William Wallace

Sir William Wallace
Wallace in stained glass at his monument in Stirling
Born	c. 1270 Elderslie, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Died	23 August 1305 (aged c. 35) Smithfield, London, Middlesex, England
Cause of death	Hanged, drawn and quartered
Resting place	London, England, in unmarked grave
Nationality	Scottish
Occupation	Commander in the Scottish Wars of Independence
Children	None recorded
Parent(s)	Father: Alan Wallace

Sir William Wallace (Scottish Gaelic: Uilleam Uallas [ˈɯʎam ˈuəl̪ˠəs̪]; Norman French: William le Waleys; died 23 August 1305) was a Scottish knight who became one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

Along with Andrew Moray, Wallace defeated an English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in September 1297. He was appointed Guardian of Scotland and served until his defeat at the Battle of Falkirk in July 1298. In August 1305, Wallace was captured in Robroyston, near Glasgow, and handed over to King Edward I of England, who had him hanged, drawn, and quartered for high treason and crimes against English civilians.

Since his death, Wallace has obtained an iconic status far beyond his homeland. He is the protagonist of Blind Harry's 15th-century epic poem The Wallace and the subject of literary works by Sir Walter Scott and Jane Porter, and of the Academy Award-winning film Braveheart (1995).