Speaking of "Braveheart", it is easy to think of the name of William Wallace, and also think of the fearless figure of Mel Gibson shouting "Freedom~~~" in the sound of bagpipes. The film is breathtaking, inspiring, and almost becoming the memory of a generation.
(Braveheart, 1995, media platform 8.8.) Tell the story of the life of The Scottish national hero Wallace who fought for the independence and freedom of the country and the people)
After more than 20 years, audiences who love history have once again seen the second half of the unfinished story on the screen. The Scottish nobleman Robert inherited Wallace's unfinished legacy and continued to resist the English invaders. This is the history depicted in the 2018 movie "The King Of the Outlaws". Two films in succession present Scotland's difficult road to independence.
(King of Extralegal Law, 2018, media platform 7.3 points.) Tell the story of King Robert of Scotland after Wallace's sacrifice and continue to resist the British)
A brief list of Scotland's First War of Independence (1296-1328, equivalent to the Yuan Dynasty of China):
English invasion, battle of Dunbar – England victory
Wallace rose up to fight, the Battle of Stirling Bridge – Scottish victory
Wallace's defeat, the Battle of Falkirk – England's victory (a few years later, Wallace was executed by England)
Robert inherits the legacy, the Battle of Mesvin – the victory of England
Robert's insistence on resistance, the Battle of Lawton Hill – Scottish Victory (Turning Point)
Robert sets the record for victory, the Battle of Bannockburn – Scottish victory (decisive)
Scotland's independent status was recognized by the Pope and England.
<h1>The origin of the relationship between Scotland and England - two flowers, one branch each:</h1>
In fact, as early as the Roman Empire, scotland already had Pictite settlements and small kingdoms. In contrast to the southern part of England, which was fused by Roman rule, the Scottish Highland tribes lived their own independent lives, only occasionally attacking hadrian's Wall, which winded and undulating.
(The Indigenous Picts, Pict, liked tattoos and painting, and later gradually merged with the Celts.) The picture shows a Pictet woman in 16th-century painting, covered in painted cloth. The brave heart of the film is also expressed. ）
(The Scots are rugged and simple.) Pictured here is the Modern Scottish Highland Games, which celebrate Scottish and Celtic heritage. The big guys will race to throw tree trunks)
After the Western Roman Empire was wiped out by many barbarians, Scotland and England established their own states. Scotland consisted mainly of the Indigenous Picts and Celts, while England was ruled by foreign Anglo-Saxons. Soon, the ongoing onslaught of Vikings rushed to the British Isles. Scotland, for geographical reasons, suffered only from the north, and they established the kingdom of Scotland in the true sense of the word, also known as the Kingdom of Alba. To the south, Alfred the Great, after a bitter battle with the Danish nor Norwegians, finally allowed the Kingdom of Wessex to basically unify England.
(The episode "Spring and Autumn in a Lonely Country" shows the history of this period)
Soon after, the Normans from France invaded England, defeated the descendants of Wessex, who had a glorious history, and seized the throne of England. Scotland was also difficult to be left alone this time, and it was conquered as a vassal.
The blood-swapped Kingdom of England was stronger and more ambitious. Constantly meddling in the issue of Scottish succession for their own interests, almost every court conspiracy or black-box operation has their shadow, and the relationship between the two countries is becoming increasingly complex.
By the time of Edward I of England in the 13th century, the situation developed further. Edward is 1.88 meters tall and nicknamed "Long Legs". He was a hostage when he was young, and at a very young age, he was wise and courageous, and he was decisive to kill. First, he helped his father to recover his decline in the civil war, led his army to defeat the opposition nobles in the country, and killed and dismembered his opponents. He then led more than 200 knights in the Crusades of Western Europe, confronting the Mamluk armies around Jerusalem without fear. Once, the Muslim Assassins raided Edward, stabbing him in the arm with a poison-quenching dagger. Edward immediately fought back with wounds, killing the Assassins and saving his life.
