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William Wallace was born the second son of a knight, so was not
known to be important in a noble society. But eventually he went
on to be one of the most famous of the Scottish leaders. He fought
for the freedom of Scotland against the English king, Edward. William
Wallace in 1297 killed an English sheriff in Lanark. Named Hazelrigg,
this was know to be revenge for killing his wife, but this became
part of a rebellion between England and Scotland. William Wallace
led a group of men who would attack the English soldiers and then
run away into the countryside. The English found this very difficult
to fight against, as they could find the soldiers. This warfare
was called guerrilla warfare.
 William
then went on to Irvine as Scottish nobles agreed to give their support
against the English king, but the nobles and Robert Bruce agreed
to obey Edward. William Wallace was not part of any of these talks.
He met up with Andrew Moray and joined their men together and carried
on to Dundee to attack William Ormsby, King Edward's chief judge.
The people of Scotland though Wallace was a brave man and soon his
army grew. Edward left Hugh Cressingham to run Scotland, but the
Scottish would not pay any taxes. So Cressingham decided to gather
an army at Stirling Bridge. Wallace and Moray went to Stirling Bridge
and placed their men between the River Forth and the Ochil Hills.
They were not as well trained and di not have any experience.
Cressingham ordered his army to cross Stirling Bridge. Wallace
waited until the bridge was full of men and some over, before he
charged. Most of the English army were killed, including Cressingham,
but the Earl of Sussex got back over the border. The battle was
won by the Scots. Wallace was made guardian of Scotland. Edward
sent an army against Wallace at Falkirk in June 1299. Wallace and
his men built a barrier of wooden stakes and placed this between
his men, and a loch surrounded by marshland. He then organised his
men into four large circles with their spears pointing outwards.
In between he put bowmen and the knights were at the back. The English
broke through this and went on to win the battle. Wallace resigned
as guardian, but the Scots continued to disobey King Edward.
William Wallace was a freedom fighter, rather than a terrorist.
He fought for his country and died for his country.
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