1. Wallace: Guardian of Scotland

2. After the Battle of Stirling Bridge
Wallace and Murray (Moray) had won a great victory
Murray died shortly afterwards Nov 1297
Wallace would now have to govern Scotland

3. How/Why did Wallace become Guardian?
Common people supported him
Nobles were powerless without support of common people
Acted as a middle man between divided nobles
Acted in King John’s name but he had family links with the Bruces
Had support of the Church – Bishop Lamberton, the Bishop of St Andrews (took over after Bishop Fraser died)

4. Wallace was knighted March 1298 at Ettrick Forest by a prominent man of the Scottish race
Possibly Robert Bruce?
Wallace then called himself:
William Wallace, Knight, Guardian of the Kingdom of Scotland and Commander of its Armies

5. Wallace’s job as Guardian
Rebuild Trade
In 1297 he wrote a letter to the mayor of Lubeck (Germany)
Invited German merchants to begin trading directly with Scotland
Needed to buy iron for weapons

6. Wallace’s job as Guardian
Scottish Army
New Army was needed
Edward was sure to challenge after his defeat at Stirling Bridge
Many nobles would not join and fight as knights

7. A battle was then fought, on the 11th of
Source B is from the Chronicle of John of Fordun (a
Scottish account) written in the second half of the 14th
century. It describes the Battle of Stirling Bridge.
A battle was then fought, on the 11th of
September, near Stirling. The English army was
beaten, some of them were killed with the sword,
others taken, others drowned in the waters. But
through God, they were all overcome and Wallace
gained a happy victory, with lots of praise. Of the
nobles, on his side, the noble Andrew of Moray,
fell wounded.
Assess the usefulness of Source B as evidence of
the Scots victory at Stirling Bridge? (5)