Guest to my blog may wonder, why and who is William Wallace. One of my favourite movies of all times- Braveheart, acted by Mel Gibson. William Wallace was just a mere mortal that stood against oppression of the English Rule.

It all began, according to the movie Braveheart was that the English Noble who happens to be the cousin to King Edward 1 ("Longshanks") took Wallace's bride under the English custom, the Right of the First Night or Fornication Under Consent of the King (F.U.C.K). That started the ball rolling for William Wallace.

Well, according to local Ayrshire legend, two English soldiers challenged Wallace in the Lanark marketplace regarding his catching of fish. According to various historians, including John Strawhorn, author of The History of Irvine, the legend has Wallace fishing on the River Irvine. He had been staying with his uncle in Riccarton. A group of English soldiers approached, whereupon the leader of the band came forward and demanded the entire catch. Even after Wallace offered half of his fish, the English refused such diplomacy and threatened him with death if he refused. Wallace allegedly floored the approaching soldier with his fishing rod and took up the assailant's sword. He set upon the entire team of English soldiers with stereotypical success. The argument had escalated into a brawl and two English soldiers were killed.

Anyway, what is important was that he fought for what he believes was right. He defeated the English at Stirling. This was his famous words after the victory.

"I'm William Wallace, and the rest of you will be spared. Go back to England and tell them... Scotland is free!"

Like in our world that we live in today, we think only of ourselves and our own freedom not anyone elses... we oppress others more then we are oppressed .... and when fight for our freedom ...as in the movie... we get betrayed by those who call themselves brothers.

William Wallace was finally defeated by the English at the Battle of Falkirk. After several years in hiding, Wallace was eventually found by John de Menteith, a Scottish knight captured him in Robroyston near Glasgow and handed over to Longshanks, who had him tried for treason.

William Wallace responded to the treason charge, "I could not be a traitor to Edward, for I was never his subject." With this, William Wallace asserted that the absent John Balliol was officially his king. William Wallace was sentenced guilty as charged.

Following the trial, William Wallace was taken from the hall, stripped naked and dragged through the city at the heels of a horse to the Elms at Smithfield. He was hanged, drawn and quartered — strangled by hanging but released whilst he was still alive, emasculated, eviscerated and his bowels burnt before him, beheaded, then cut into four parts. His preserved head was placed on a pike atop London Bridge. His limbs were displayed, separately, in Newcastle upon Tyne, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Stirling, and Aberdeen.

I had the chance of visiting Stirling, Falkirk and Glasgow..........seeing the battlefields, gives you the eerie feeling, but realising how smart William Wallace was in choosing his battle ground, he could not have been defeated, if not for the betrayal of his fellow Scots.

Long live William Wallace, who shall always be remembered as a patriot and hero.

"Every man dies, not every man really lives"