|
The Scottish national hero William Wallace as a young man killed an Englishman who insulted him. For this he was outlawed. He then
collected a band of followers and began a struggle against the English rule of Edward I.Gradually the number of his followers grew. Wallace defeated and almost destroyed the English army at Stirling on Sept. 11,
1297, drove the enemy entirely out of Scotland, and devastated the whole northern part of England. As a reward Wallace was knighted and proclaimed guardian of Scotland. Edward soon led a new and larger English army
against him, and on July 22, 1298, Wallace's forces were overpowered in the battle of Falkirk. Wallace was later captured and taken to London. There he was executed as a traitor on Aug. 23, 1305. Wallace had failed to
free his country from the yoke of England, but he had inspired others to carry on the struggle. A few years later Scotland's independence was temporarily secured under Robert Bruce. |
