William Wallace

William Wallace rose as one of the main leaders during the First War of Scottish Independence. In September 1297, fighting alongside Andrew Moray, he defeated an English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge - a victory that earned him appointment as Guardian of Scotland. The role lasted less than a year: he was crushed at the Battle of Falkirk in July 1298. He evaded capture for seven years until August 1305, when he was seized in Robroyston, near Glasgow, and handed over to King Edward I of England. Edward had him hanged, drawn and quartered for high treason and crimes against English civilians. What followed was a second life in myth: Blind Harry wrote a 15th-century epic poem about him, Jane Porter and Sir Walter Scott turned him into literature, and Braveheart won the Academy Award.