Most information about Wallace’s early years has been derived from Blind Harry’s poem “The Wallace” that was written roughly 170 years after Wallace’s death. However, historians and scholars have discovered that Harry’s poem is more myth than fact, leaving much uncertainty about Wallace’s origins, family, and early years. There is known history, though, about the era he grew up in. Wallace grew up in a time of relative peace in the Kingdom of Scotland, when alliances with England were untroubled and civil. King Alexander III was the one responsible for the peace during this time. Alexander III ruled Scotland from 1249 to his death falling from his horse in 1286. After this, all hopes for a steady progression were ruined and King Edward of England found his way into becoming identified as Lord Paramount of Scotland, impending the Scottish Wars of Independence.
Wallace go involved in the Scottish Wars of Independence quickly; in 1297, he assassinated William De Heselrig. This denoted a vital defining moment in the agitation, as what had already been incoherent opposition turned into a total revolution. As sheriff, Heslrig was a sign of the oppressive Engligh authority. Wallace most likely chose his target and the time deliberately, as the murder of an English official while he was practicing the king’s legal authority over the Scots would have sent a potent message to both the English and the Scots. It is unknown exactly what Wallace was doing in Lanark, however, it is very likely that his brutal murder of Heselrig was intended to send a chilling message to the English officials that no one would be saved in the impending uprising. The English proclaimed Wallace as an outlaw, but his actions inspired many Scots to join his campaign. Immediately after Lanark, Wallace’s forces grew, probably inspired by the rumor that King Edward was trying to repress midland Scotland, forcing the men of that region to join his army to fight against France. Shortly after Lanark, Wallace decided to go after a higher-ranking English official: William Ormsby, King Edward’s justiciar. Sir William Douglar, another menacing fighter for the Scots Independence, joined Wallace. Wallace intended to Capture Ormsby, but Ormsby learned of the plan and fled the village of Scone before Wallace and Douglar could get to him. Although this was a misfortune for Douglar and Wallace, they managed to capture the booty Ormsby left behind, causing their fellow Scots to rally behind the uprising. This eventually gained Wallace widespread support, so he began preparing for his most famous battle: The Battle of Stirling Bridge and then the Battle of Falkirk.
King Edward finally started to acknowledge that the Scottish rebellion was strong and building up, causing the English to take firm action. Warenne, Edward’s chief liutenient, and Cressingham, Edward’s treasurer, made their way to Stirling with a prodigious army. Wallace joined forces with Andrew Murray and also headed to Stirling, leaving the attack of the castle at Dundee to the town’s residents; then made their way to Stirling Bridge. It was crucial whoever controlled the bridge because it connected the north and south of Scotland, so they would have a strategic advantage over the English. The Scots were outnumbered by the English and likewise had the disadvantage in the fact that the English had military experience on their side, while Wallace and Murray didn’t. However, even though the Scots had these advantages, Warrenne still didn’t want to fight; he sent representatives to persuade the Scots to surrender, but that failed, so he sent two Dominican friars as ambassadors so speak to Wallace and Murray hoping that the Scots would surrender. Wallace told the English no that they weren’t here for peacee, they were here to attack, causing Warrene to order an attack. Wallace responded in such a way that Warrene ordered an attack. On the morning of September 11, 1297, the English army began to cross Stirling Bridge while the Scottish army observed about a mile north in Abbey Craig, waiting for a certain number of their enemy to reach their side of the river,