Who was William Wallace
Wallace was the younger son of a Scottish knight and minor landowner. His name, Wallace or le Waleis, means the Welshman, and he was probably descended from Richard Wallace who had followed the Stewart family to Scotland in the 12th century. Little is known of Wallace s life before 1297. He was certainly educated, possibly by his uncle – a priest at Dunipace – who taught him French and Latin. It s also possible, given his later military exploits, that he had some previous military experience. Wallace s Rising In 1296 Scotland had been conquered. Beneath the surface there were deep resentments. Many of the Scots nobles were imprisoned, they were punitively taxed and expected to serve King Edward I in his military campaigns against France. The flames of revolt spread across Scotland. In May 1297 Wallace slew William Heselrig, the English Sheriff of Lanark. Soon his rising gained momentum, as men oppressed by the burden of servitude under the intolerable rule of English domination joined
