Scotland: Seven Centuries since William Wallace

Written By: Lawrence W. Reed  |  Posted: Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

I am an American of Scottish extraction, and few things stir my blood more than the colorful history of my ancestral homeland. Through the centuries, rugged Scots stand tall among those heroes who gave every ounce of their lives for such noble ideals as liberty, independence, and self-reliance.

Mel Gibson's epic film Braveheart, released in 1995, introduced many non-Scots to one of our greatest heroes, William Wallace. A fierce and uncompromising Scottish patriot, Wallace gave English invaders fits for years until his capture on August 5, 1305. He was hauled to London to face charges of insurrection, found guilty, and brutally executed by Edward I seven centuries ago, on August 23, 1305.

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