Evidence for William Wallace’s existence

William Wallace stands as a colossal figure in Scottish history—a national hero, a symbol of resistance, and the subject of an Oscar-winning film. Yet, because he emerged from a period of turmoil and was ultimately executed by a regime intent on erasing his legacy, some have wondered: did William Wallace truly exist, or is he merely a legendary folk hero? While the man has been shrouded in myth and romanticized by later generations, a compelling body of historical evidence confirms that William Wallace was very much a real historical figure. The proof lies not in a single document, but in a mosaic of official records, contemporary accounts, and physical monuments that together form an undeniable testament to his existence and impact.

1. Official Government Documents and Seals

The most concrete evidence for Wallace’s existence comes from official government records, which are notoriously dry and factual, concerned with administration rather than legend-building.

• The Lübeck Letter (1297): This is perhaps the most powerful piece of evidence. Following the stunning victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge, Wallace and his co-commander Andrew Moray, as Guardians of Scotland, sent a letter to the mayors of the Hanseatic towns of Lübeck and Hamburg in Germany. The letter informed them that Scotland’s ports were once again open for trade after being freed from English control. This document, which still exists in the city archives of Lübeck, is tangible proof of Wallace’s political authority. Most significantly, it bears Wallace’s personal seal. The seal displays a bow and arrow on one side, with the inscription: “Willelmus, Filius Alani Walais”—“William, son of Alan Wallace.” This not only confirms his name but also provides the name of his father, Alan Wallace.
• The Ragman Rolls (1296): These were the oath rolls whereby thousands of Scottish nobles and landowners swore fealty to King Edward I of England after his invasion. While William Wallace’s name is notably absent (a telling omission that aligns with his later rebellious status), the rolls list an “Alan Wallace” recorded as a crown tenant in Ayrshire. This is widely believed to be William’s father, placing the Wallace family in a specific historical and geographical context and confirming they were people of note.

2. Contemporary and Near-Contemporary Chroniclers

History is often written by the victors, and in Wallace’s case, the English chroniclers of his time were certainly not his admirers. However, their very hostility serves as strong evidence for his existence and impact.

• English Chroniclers: Writers like Walter of Guisborough and the author of the Lanercost Chronicle documented Wallace’s campaigns and actions, albeit from a negative perspective. They recorded his killing of the English Sheriff of Lanark, William Heselrig, in May 1297, his victory at Stirling Bridge, and his subsequent defeat at the Battle of Falkirk. These accounts, created during or shortly after Wallace’s lifetime, treat him as a formidable and real military opponent. Their detailed descriptions of his tactics, his raids into Northern England, and the English government’s intense focus on capturing him are not the stuff of myth, but of military reporting.
• Scottish Sources: While no Scottish chronicles written during Wallace’s lifetime survive, later 14th-century Scottish historians like John of Fordun and Andrew of Wyntoun wrote about him within living memory of the events. Their accounts, while more sympathetic, are based on earlier sources and oral traditions that had not yet had time to degenerate into pure folklore. They consistently treat Wallace as a historical personage.

3. The Financial Records of an Enemy

Sometimes, the most mundane records can be the most revealing. The English royal treasury, the Exchequer, kept meticulous financial accounts. These records note expenses for the upkeep of soldiers, supplies for campaigns, and payments for services rendered. The English state’s financial ledgers from the period show significant funds being allocated specifically for “the pursuit of William Wallace” and later for his capture and transportation to London. A state does not spend vast sums of money hunting a phantom.

4. The Record of His Trial and Execution

The circumstances of Wallace’s death are among the most well-documented aspects of his life, precisely because his captors wanted to make a very public example of him.

• Capture: Historical sources record that Wallace was captured at Robroyston, near Glasgow, on 5 August 1305, by Scottish knight Sir John Menteith, who was loyal to Edward I.
• Trial in London: He was transported to London, where a trial was held in Westminster Hall on 23 August 1305. The charges of treason and atrocities against English civilians were read out. The famous rebuttal attributed to Wallace—“I could not be a traitor to Edward, for I was never his subject”—is consistent with his documented stance and is a powerful summary of his cause.
• Brutal Execution: The sentence of hanging, drawing, and quartering was carried out the same day at Smithfield. His head was placed on a pike on London Bridge, and his limbs were sent to be displayed in four Scottish towns (Newcastle, Berwick, Stirling, and Perth) as a grim warning. The detailed, bureaucratic nature of this brutal process, intended to eradicate him both physically and symbolically, is a dark but undeniable testament to his reality.

5. Later Historical Sources and Physical Monuments

While later than the primary evidence, 15th-century sources and physical monuments built in his memory are based on a strong and enduring tradition that confirms his historical importance.

• Blind Harry’s The Wallace (c. 1470): This epic poem is the most comprehensive—and most fictionalized—account of Wallace’s life. While it is a work of patriotic literature filled with exaggerations and inventions (e.g., claiming Wallace was seven feet tall), it is not a work of pure fantasy. It is based on older, now-lost sources and oral traditions that had circulated for generations. Historians view it as a problematic source for the details of Wallace’s life but not for his fundamental existence. Its very creation points to a deep and enduring cultural memory of a real man.
• The National Wallace Monument: Completed in 1869 after a national fundraising effort, this towering monument overlooking the site of the Battle of Stirling Bridge is a physical testament to Wallace’s enduring legacy. While built centuries later, it is based on a historical event that was central to his story and is a reflection of how his existence is woven into the fabric of Scottish national identity.

Timeline of Key Documentary Evidence for William Wallace

Conclusion: A Man, Not a Myth

The historical William Wallace may not have worn kilts or blue face paint (an invention of the film Braveheart), and his early life remains obscure. However, to deny his existence is to ignore a solid foundation of historical proof. From the imprint of his seal on an international trade missive to the grim accounting of his state-sponsored execution, the evidence is multifaceted and compelling. William Wallace was a real man—a skilled military leader and a politically astute Guardian of Scotland—whose actions and brutal death left an indelible mark on history and forged a legend that continues to inspire over 700 years later. The evidence confirms that the myth is built upon the solid rock of historical fact.