(Edward I in the "Braveheart" drama, cold and domineering)
Upon his return, Edward succeeded to the throne of England, by which time he had become a formidable king. The high tax policy allowed England to maintain a strong army and considerable national strength, and if anyone dared to question the newly increased wool and leather surcharge, he would immediately see his terrible and fierce temper. In the city, the successive executions of 300 Jews brought the loan shark industry to a standstill, and Jews who refused to convert were expelled en masse. Not only were the domestic aristocrats and wealthy people deeply afraid of his iron-fisted rule, but also the surrounding vassal states. Wales was the first to suffer, and Edward launched two successive invasion wars, completely conquering Wales and making it part of the territory of the Kingdom of England. Needless to say, the Scots couldn't help but tense up.
(Portrait of Edward I on the left, Edward I in the play "The King of the Outlaw" on the right)
In fact, even after the Norman conquest, Scotland and England actually maintained a relatively harmonious coexistence relationship. But Edward I did not intend to continue like this.
<h1>Scottish War of Independence – Strong Twisted Melon Is Not Sweet:</h1>
Edward's ambitions began with political strategy, and after the elimination of Wales, he secretly laid out, constantly using various means to weaken the Scottish crown and influence. At this time, when there was a vacancy crisis for the heir to the Scottish throne, Edward took the opportunity to prepare for the total annexation of Scotland, and also demanded that Scotland immediately provide troops for the British army to fight against France. In order to protect themselves, the Scottish nobles quickly sought allies to help, and simply established an alliance with France, england's old enemy, which greatly stimulated Edward I.
Taking advantage of Scotland's internal instability, Edward launched a major invasion the following year and bloodily looted the captured town of Berwick. At the Battle of Dunbar, the British won easily, capturing more than 130 Scottish nobles and knights. The English army then took advantage of the victorious attack and seized the Stone of Destiny, which every king of Scotland must use for coronation, and took it to Westminster Abbey. This stone is equivalent to the national jade seal of our country, which is of extraordinary significance, and the shock in the hearts of the Scots can be imagined. As for the new King of Scotland, Balliole, he was imprisoned in the infamous Tower of London and enjoyed a life as a prisoner in the darkness.
(The Stone of Destiny under the throne and seat of the King of England, also known as the Sconestone or Coronation Stone, is a 152-kilogram piece of red sandstone that Scotland's kings have been crowning for hundreds of years.) It was only returned to Scotland in 1996)
Because Edward I insisted on a strong subjugation of the Scots and insisted on ruling the other side under English law, he did not consider the huge differences between the Anglo-Saxon way of life and the Scots. Coupled with the lack of a soft policy, discontent quickly gathered among nobles and commoners everywhere, and Scots believed that their traditional culture and personal interests were under unprecedented and significant threat.
The Scottish Highlanders were never of the same breed, and William Wallace, a legendary strong man of more than two meters tall, raised the anti-British flag (the actual height is unknown, but 15th-century chroniclers called him "huge, tall, with strong limbs"). Wallace spent his early years as a freed mercenary, and his experience as a shooter in the service of the English army gave him a wealth of combat experience, which was beneficial to successive battles.
(Wallace portrait on the left, Mel Gibson in Braveheart on the right)
He spearheaded the uprising in May 1297, assassinating English sheriffs with like-minded supporters and beginning attacks on the English garrison and officials. Wallace set up a temporary camp in the forest, constantly absorbing the native Scots who came to join him, and the momentum was great.
(The current stained glass painting in the Wallace Memorial in Scotland, holding a giant sword)
<h1>The Battle of Stirling Bridge – Wallace's Struggle:</h1>
(5300 to 9000)
Four months later, in the autumn of 1297, the two armies met at stirling bridges on the Forth River. The British army had an army of 9,000 men, including 2,000 cavalry, and Wallace and his comrades led more than 5,000 Scottish infantry. The British army was arrogant and did not look down on the Scottish army that was about to collapse before, they chose to cross the bridge immediately to attack, Wallace saw all this, strictly controlled the subordinates who were anxious to enter the war, he asked everyone to wait patiently until the British army was halfway through...
