Much of what we believe about William Wallace is fiction, instead of fact. In other words, it is a myth. This is largely to do with the film Braveheart. A fiction which takes a fantasy approach towards the Scottish Wars of Independence, and William Wallace himself. The truth is, we don't actually know that much about Wallace. Especially during his younger years and before his rise to being Guardian of Scotland. #1 Myth 1 Wallace was a poor commoner In the film Braveheart, Wallace and his family are portrayed as being poor farmers. We get this indication through the clothes the Wallace family were in the film. The picture above is from the start of the film, were we are introduced to a young William Wallace. With the dirt on his face, the rags for clothes, and the mud hut for a house, we are clearly give the indication that he is a poor commoner. Historians generally think that Wallace and his family were a gentry family. The gentry were aristocracy, wealthy land owners. Therefore, it is likely that Wallace was probably what we would describe today a 'middle-class'. Perhaps upper middle-class. #2 Myth 2 Bruce betrayed Wallace In the film we see that Bruce is the one who betrays Wallace. It is not just Robert the Bruce who betrays William Wallace on the battlefield, it is his father too. Apart from this portrayal of Robert the Bruce in Braveheart, most historians agree that Bruce was accurately portrayed otherwise. Perhaps the historical accuracy of Bruce is the only historical accuracy that we get it the film. As, otherwise, it seems like a made up version of; Wallace and the Wars of Independence. The person who did betray Wallace was a man named Sir John De Menteith. A Scottish Nobel who was loyal to the English king Edward I. Many Scottish nobles were loyal to Edward at the time. Many Scottish nobles remained loyal to the English crown, and had lands there - which Braveheart sort of sows - but gets it wrong. In Braveheart, we see that the Scottish nobles are bought off with land, to crush the 'rebels'. However, in reality, those nobles already had land and were loyal to Edward. #3 Myth 3 Scotland wasn't united In Braveheart we get the story of how Scotland is one unifying force to 'defeat' the English. This simply isn't true. Scotland was divided. So much so that Scotland was in a civil war during the time. It was a civil war which was mainly motivated by a battle for the Scottish crown between Bruce and Comyn. Remarkably, Braveheart entirely ignores the reason for everything that happened during that period in history. Namely, it ignores that there was a battle for the Scottish crown. It ignores that all Scots were not united, but divided. Braveheart actually misses out a lot of very important stuff. It misses out that Edward I (Longshanks) was superior and overlord of John Balliol (King of Scots). It misses out that when Balliol abdicated the throne, that one of Balliol's relatives, John Coymn and Robert the Bruce were both trying to claim the throne. These are important points because Braveheart drives on a false narrative by missing these things. Instead of showing that Scotland was at war with itself, it shows a false narrative that England was in control of Scotland and being brutal towards it. The reality is, for most of Wallace's life, there was no English invasion. That happened in 1296, with the issue of the crown. Wallace only fought a year, between 1297 and 1298 until he went abroad to France. He came back to Scotland in 1303, and was captured and killed in 1305. None of this is shown in Braveheart. #4 Myth 4 He had a relationship with Queen Isabella Everything about Wallace and Isabella in the film is made up. Because, Isabella was a child at the time. A very young one, just a little older than a toddler. It means all of their interactions in the film didn't happen. They didn't meet. They didn't have a secret relationship. And, they didn't have a secret love child together. When we see Isabella and Wallace speak in French, their conversations would have been picked up on by those others in the tent. Because, French was widely spoken in England at the time, especially among the nobility. #5 Myth 5 Clothes In period dramas or films, getting the attire right is important. Braveheart gets it completely wrong. The clothing of the Scottish people in Braveheart are hundreds of years before their time. Which means that they must have been time-travelers. Only kidding. In Braveaheart kilts are worn in what is 13th century Scotland. In reality, kilts did not come into existence until the 17th century. Which means that kilts didn't exist until hundreds of years after Wallace lived. In fact, Scots most likely wore what those in England were wearing. Medieval tunics. Wallace probably looked more like Robin Hood, than a Jacobite.
Written By Jennifer
2 Comments
Texas_Zoned
20/7/2016 22:38:00
I must have made an impression lol
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Real Time History
21/7/2016 15:35:18
Lol! :)
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