What Happened To The Real William Wallace (& What Braveheart Leaves Out)
Warning: This article contains descriptions of Medieval torture.
Mel Gibson's Academy-Award-winning film Braveheart focuses on the life and legacy of Sir William Wallace — but leaves out certain details regarding his final fate. Sir William Wallace was a Scottish knight who fought during the First War of Scottish Independence, which lasted from 1296 to 1328. Although the legend of Wallace often conflicts with the reality, there's still historical documentation of his deeds during his lifetime, many of which are emphasized in Blind Harry's 15th-century epic poem that chronicles the Scottish warrior's legacy, The Wallace.
The Wallace would serve as inspiration for Mel Gibson's 1995 film, Braveheart, which takes a healthy amount of creative deviations from the actual history of Wallace's life while also encapsulating his true legacy. Braveheart was written by Randall Wallace, who was inspired to write the film after visiting Scotland. Gibson directed Braveheart and played Wallace, with the movie ultimately winning five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Related: The Northman's Trick Means It Beats Both Gladiator And Braveheart
The end of Braveheart features Wallace's capture, trial, and death, which is a harrowing experience to watch, especially after being won over by the character throughout the film. There is much that the ending gets right about Wallace's end, including his statement that he never swore allegiance to King Edward I (played by Columbo actor Patrick McGoohan) and thereby could not be a traitor. His execution is portrayed in mostly accurate fashion but does leave out some key details that make his death much worse than portrayed onscreen. In the film, he is brought to his place of execution
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