William Wallace - The real story behind Braveheart

Hey everyone,

welcome to my very first Youtube video. When the movie "Braveheart" was published in 1995 the name "William Wallace" became internationally known. But what are the real events behind the movie plot and who was William Wallace?

"Hunting Down History" is a format where I travel to specific places and explain historic events on site.
I filmed this video in Stirling, Scotland on the original sites of the First Scottish War of Independence.

Some of the sources that I used for my research are listed below.

Enjoy and let me know what you think! :)

- Swenja

Sources:

[tonytang]

Good job Swenja! Can't wait to see your other videos. Keep up the good work.

[dougpotosky]

I walked the Sterling Bridge on a cloudy, foggy, misty day. I looked beyond trying to imagine what the true battle was like. You should tell your fans the stone bridge is not the orginal. But close by. I read parts of the orginal Steeling Bridge was found under the river. Any way thank you! I am from America. But know my soul is Scottish. The trip felt like going home!

[Davidgt]

Swenja you are a great narrator and absolutely lovely! Thank you for this video. My great great grandfather Wallace is buried in the Wallace clan cemetery. Heritage is a beautiful thing. Sub’d- 🌻

[bogdanditu]

I ve just seen Braveheart with a friend and your video is so knowledgeable and useful to understand the historic time and about Wallace. Great job Swenja!

[kirstennielsen]

Great video.... wee detail: that is not the actual Stirling bridge of the time of William Wallace. There's a bouy marking that ares

[MichaelMigoHiller]

Awesome video! You’ve done such a great job explaining this important point in history in a very easy to follow structure. Excited for everything that is to come in the future 👍🏽😎

[scottwallace]

I finally found your wonderful YouTube channel. Thank you so much for making a video about my ancestor William Wallace. Most William Wallace videos just l lead me to that Tony Robinson documentary. I hope you’re well. Happy I found your channel and I’m proud to be a Wallace. It’s special being a Wallace and have the first name Scott.

[petero]

Liked your video very much, thank you for showing the sites and corresponding stories. Now I have to go back to Scotland for seeing these sites myself ;-) keep up the good work

[King_Alfred_]

Great video! Although it was Scotland verses the English & not the British! Great Britain means the collection of historical nations of England, Scotland, Wales & Ireland! 👍🇬🇧

[klausfischer]

Super Video, macht Spaß anzuschauen und auch für jemanden mit weniger GeschichteWissen wie mich kompakt zusammengefasst 👍

[ԵհԵօ]

youre work is so nicely done! i am obsessed with your yt and your insta, u deserve a lot more attention.
my only criticism might be your mic, but thats easy to fix!!

[_racoon_]

Love this story also i find your accent very lovely and your eyes :)

[u.stuartauslander]

I liked the Advertisement that preceded the video. & then they kept leading me on without letting me skip forward.
The ad was anti

[sailorrusty]

would love to see one on Robert Burns as you did a good job with Wallace. Thanks.

[willcreage]

The old sterling bridge was actually several hundred yards away from the present day bridge

[MrBlazingup]

I will tell you another part of the story that of the name they call out after taken the fort " cuchulain cuchulain cuchulain Wallace Wallace" he fought right alongside William Wallace as the wild Irishman who claimed to own Ireland his name was Steven means 7 and he spoke to God in the movie cuchculain sedante Steven sedante means Setting Sun dawn of the Sun High day of the sun seven sedante cuchulain and in real life Sir Culoo O'Neill and knighted by Robert the Bruce in 1317 and his son's are on the roll call of 1296 as McCullough a story-within-a-story.

[alexanderbrown]

Good video sorry to say the bridge was made of wood which sat upstream from modern stone one in your video

[thesocietyofjohndegraeme]

Hi Sonia great video very surprised to see you visit Cambus kenneith Abbey not many know of this site .

The old Stirling Bridge sadly is not the original bridge. That bridge was wooden bridge that collapsed during the battle

During 1298 and 1305 Wallace visited France we see this from the Safe conduct letter given to Wallace from the King of France as an introduction to the pope ..its not sure if he used this or not ..it was left and rediscovered in the Tower of London
He also engaged in skirmishes with Sir Simon Fraser of Neidpath

The monks of Cambus kenneith were acting on the pleas of The priest of Dunipace who was Wallace’s Uncle who wrote to them and asked them to give his nephew a proper Christian burial as it was believed being executed in such a way would prevent you entering heaven..

For more info on Wallace and this era look out for The society of William Wallace and The Society of John De Graeme..

[jaycruzsemple]

Got to ask where is the amazing really cool accent from I am from Glasgow Scotland my first marathon I ran was in sterling and I ran with my Wallace tartan kilt on and my face painted up like him all the big running events I run an account this like William Wallace because I believe in freedom of my country and also at the same time trying to raise funds to get my eyesight restored again

[Ben-hvpr]

Yeah Braveheart is a great movie and i am from the Scottish Highland Clan MacInnes which might have fought and Died with William Wallace in the first Anglo Scottish War