(By then, about 2,000 British troops had crossed the bridge, partly on the bridge and partly on the opposite bank.) Wallace attacked, similar to the tactics of half-crossing attacks)
(Illustration of the Battle of Stirling Bridge, Scottish spearmen usually use spears of surprising length, without too good armor to wear)
Rows of Scottish spearmen received the order, and they roared and raised their spears of more than 3 meters and swooped down from the highlands like a flash flood. The slope increased their speed and strength, and the spearmen overwhelmed the oncoming English heavy cavalry that had just crossed the bridge, and then covered the british infantry that followed. Due to the narrow bridge deck, only two horses could pass side by side, and the British army rushed back and forth to push and squeeze, and quickly fell into a panic dilemma. In front of the sharp tip of the Scots' guns, the English soldiers were in no way to retreat whether they were on the shore of the bridge, and trampling on each other was only part of the tragic situation, many fell into the river, sinking to the bottom of the water like a scale, and only a few sharp movements could take off their armor and float away. Wallace raised his two-handed sword and shouted loudly, personally leading his men into the enemy line, crushing the other side and crushing the army.
(The Victorian-era battle of Stirling Bridge shows the British army being attacked and congested.) The bridge collapse in the picture is the influence of the legend from the anecdotal story)
The bard later described in exaggerated language: "Wallace strode forward with a sharp spear in his hand and walked into the melee crowd." He aimed at the British general in shiny breastplate in front of him and threw his spear violently. As a result, the sharp spearhead directly penetrated the breastplate and stabbed into the opponent's body, causing him to scream for his life, and even the man and the horse fell to the ground. ”
(The Battle of Stirling Bridge in Braveheart differs from history and becomes a typical plain infantry engagement with cavalry)
The battle ended in a one-sided manner, and the British retreated to the south bank with more than 5,000 bodies. The Scots proved that the most powerful heavy cavalry, widely regarded in the Middle Ages, could be defeated by poorly equipped infantry, provided that the tactics were sound and properly commanded.
The victory inspired the Scots to continue fighting, and Wallace not only repelled the British, but also invaded England. Therefore, he became the "Protector of the Nation" and became a veritable guardian of Scotland.
(Modern Scots commemorate the Battle of Stirling Bridge)
<h1>The Battle of Falkirk – The Hero's Fold:</h1>
(6000 to 15000)
As for England, Edward I looked coldly to the north, and he quickly assembled an army of 15,000 men, including 2,500 cavalry (heavily armored cavalry). Among the British troops, including many recruited Welshmen. Their country had just been conquered by England, and they did not have a sense of identification with the invaders, but many people had to choose to join the army in order to forgive their heavy debts. Although the morale of these people is not high, they are good at longbows and are a force that cannot be ignored.
(The English and Welsh longbowmen were a powerful long-range force in medieval Europe, belonging to the monolithic bow, generally made of yew or elm.) Aim and shoot 6 times a minute, up to 12 shots per minute, and the average shooter has a range of 200 meters)
The news reached Wallace's ears, and he was well aware of the purpose of Edward's conquest, and he had become a thorn in England's eye. After careful consideration, Wallace did not intend to be tough, and he decided to avoid his sharp edge, wait until the English people were short of food, and then hit their laziness and kick them in the ass.
(Wallace has courage and strategy, but the opponent he encounters is very strong)
Sure enough, although the British army entered the middle of Scotland, it could not find Wallace's troops. And because of the bad weather, the supply fleet was delayed many times, making the British tired and hungry. The Welshmen who were forced to join were even more demoralized and grumbled. Soon after, when the British army was camping near Edinburgh to rest, the Welsh rioted with drunkenness, and they were reluctant to fight and clamored to go home. Furious, Edward I sent cavalry to suppress it, resulting in the killing of 80 Welshmen and the arrest of many.
