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→Revolt Against the English
The first major battle William Wallace fought in was the Battle of Sterling Bridge, which occurred on September 11, 1297. In the movie, the English are tricked into marching their heavy cavalry into a trap, with the resulting infantry slaughtered in a futile charge. In reality, the battle was one by the Scottish because the English became trapped on Sterling Bridge, where they were not able to use their superior numbers. Many English soldiers fell in the river and likely died from drowning as the bridge may have collapsed during the battle. The victory by Wallace may have largely occurred because the English assumed Wallace would let them cross the bridge, as that may have been considered more in line with the rules of war or assumed rules at the time. In effect, Wallace may have won because he simply didn't follow the rule, using the narrowing of the bridge to his advantage.
It was after the battle that Wallace was likely named as guardian of the kingdom in March 1298. In the movie, the noblemen are seen as less than trusting of Wallace and more willing to give the English their loyalty. More likely, much of Scotland was in open revolt, although parts of it did stay under English controland there were noblemen loyal to the English. Notably, notably Edinburghand its well fortified castle remained in English hands. After a major raid into northern England, where in the movie York is suggested to have been sacked, although this likely did not happen, Wallace went back into Scotland. The raids of northern England in 1297 by Wallace may have been momentous and much destruction is suggested by contemporary chroniclers. After a period where a large English army then gathered to invade Scotland, where the Scots mostly contended with raids, a pitched battle finally occurred at the Battle of Falkirk on July 22, 1298. This time, and similar to the movie, the Scots were decimated by English longbowmen. However, it is very unlikely that the Robert the Bruce, future king of Scotland and leader of the Scottish revolt, betrayed Wallace, as suggested in the movie.
==Death of William Wallace==
