William Wallace Timeline

(c. 1270 – 23 August 1305)

William Wallace was a Scottish knight who became one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence against England. Rising to prominence after his victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, he served as Guardian of Scotland until his defeat at Falkirk in 1298. Captured in 1305, he was executed by the English, and he remains an enduring symbol of Scottish patriotism and resistance. More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early Life and Background

Birth of William Wallace

1270

Sir William Wallace was born around 1270 in Scotland. His own seal, found on a letter sent to the Hanse city of Lübeck in 1297, gives his father's name as Alan Wallace. This Alan Wallace may be the same as the one listed in the 1296 Ragman Rolls as a crown tenant in Ayrshire.

Possible birthplace at Ellerslie

1270

Some have speculated that Alan Wallace held Ellerslie, near Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, and if true, the estate could be a possible birthplace for William, though there is no record of Wallaces holding the estate in the mid-13th century.

Death of King Alexander III of Scotland

Mar 19, 1286

On 19 March 1286, King Alexander III of Scotland died after falling from his horse, leaving the Scottish succession in crisis and setting the stage for the Wars of Scottish Independence.

Image source: Alexander III of Scotland

Death of Margaret, Maid of Norway

Sep 1290

Margaret, the heir to the Scottish throne, fell ill on the voyage to Scotland and died in Orkney in late September 1290, leaving Scotland without a monarch and triggering a succession dispute.

Image source: Margaret, Maid of Norway

John Balliol judged to have strongest claim to throne

Nov 1292

In early November 1292, at a great feudal court held in the castle at Berwick-upon-Tweed, judgment was given in favour of John Balliol having the strongest claim in law based on being senior in genealogical primogeniture even though not in proximity of blood.

Image source: John Balliol

Wallace's earlier military experience

1296

Some historians believe Wallace must have had some earlier military experience in order to lead a successful military campaign in 1297, though little is known about his life before this period.

Image source: William Wallace

Wars of Independence

Council of Twelve appointed at Stirling

Jul 1295

The Scots soon tired of their deeply compromised king, John Balliol, and the direction of affairs was allegedly taken out of his hands by the leading men of the kingdom, who appointed a Council of Twelve—in practice, a new panel of Guardians—at Stirling in July 1295.

Scots defeated at Dunbar

Apr 27, 1296

The Scots were defeated at Dunbar and the English took Dunbar Castle on 27 April 1296, a major setback for Scottish resistance against Edward I of England.

John Balliol forced to abdicate

Jul 10, 1296

Edward I of England forced King John to abdicate, which he did at Stracathro near Montrose on 10 July 1296, leaving Scotland under English control.

Letter to Lübeck bearing Wallace's seal

1297

William's own seal, found on a letter sent to the Hanse city of Lübeck in 1297, gives his father's name as Alan Wallace, providing one of the few contemporary records about Wallace's family.

Wallace appointed Guardian of Scotland

1297 - Jul 1298

Following the victory at Stirling Bridge, Wallace was appointed Guardian of Scotland, serving until his defeat at the Battle of Falkirk in July 1298.

Image source: Guardian of Scotland

Wallace kills William de Heselrig

May 1297

The first act definitely known to have been carried out by Wallace was his killing of William de Heselrig, the English High Sheriff of Lanark, in May 1297, marking the start of his open revolt against English rule.

Battle of Stirling Bridge

Sep 11, 1297

On 11 September 1297, an army jointly led by Wallace and Andrew Moray won the Battle of Stirling Bridge, defeating an English army and securing a famous victory for Scottish independence.

Image source: Battle of Stirling Bridge

Death of Andrew Moray

Nov 1297

Moray died of wounds suffered on the battlefield sometime in late 1297, leaving Wallace as the sole leader of the Scottish resistance.

Image source: Andrew Moray

Edward orders second invasion of Scotland

Apr 1298

In April 1298, Edward I of England ordered a second invasion of Scotland, seeking to crush the Scottish resistance led by Wallace.

Battle of Falkirk

Jul 1298

Wallace was defeated at the Battle of Falkirk in July 1298 by Edward I's army, ending his tenure as Guardian of Scotland and dealing a heavy blow to the Scottish cause.

Image source: Battle of Falkirk

Wallace resigns as Guardian of Scotland

Sep 1298

By September 1298, Wallace resigned as Guardian of Scotland in favour of Robert the Bruce, Earl of Carrick and future king, and John Comyn, King John Balliol's nephew.

French king's letter demanding help for Wallace

Nov 7, 1300

There is a surviving letter from the French king dated 7 November 1300 to his envoys in Rome demanding that they should help Sir William, suggesting Wallace may have travelled to the continent seeking support.

Skirmishes at Happrew and Earnside

1304

By 1304 Wallace was back in Scotland and involved in skirmishes at Happrew and Earnside, continuing his resistance against English occupation.