At present, the prospects of the British army can be described as bleak, and the shameful end of retreat is already in front of us. Wallace got the news soon and the opportunity came! He quickly gathered 6,000 Scottish warriors (including 1,000 light cavalry) and rushed to Falkirk, ready to pursue the retreating invaders. At this moment, Edward I smiled: "Thank God... They don't need to chase me because I'm going to face these guys personally, just today! ”
(In Braveheart, Edward I leads an invasion of Scotland.) He can be described as the hero of england, and during his reign, the country was strong and powerful, known as the hammer of Scotland. That's why the Scots have a bad opinion of it)
On 22 July 1298, the battle began at Falkirk. Wallace was well aware that the English would depend on their heavy cavalry, so he strengthened the spear warfare of the Scottish warriors. As expected, the British cavalry rushed in. They were not stupid, and when they found a small swamp in front of them, they chose to encircle them from the left and right wings.
(In the early stages of the battle, the British cavalry bypassed the swamp and encircled left and right, failing to win in one fell swoop)
Wallace immediately ordered the warriors to form four tightly formed huge ring spear arrays (Schiltron), which were later known as the traditional Scottish ring spear arrays. This formation consists of multiple rows of infantry standing in a hollow ring, holding spears of nearly 4 meters obliquely and reaching out at different heights. When defending, the front row kneels with spears, and the back row holds spears flat or obliquely, and the countless dense spear tips make people shudder, and they are not afraid of cavalry attacking from all directions. With archers scattered between each ring, and covered by light cavalry in the rear, it was powerful and difficult to shake.
(The Scottish spear array recreated by modern history military enthusiasts has not yet been arranged in a ring)
Before the two armies could engage, the Scottish nobleman John Comyn chose to retreat directly with his troops (this man and Robert were both competitors for the Scottish throne, and the conflict was enormous). Whatever the considerations, this was tantamount to betraying Wallace and Scotland as a whole on the battlefield. The British cavalry quickly seized on the gap that appeared on the Scottish position and burst into it, and many Scottish archers did not have time to move, and were killed on the position by the enemy cavalry. However, the warriors in the spear array were unswerving, and under wallace's command, they resisted the other side's charge with the spears of the forest, making the British heavy cavalry feel as if they had crashed into a stone wall, and both men and horses were stabbed into a honeycomb.
(Braveheart, british heavy cavalry image, armor and history are different)
(British cavalry bleeding from the head in front of the ring spear array)
Edward I arrived at this point, and he immediately stopped the reckless behavior of the cavalry. Using the tactics of defeating the Welsh spearmen three years earlier, he began to mobilize his longbowmen to advance from the front. Wallace saw this, knowing that he would never let a threatening opponent shoot calmly, and immediately ordered the Scottish hussars to come forward, ready to prevent the British longbowmen from taking their place. Unexpectedly, the Scottish cavalry had just rushed to the intercepted British heavy cavalry, and saw that the other side was so numerous that they fled the battlefield in fright as soon as they exchanged hands, leaving the infantry spearmen on the battlefield and ignoring them.
Not only did Kang Ming sneak away with his men, but the cavalry also ran away, and Wallace and his warriors were trapped in isolation. The British longbowmen lined up in succession opposite the 4 large Scottish rings, and there was nothing to interfere with their output death now.
(Longbowmen are generally responsible for suppressing fire, using the force of the arrow falling to kill or weaken the opponent)
"Archers ~ in place ~" Thousands of sharp arrows are wound at the same time, pointing at 45 degrees of the sky, and the huge ring array that lacks mobility is their living target, and perhaps they will not go off target with their eyes closed.
