William Wallace and Scottish resistance The fate of William Wallace
Scottish rebels led by William Wallace and Andrew Murray regained control of Scotland in 1297. However, the next year Edward I defeated the Scots at Falkirk and Wallace’s capture followed in 1305.
Edward I offered a generous ransom to anyone who killed or captured Wallace. After initially evading capture, Wallace was eventually betrayed and captured near Glasgow in 1305.
He was taken to London where he was charged with treason. This assumed that he should have been loyal to Edward I.
At his trial, Wallace claimed he was not guilty, denying treason on the grounds that he had never personally sworn loyalty to Edward I. However, he was found guilty and hanged, drawn and quartered at Smithfield on 23 August 1305.
His limbs were displayed in Stirling, Perth, Newcastle and Berwick, as a warning to the Scots that Edward I was in total control of the British Isles.