History vs. Hollywood By Sterling Ray and Matt Gallagher

 Braveheart is full of breath taking action, bloody violence, and heart wrenching romance.  All these factors create an incredible film and a large audience.

 King Edward the Longshanks decides to conquer Scotland.  Edward granted areas of land in Scotland to his nobility where they were to rule.  William Wallace grows up in repression and fear and survives the death of his father and brother.

 He falls in love with his childhood sweetheart Murron MacClannough  After a fight in the marketplace, Murron is captured. Wallace can't get there in time to save her and she is killed.  Wallace, with the other villagers, storms the garrison and kills all the English soldiers there.  Wallace's army grows as other Scotsmen arrive to fight the English.  They fight a number of successful battles.

 For Wallace to continue fighting, he needs the Scottish nobility on his side, contributing troops and food. The nobility rejects.  Two of the nobles betray Wallace at the Battle of Falkirk. Wallace is wounded badly and forced into hiding.  While meeting with Robert the Bruce, Wallace is captured and taken to London and charged with high treason.  Wallace is sentenced to death was hung, drawn and quartered.  Robert the Bruce takes control the Scottish army of and they defeat the English and win their freedom.

 Princess Isabella never fell in love with Wallace. The Princess launched her own invasion of Scotland.  After the battle at Falkirk, the movie shows Robert the Bruce knocking Wallace off his horse. Bruce had never directly betrayed Wallace.  Judgment: Inaccurate

 King Edward I actually died years after Wallace was executed.  William Wallace led a rebellion against English occupation in  After his capture, he was tried and executed as depicted.  Judgment: Somewhat accurate

 Scottish clans still had native Celtic languages they spoke.  As depicted, William sweeps his “lady”, Murron, off her feet and secretly dates her while her father knows, but looks the other way.  In this time, brides were worth much to a father, especially virgin brides. Murron’s father would not have let her get out of eyesight.  Judgment: Inaccurate

 Although Braveheart is an epic movie, the historical inaccuracies are abundant.  It would be very difficult to learn actual history from this movie.