a brutal manner: hanged, drawn, and quartered. His head was displayed on London Bridge, and his limbs sent to different towns in Scotland. Luna: It's so grim. But his death didn't end the resistance — it actually galvanised it. Lucas: That's the irony. Wallace became a martyr. And within a year, Robert the Bruce had killed John Comyn and claimed the throne, beginning his own campaign that would eventually lead to Bannockburn. Wallace's strategic legacy is also important — he showed that the English could be beaten, and he pioneered the use of the schiltron in open battle. Luna: It's amazing how much of what we think we know about him comes from fifteenth-century poems and later movies. Lucas: Absolutely. The Wallace of folklore — seven feet tall, invincible, romantic hero — is very different from the real man. But the real story is still incredible. He was a guerrilla leader who rose from obscurity, defeated a king's army, and became a symbol of national resistance that endures to this day. Luna: And speaking of symbols — I love how Scotland's history is full of these figures who seem to come out of nowhere and change everything. Lucas: It really does. And you know, it's because of listeners like you that we can keep exploring these stories in depth. If you're enjoying these conversations, and if you'd like to support the show and help keep it ad-free, you can buy us a coffee at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It's a small gesture that goes a long way in helping us keep researching and sharing these tales. Luna: Yeah, we really appreciate every bit of support. And it's because of that support that we can spend time on the details that make history come alive. Lucas: Exactly. So, after Wallace's death, the torch passed to Robert the Bruce. But before we get into Bruce's story, I want to touch on something else — the impact of the wars on the ordinary people of Scotland. The devastation wasn't just political; it was economic and social. Repeated invasions, crop burnings, and the breakdown of law took a terrible toll. Luna: Did the common people see Wallace and Bruce as liberators, or were they just trying to survive? Lucas: It varied. In the Lowlands, where English presence was strongest, there was probably more support for the resistance. In the Highlands and Islands, loyalty was often to local lords first. But the wars did foster a sense of Scottish identity that cut across regional lines. The Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, which we covered earlier, explicitly speaks of fighting for freedom as a people, not just for a king. Luna: So in a way, Wallace's failure set the stage for Bruce's success. Lucas: In many ways, yes. Bruce learned from Wallace's mistakes — he avoided pitched battles when he could, used guerrilla tactics, and gradually wore down the English. He also had the advantage of Edward I dying in 1307, replaced by the much less capable Edward II. But Wallace's legend was crucial: it kept the dream of independence alive during the darkest years.