Post by eBob on Nov 20, 2006 10:47:50 GMT -5
Basically, little is known about William Wallce - but he appears to have been a commoner who, following the death of his father at the hands of the English began to harbour a deep hatred of the English - and being stopped in the street by two soldiers - Wallace dispatches them and becomes an outlaw.
Wallace is described a huge man - over 6 feet tall and broad. It is his physical prowess and brutal manner that launches him to fame amoungst his fellow contrymen.
Most sources claim with confidence that Williams father was Malcolm Wallace - but more recent research would indicate that his father may have been named Alan Wallace. This only serves to show how little is really known with any certainty about this most famous of Scots - just as with researching Jack the Ripper, it is important to check your sources, as many authours simply copy mistakes and assumptions from previous works and theories become quoted as facts.
This is what wikipedia has to say:
Sir William Wallace (c. 1270 – August 23, 1305) was a Scottish patriot who led his country against the English (Norman) occupation of Scotland and King Edward I of England during parts of the Wars of Scottish Independence.
Popular opinion often sees Wallace as 'one of the common people', in contrast to his fellow-countryman, Robert the Bruce (Robert I of Scotland), who came from noble stock. Wallace's family descended from Richard Wallace (Richard the Welshman), a landowner under an early member of the Stewart family (which would later become a royal line in its own right).
Contemporary sources for information about Wallace's life are limited, and a significant amount that has been written about him is based on the account of Blind Harry in the late-15th Century romance "The Wallace", written around 1470, roughly two centuries after Wallace's birth, "The Wallace" is at best a problematic source.
Wallace was probably born around 1270, which would place him in his mid thirties during his most famous years between 1297 and 1305. Some dispute exists over the birthplace of Wallace. This is generally believed to be Elderslie, near Paisley in Renfrewshire. Recently it has been claimed that it was actually Ellerslie near Kilmarnock in Ayrshire. Certainly, confusion between the two places could easily have occurred in old documents, as spelling did not become standardised until more recent times. In support of Ellerslie, it has been argued that his father came from Riccarton, Ayrshire and his mother from Loudoun, Ayrshire. On top of this, some of Wallace's earliest actions took place in Ayrshire. In support of Elderslie, it has been argued that Ellerslie, a former mining village, is only known from the 19th century, but Elderslie is known from much earlier. His first action was at Lanark, which is not particularly near either Elderslie or Ellerslie, and he then moved into Ayrshire to link up at Irvine with some Scots nobles who were fighting the English.
There are no contemporary sources for information about Wallace's early life. It seems certain he was the son of Sir Malcolm Wallace of Riccarton, and that he had two brothers: Malcolm and John.
Wallace received his education from two uncles who had become priests, and therefore he became well-educated by the standards of the time, knowing both French and Latin. Blind Harry makes no mention of his ever having left the country, or having any military experience before 1297. A record from August, 1296 makes reference to 'a thief, one William le Waleys' in Perth, but this may not be him.
Wallace is described a huge man - over 6 feet tall and broad. It is his physical prowess and brutal manner that launches him to fame amoungst his fellow contrymen.
Most sources claim with confidence that Williams father was Malcolm Wallace - but more recent research would indicate that his father may have been named Alan Wallace. This only serves to show how little is really known with any certainty about this most famous of Scots - just as with researching Jack the Ripper, it is important to check your sources, as many authours simply copy mistakes and assumptions from previous works and theories become quoted as facts.
This is what wikipedia has to say:
Sir William Wallace (c. 1270 – August 23, 1305) was a Scottish patriot who led his country against the English (Norman) occupation of Scotland and King Edward I of England during parts of the Wars of Scottish Independence.
Popular opinion often sees Wallace as 'one of the common people', in contrast to his fellow-countryman, Robert the Bruce (Robert I of Scotland), who came from noble stock. Wallace's family descended from Richard Wallace (Richard the Welshman), a landowner under an early member of the Stewart family (which would later become a royal line in its own right).
Contemporary sources for information about Wallace's life are limited, and a significant amount that has been written about him is based on the account of Blind Harry in the late-15th Century romance "The Wallace", written around 1470, roughly two centuries after Wallace's birth, "The Wallace" is at best a problematic source.
Wallace was probably born around 1270, which would place him in his mid thirties during his most famous years between 1297 and 1305. Some dispute exists over the birthplace of Wallace. This is generally believed to be Elderslie, near Paisley in Renfrewshire. Recently it has been claimed that it was actually Ellerslie near Kilmarnock in Ayrshire. Certainly, confusion between the two places could easily have occurred in old documents, as spelling did not become standardised until more recent times. In support of Ellerslie, it has been argued that his father came from Riccarton, Ayrshire and his mother from Loudoun, Ayrshire. On top of this, some of Wallace's earliest actions took place in Ayrshire. In support of Elderslie, it has been argued that Ellerslie, a former mining village, is only known from the 19th century, but Elderslie is known from much earlier. His first action was at Lanark, which is not particularly near either Elderslie or Ellerslie, and he then moved into Ayrshire to link up at Irvine with some Scots nobles who were fighting the English.
There are no contemporary sources for information about Wallace's early life. It seems certain he was the son of Sir Malcolm Wallace of Riccarton, and that he had two brothers: Malcolm and John.
Wallace received his education from two uncles who had become priests, and therefore he became well-educated by the standards of the time, knowing both French and Latin. Blind Harry makes no mention of his ever having left the country, or having any military experience before 1297. A record from August, 1296 makes reference to 'a thief, one William le Waleys' in Perth, but this may not be him.