"Shoot!" A roar conveyed clear orders, and at the sound of neat bowstrings, a dense rain of arrows slashed in a diagonal line and fell into the Scottish formation with an unstoppable force. Screams came and went, and the spearmen, who lacked the protection of armor, seemed to be hit by hail and fell to the ground one after another. The Velocity of the Welshmen's 12 to 14 arrows per minute was like cutting through the veins of the Scottish army, leaving them to bleed to death in torture. The Scottish archers tried to fight back, but they soon found that the Gap between the British longbowmen's shots and the constant attack of crossbow arrows and catapults were also coming.
(The Scottish infantry spearmen were isolated and sustained by British longbowmen.
The originally powerful ring spear array is now full of weakness, the warriors hold spears, some hold shields, but many have no armor to wear, and can not form the dense tortoise shell array of the Romans in the past. Coupled with the lack of mobile transfer ability, nowhere to hide, and threatened by the opposing cavalry, they had to be passively beaten under the rain of arrows, and the casualties continued to increase.
(Model showing the Scottish ring spear array)
The English heavy cavalry did not dare to charge at will now, they had learned to be obedient, constantly looking in the direction of the king, waiting for further orders. Edward I was in no hurry, and while he let the longbowmen continue to shoot, he ordered the infantry to advance steadily towards the Scottish line-up from both sides. Wallace was exhausted, many of the Scottish spearmen were wounded by arrows, and could only rely on willpower to support themselves, and the ring formation slowly became unsustainable. The British infantry, armed with swords and shields, drew closer and closer, and began to engage in melee with the outer spearmen, shattering the Scottish formation to pieces.
"Cavalry, go ahead!" The time had come, and Edward I finally gave the order. The heavy cavalry could not hold back long and immediately threw themselves at their opponents on horseback. The Scots fought desperately, and many good warriors fell, including Wallace's deputy and several reliable anti-war nobles. Seeing that the overall situation was decided, Wallace could only try to save the living, and he tried to gather the remnants and flee to the towwood Forest to the north. Relying on the cover of complex terrain, the Scottish warriors were spared total annihilation.
(The Scottish nobles were pregnant with ghost fetuses, and Wallace was powerless to return to heaven)
More than 2,000 people were killed on the Scottish side, comparable to the Losses of the British. But the English won by absolute numerical superiority. Edward I proved the abilities of his generation of kings with excellent on-site command, while Wallace was defeated by inconsistencies within the Scottish nobility.
<h1>The Legacy of The Fire - Robert's Legacy:</h1>
In September 1298, Wallace resigned as Protector of Scotland in view of his military prestige. He continues to support a possible candidate for a future King of Scotland, Robert Bruce, a 24-year-old young aristocrat.
(In Braveheart, Robert is portrayed as a junior, indecisive man, and betrays Wallace.) and history is very different)
Despite his young age, Robert secretly participated in the rebellion as early as the beginning of the English invasion and gathered his knights and subjects. Robert declared to the people: "In such hatred, no one can control their flesh and blood, and I am no exception." I must join my own people and the country where I was born. Come with me, and you will be my assistants and close companions! ”
Edward I, understanding the importance of wooing the Scottish nobility, used urgent letters to get Robert to support him. As a result, Robert was dismissive, and he had already led his subordinates to revolt. Due to a gap in strength and inexperience, the young Robert's organization failed to succeed and was forced to swear allegiance to England. After Wallace's victory at Stirling Bridge, Robert was encouraged and continued to secretly prepare for a revolt. When Wallace was defeated by Edward, Robert was also trapped.
(In the play "Braveheart", Robert's acting skills are very good from the perspective of the script, showing complex feelings for Wallace and his inability to real political situation)
Wallace resigned and went to France to fight for aid in the Scottish independence struggle, but the French population was not beneficial, and the overall attitude remained wait-and-see. Scotland's freedom could only continue to pin its hopes on itself, and upon his return, he resolutely continued to lead small troops to launch guerrilla warfare against the English occupation forces, and the English side released spies everywhere to detect his movements.
