Scottish Blog

Scottish Resistance - William Wallace and Robert the Bruce

Many events throughout history have influenced and shaped Scotland into what it is today. Many would consider the resistance shown by William Wallace and Robert the Bruce against the English, to be amongst the most important of these events.

In the spring of 1297, in a market at Lanark, William Wallace was involved in a fight with an English soldier. He was able to escape the encounter, with the assistance of a young woman who is believed to have been his wife. Unfortunately, the young girl was caught and executed by the Sheriff of Lanark. In retaliation, William Wallace killed the Sheriff, and was deemed an outlaw.

Within weeks of becoming an outlaw, William Wallace was leading a quickly growing national resistance. William Wallace was through his predicament was able to muster control of the strong disdain and resentment towards the English, and change history forever. This situation became clear to the English at Stirling Bridge in 1297, when William Wallace’s men obliterated a well armed and equipped English force. After his victory, William Wallace was effectively the ruler of southern Scotland, although this did not last long. At the battle of Stirling Bridge, William Wallace lost his best lieutenant, and without his advice made a crucial mistake in his struggle. In July 1298 William Wallace engaged the superior English forces in a straight battle, abandoning his previously successful guerrilla like tactics. He was defeated, but managed to evade capture. For seven years he was able to remain free, but in 1302 was captured and executed.

After the death of William Wallace, King Edward’s armies ravaged the Scottish country side for seven years. But it came to an end when Robert the Bruce, Red John Comyn and Sir Simon Fraser of Tweedle met in a church, the exact purpose of the meeting is still unknown, but the outcome was clear. In an argument Robert the Bruce stabbed Red John Comyn, this automatically put him in a feud with the Comyn family, and furthermore he was also excommunicated from the Church for his actions within a church.

This position would seem disastrous to most, but Robert the Bruce decided that with one of the possible resistance leaders gone, he would use it to his and his countries advantage. Robert the Bruce went to Scone and on the 27th of March 1306 crowned himself as King of Scotland (as he had a viable claim to the throne, through his bloodline). As retaliation Edward sent troops to Scotland, who decimated Robert the Bruce’s forces at the battle of Methhaven. Robert the Bruce, became a hunted outlaw and hid in Arran, Rathlin Island and possibly Norway.

In the spring of 1307, Robert the Bruce returned with the forces he had mustered. He rallied through the now demoralized Scotland, and gathered strong support. With his larger army Robert the Bruce, fought against the English, defeating them at both guerrilla and straight forward battles. During Robert the Bruce’s dominance, Edward I died, his son did not carry on the campaign of his father and Scotland was left under the leadership of Robert the Bruce.

The dedication to freedom, of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, turned Scotland into what it is today. They will forever be remembered as the men behind the Scottish Resistance, and ultiamtley it’s freedom.