William Wallace - Success and Leadership
William Wallace (c.1272-1305)
Leader of the Scottish resistance to English rule (pictured right).
Immortalized by Mel Gibson’s Oscar winning 1995 film, Braveheart (the poster is pictured
right below).
Why was he a great leader and successful?
1. Charisma, bravery and determination
From about 1291 onwards, he fought the English, mainly using guerrilla warfare but also facing
them in open battle (see point 2).
He was tall, strong, brave and a natural leader, gaining his power by ability and
charisma not nobility of birth.
2. The Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297)
This was his greatest victory.
Vastly outnumbered, he routed the English army of 300 cavalry and 10,000 infantry.
He was helped by the bridge’s:
- narrowness (which allowed only a few English to cross it at one time).
- collapse (drowning many of the enemy).
3. Heroic death
After his defeat at the Battle of Falkirk (1298), and several years in France
campaigning for Scottish independence, Wallace was:
- found guilty of treason against the English king, Edward I (pictured
right).
“I could not be a traitor to Edward, for I was never his subject”, he said at his trial
before his horrible execution.
He was hung (but released near death), then quartered, and finally beheaded in Smithfield, London.
His head was placed on a pike at the top of London Bridge.
4. Purpose and passion
He dedicated his life to freeing his country from English rule.
His clan’s motto was “For freedom”.
5. Inspiration
He has inspired the Scottish people for generations, including Robert Burns (pictured right
above), who wrote a poem about him.
Helped by the Braveheart movie, he has become the national icon of Scottish
nationhood, even more so than Robert the
Bruce (pictured right).
Key quote on
death
Every man dies. Not every man really lives.
Key quote on
freedom
Freedom is best...of all things to be won.
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