("Braveheart" drama China Lex and Robert have an extraordinary relationship, the two have not intersected much in history, but Robert is greatly influenced by Wallace)
On 5 August 1305, near Glasgow, a Scottish knight and sheriff loyal to the English army, John de Menteith, captured a Scottish hero resting by night through the rebellion of Wallace's servant Jack Short.
After being escorted to London under close supervision, England tried Wallace for treason and so on. He replied calmly, "I have not betrayed Edward, for I have never been his subject." ”
(Oil painting, Westminster Trial Court, Wallace generous statement)
The trial was, of course, only a formality, and Edward I was undoubtedly convinced that Wallace was now the equivalent of the Scottish Resistance, so he chose the most brutal way to execute him, trying to warn all those who dared to rebel against The rule of England.
(Painting, Wallace on the Execution Ground)
On August 23, the streets of London were crowded with people, men, women and children from all over the world, some schadenfreude, some surprised, and some with dignified expressions. I saw Wallace, who was stripped naked in the middle of the road, and was being dragged by a horse to parade the street. After crossing the city to the city center, the executioner sent Wallace to the gallows. After his neck had been tormented by a noose for a while, the executioner put it down again, and then brutally cut off his genitals, cut open his belly, and pulled out his internal organs. In front of wallace, who was about to die, he burned his intestines with fire in front of him. Finally, the head was cut off and the body was cut into four pieces.
(Famous scene)
Such a tyrannical method of execution, even the Londoners who were accustomed to beheading froze, and the crowd sometimes erupted into various voices, and sometimes suddenly fell silent. After being covered in blood, the executioner soaked Wallace's head in tar and stuck it in a spear at London Bridge. Four remains were sent to england and Scotland for display as if to show off England's overall victory.
Was Scotland conquered? Edward I despised the Highlanders so much that he did not yet know how fierce the raging fury of Wallace's mutilated body was when he hung before the Scots.
(Shortly after the film "The King of the Outlaws" began, the British army showed Wallace's severed arm to the Scots.)
Robert Bruce, the young contender for the Scottish throne, witnessed the outrage of the people, and he once again stepped up his machinations to fight the most powerful armies in the Western world, even if it was his own. This "brave heart" began to beat violently, and was about to usher in his indomitable struggle for Scotland.
(End of upper part)
<h1>Wallace Quote:</h1>
Everyone dies, but not everyone really lives.
“All men die, but not all men really live.”
<h1>annotations:</h1>
Scottish men did not wear skirts in the early days, when their traditional garment was a plaid shawl robe. In the 18th century, the skirt was cut and invented by a Quaker named Thomas, and later as some of his famous friends began to wear it, more and more carpentry miners imitated it, and gradually became the national costume of Scotland.
A replica of Wallace's two-handed sword, 1 meter 63 long and weighing 3 kilograms, allegedly contains the metal of the real Wallace sword of that year. Preserved in the Scottish Wallace Monument.
The existing Stirling Bridge was built in the 15th century, and the original bridge is located more than 160 meters upstream, and the Wallace Monument is nearby.
The Falkirk battlefield has now become a southern urban area, and it is impossible to draw a situation map for everyone, and the author will try to add it later.
The Manter who captured Wallace, although known as the "treacherous betrayer", later received numerous rewards and appointments for joining Robert's side against the British army. Maybe this is the eternal mystery left by history.
Robert later became known as "Braveheart", and the film was borrowed from Wallace without affecting the overall tone and expression of emotion.
(Wallace has become the eternal patron saint of Scots.
(Thank you for watching, the picture comes from the network, invasion and deletion, visible under the series of articles account)
bibliography:
Sir William Wallace | Scottish hero
Documents illustrative of Sir William Wallace: his life and times
Robert the Bruce – the Hero Scottish King
Scottish History: Robert The Bruce
Edward I and the Governance of England, 1272–1307
A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain
Battles of the Scottish Lowlands