Capture and Execution

Wallace captured at Robroyston

Aug 5, 1305

Wallace evaded capture by the English until 5 August 1305, when John de Menteith, a Scottish knight loyal to Edward, turned Wallace over to English soldiers at Robroyston, near Glasgow, a site commemorated by a small monument in the form of a Celtic cross.

Trial and execution of William Wallace

Aug 23, 1305

Following the trial, on 23 August 1305, Wallace was taken from the hall to the Tower of London, then stripped naked and dragged through the city at the heels of a horse to the Elms at Smithfield, where he was hanged, drawn and quartered for high treason and crimes against English civilians.

Legacy and Cultural Depictions

Walter Bower describes Wallace in Scotichronicon

1440

Walter Bower's mid-15th-century Scotichronicon states that Wallace was 'a tall man with the body of a giant', contributing to the legendary image of Wallace.

Image source: Scotichronicon

Alternate father and birthplace in Blind Harry's poem

1470

Blind Harry's late-15th-century poem offers an alternate father for William, a Sir Malcolm of Elderslie, in Renfrewshire, and has similarly given rise to a possible birthplace for William.

Blind Harry writes The Wallace

1470

Blind Harry's 15th-century epic poem The Wallace made Wallace its protagonist and has been a major influence on the legend of Wallace, including details like a wife named Marion Braidfute, and claiming that Wallace killed the Sheriff of Lanark in revenge for the killing of his wife. It also asserts Wallace was seven feet tall, though the historical accuracy of this claim is questionable.

Robert Burns writes Scots Wha Hae

1793

In 1793, Robert Burns wrote the lyrics to Scots Wha Hae wi Wallace bled, a patriotic song inspired by Wallace's struggle for Scottish independence.

Image source: Scots Wha Hae

Jane Porter publishes The Scottish Chiefs

1810

Jane Porter penned a romantic version of the Wallace legend in the historical novel The Scottish Chiefs (1810), one of many literary works inspired by Wallace.

Image source: The Scottish Chiefs

Felicia Hemans writes Wallace's Invocation to Bruce

1819

In her poem of 1819, Wallace's Invocation to Bruce, Felicia Hemans imagines Wallace urging Bruce to continue the struggle for freedom after defeat at the Battle of Falkirk.

Image source: Felicia Hemans

Walter Scott writes of Wallace in Tales of a Grandfather

1828

In 1828, Walter Scott wrote of 'The Story of Sir William Wallace' in his Tales of a Grandfather (first series), further cementing Wallace's place in Scottish literary tradition.

Image source: Tales of a Grandfather

Wallace Monument erected near Stirling

1869

In 1869, the Wallace Monument was erected, close to the site of his victory at Stirling Bridge, honouring the Scottish hero.

Image source: Wallace Monument

G.A. Henty publishes In Freedom's Cause

1885

Henty wrote a novel about this time period titled In Freedom's Cause: A Story of Wallace and Bruce (1885), bringing the story of Wallace to young readers.

Plaque unveiled at St Bartholomew's Hospital

Apr 8, 1956

A plaque unveiled 8 April 1956 stands in a wall of St Bartholomew's Hospital near the site of Wallace's execution at Smithfield, commemorating his death.

Nigel Tranter publishes The Wallace

1975

Nigel Tranter wrote a historical novel titled The Wallace (1975), described as 'admirably free of anything to do with Braveheart'.

Image source: Nigel Tranter

Film Braveheart released

1995

A popular depiction of Wallace's life is presented in the film Braveheart (1995), directed by and starring Mel Gibson as Wallace, written by Randall Wallace, and filmed in Scotland and Ireland. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Image source: Braveheart

The Temple and the Stone published

1998

The Temple and the Stone (1998), a novel by Katherine Kurtz and Deborah Turner Harris, includes a storyline creating a fictional connection between Wallace and Templar Knights.

Image source: Katherine Kurtz

Film Outlaw King released

2018

In the film Outlaw King (2018), Robert the Bruce (Chris Pine) is prompted to plan a revolt against the English after observing rioting induced by the public display of the quartered body of Wallace.

Image source: Outlaw King

Key Facts

William Wallace led Scottish forces to a decisive victory over the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge on 11 September 1297.
After Stirling Bridge, Wallace was appointed Guardian of Scotland, ruling in the name of King John Balliol.
Wallace's army suffered a major defeat by Edward I of England at the Battle of Falkirk in July 1298.
Wallace was captured near Glasgow in 1305 after being betrayed, tried for treason in London, and brutally executed by hanging, drawing, and quartering.
Wallace became a legendary figure in Scottish history, famously romanticized in the 1995 film 'Braveheart'.

Source

This William Wallace timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.

Create a timeline like this one for free

Generate yours with AI, or build it from scratch.

Try It for Free