Robert the Bruce was the Real Life 'Braveheart'

We all know that historical movies can be inaccurate. Sometimes, they get historical figures completely wrong – for example, Pocahontas was a child when she met John Smith, and so was Isabella of France when William Wallace was alive. Still, most historical movies don’t make executions less gory as was the case with William Wallace's execution in Braveheart, and they don’t make real historical figures less intense. But Braveheart is guilty of both.

Just look at how Braveheart portrays Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland. In real life, Robert the Bruce and William Wallace were allies, openly fighting together – but in the movie, Robert the Bruce betrays Wallace. That couldn't be more wrong. Robert the Bruce was so committed to Scottish independence that he offed his rival in church to crown himself King.

#braveheart #scotland #WeirdHistory

[markross]

I've always known that there were two things historically accurate about the movie Braveheart: There really is a Scotland and there really was a William Wallace.

[chrismorris]

Honestly, I'd heard of Robert the Bruce before Braveheart and always wondered why he didn't get his own movie. He actually won.

[MagdaleneDivine]

Dude, throwing the heart from an urn and saying "lead on braveheart and I will follow thee" is so badass hard core I wish it HAD been in the movie.

[CmdrTomalak]

I mean, the movie 'Braveheart' doesn't really indicate the title refers to Wallace. The movie does end with Robert the Bruce taking up where Wallace left off. So you 'could' infer the title might actually be referring to him. I rather enjoyed this one. Thanks as always Weird History guy, for making history so entertaining.

[theblackkittie]

Ok, if anyone is actually watching a Hollywood movie for history lessons instead of, you know, actual historical documents and well researched documentaries then that's just really sad.
Braveheart is a amazing and skillfully crafted movie and I will die on that hill.
The wonderfully talented acting, cinematography, script, battle scenes and the hauntingly beautiful score by James Horner brought me to tears every time I saw it.
Do I know it's not historically accurate? Yep, cause it inspired me to do more research in to the lives of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. Yes, we were taught about them in school but I wanted to find out more so I did that and you can too, it's not too hard.
Oh and you don't need to take away from what William Wallace achieved to make Robert the Bruce look better, us Scots already know that he was a total fecking legend and so is William Wallace!

[camerongilmour]

Liam Neeson was born in Northern Ireland. It's funny to see he was labelled an English actor! Gotta get all the facts right!

[cleverusername]

As a Scot I really appreciate this video shining some light on our history! And accurately at that.
I will confess, I have a love/hate relationship with Braveheart. It's AGGRESSIVELY inaccurate and the accents are... oof, and of course Mel Gibson is problematic. However, it's entertaining as hell, the music and scenery are stunningly beautiful (yes, I know a most of it's Ireland but there are some scenery shots that are Scotland) so... mixed feelings. Glad to have this video to straighten things up a wee bit.

[CSMartin]

I actually did locations on a movie Angus Macfadyen was acting on in Calgary. He is a very proper gentleman. Very well spoken. I couldn't find anything bad to say about him if I tried.

[Scraggledust]

Yes! Fav channel!! How about a video about Hatshepsut? Her reign and the graffiti…anyhow, would be interesting 🙂

[yurdp]

Most of us knew the movie was nothing more than a well made epic costume drama. But tell us the factual story of William Wallace, because the writer of Braveheart was introduced to him as being “Scotland’s greatest hero.”

[NASCARFAN]

It's always a good day when Weird History uploads

[_SimpleJack_]

I remember my Scottish aunt taking me to see the film when I was a little kid, she kept going on to my cousins about how beautiful Scotland was and that's where they were from. When the credits rolled and "filmed entirely on location in Ireland" popped up I almost pissed myself laughing.

[HappyBirthdayRoboto]

Over the years I've met several Scottish people through friends, family and work and I've asked almost all of them what they thought of the Braveheart movie, and they all hated it! 🤣

[mirbeaugaming]

Yes, famous “English” actor Liam Neeson, born in famous English county of Northern Ireland. 9:23

[mummyisis]

The 2019 movie, Robert the Bruce is very good and seems historically accurate...with some extra drama. Macfayden directed it I believe and also played The Bruce.

[NewMessage]

Wait.... Braveheart didn't really have a terrible Scottish accent either? Lies! Everything I love is

[navret]

The Kings and Generals channel did an excellent documentary on this period of Scotland history.

[scottbubb]

Bruce the Robert. I actually got a chuckle from that.

[KINGBADASS]

The other historically inaccurate thing about Braveheart is that William had a mullet

[tcschenks]

Robert the Bruce was pretty famous as a hero before Mel Gibson’s movie gave him a back seat. We had a late ‘60s Childcraft encyclopedia set that I used to read as a kid and there were a couple of pages devoted to him.