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{{Short description|13th-century battle in Scotland}}
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{{Infobox Military Conflict
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
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|conflict=Action at Lanark
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{{Infobox military conflict
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|partof=the [[First War of Scottish Independence]]
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| conflict = Action at Lanark
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|date= May 1297
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| partof = the [[First War of Scottish Independence]]
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|place=[[Lanark]]
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| date = May 1297
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|result=Scottish victory
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| place = [[Lanark]]
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|combatant1= [[File:Royal Arms of the Kingdom of Scotland.svg|15px]] [[Kingdom of Scotland]]
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| result = Scottish victory
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|combatant2= [[File:England COA.svg|15px]] [[Kingdom of England]]
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| combatant1 = {{Coat of arms|Kingdom of Scotland}}
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|commander1= [[William Wallace]]
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| combatant2 = {{Coat of arms|Kingdom of England}}
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|commander2= William Heselrig †
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| commander1 = [[file:WallaceSeal.png|20px]] [[William Wallace]]
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|strength1=unknown
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| commander2 = William Heselrig{{KIA}}
|strength2=unknown
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| strength1 = unknown
|casualties1=unknown but limited
|casualties2=unknown
| strength2 = unknown
| casualties1 = unknown
| casualties2 = unknown
}}
}}
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{{Campaignbox First War of Scottish Independence}}


The '''Action at Lanark''' was an assassination attack at [[Lanark]], [[Scotland]] during the [[First War of Scottish Independence]] in May 1297. It was led by Scottish leader [[William Wallace]] who led an uprising against the English and murdered [[Sheriff]] William Heselrig. At the time following the attack, it was not an isolated incident, but Wallace was joining in with risings taking place across Scotland.<ref>[[John Prebble]] ''The Lion in the North''</ref>
The '''action at Lanark''' was an attack at [[Lanark]], [[Scotland]] during the [[First War of Scottish Independence]] in May 1297. The Scotsman [[William Wallace]] led an uprising against the English and killed the [[Sheriff of Lanark]], William Heselrig. The attack was not an isolated incident, but rather saw Wallace joining in with uprisings taking place across Scotland.<ref>[[John Prebble]] ''The Lion in the North''</ref>


Not much is definitely known about this incident. The best account comes from the ''[[Scalacronica]]'' by [[Thomas Grey (chronicler)|Thomas Grey]], whose father, also called Thomas Grey, was present. A fracas broke out at a court being held by Heselrig, which Wallace escaped from. He then came back with some supporters and attacked Heselrig and his men, killed Heselrig, nearly killed Thomas Grey senior, and set fire to some houses. Wallace then continued with his rebellion, which culminated in his victory at the [[Battle of Stirling Bridge]] four months later.
Not much is definitively known about this incident. The best account comes from the ''[[Scalacronica]]'' by [[Thomas Grey (chronicler)|Thomas Grey]], whose father, also called [[Thomas Grey (of Heaton)|Thomas Grey]], was present. A fracas broke out at a court being held by Heselrig, but Wallace was able to escape with help from an individual named Innes who may have been his wife.<ref name=maclean>{{cite book|last1=Maclean|first1=Fitzroy|title=Scotland A Concise History|date=2003|publisher=Thames & Hudson, LTD|location=London|isbn=0-500-28233-1|page=[https://archive.org/details/scotlandconciseh00macl/page/37 37]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/scotlandconciseh00macl/page/37}}</ref> He then came back with some supporters and attacked Heselrig and his men, killed Heselrig, nearly killed Thomas Grey senior, and set fire to some houses. Wallace then continued with his rebellion, which culminated in his victory at the [[Battle of Stirling Bridge]] four months later.


It is unclear what Wallace's background was prior to this incident at Lanark, what he was doing at Heselrig's court, and whether this was a spontaneous incident or if it was co-ordinated with other risings in Scotland. <ref>Peter Traquair ''Freedom's Sword''</ref>
It is unclear what Wallace was doing at Heselrig's court, and whether this was a spontaneous incident or if it was co-ordinated with other risings in Scotland.<ref name=maclean/><ref>Peter Traquair ''Freedom's Sword''</ref>


According to the 15th century poem [[The Wallace (poem)|The Wallace]], written by [[Blind Harry]], Wallace carried out the attack in revenge for the killing of his beloved wife by Heselrig.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wallace.scran.ac.uk/man_and_myth/|title=Wallace: Man and Myth|website=wallace.scran.ac.uk|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://d.lib.rochester.edu/teams/text/mckim-wallace-introduction|title=The Wallace: Introduction {{!}} Robbins Library Digital Projects|website=d.lib.rochester.edu|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle-2-15039/william-wallace-myths-busted-1-3908858|title=William Wallace myths busted|website=www.scotsman.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref> The identity of Wallace's wife is not known for certain, but her name is believed to be Marion Braidfute. Harry also claims that Wallace dismembered Heselrig's body. Wallace biographer Ed Archer published his findings in 2005 that disputed the existence of Marion Braidfute, as there had been no mention of her prior to a revised rendition of Blind Harry's poem in 1570, believed by Archer to have been commissioned by the Baillies of Lamington, to gain favor with [[Mary, Queen of Scots]] by claiming relation to Wallace through their Braidfute lineage.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/wallaces-dead-wife-was-fictional-ljxrbr6lk60 | title = Wallace's dead wife was fictional | date = May 9, 2005 | newspaper = [[The Times]] | access-date = July 28, 2022}}</ref>
According to the poem ''[[The Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun Schir William Wallace]]'', written by [[Blind Harry]], Wallace was seeking revenge for the killing by Heselrig of his wife, Marion Braidfute of [[Lamington, South Lanarkshire|Lamington]].<ref>[http://www.lanarkmuseum.org/wallace.htm Summary of Blind Harry's account]</ref> However, there is little evidence for her existence. Harry also claims that Wallace then dismembered Heselrig's body


Fictionalised versions of this incident have appeared in various accounts of the Wallace's life, notably in the 1995 film ''[[Braveheart]]'', where his wife was called Murron MacClannough.
Fictionalised versions of this incident have appeared in various accounts of Wallace's life, notably in the 1995 film ''[[Braveheart]],'' in which his wife was called Murron MacClannough, and her execution preceded the battle.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

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{{Campaignbox First War of Scottish Independence}}


{{coord|55.6749|-3.7770|display=title|region:GB_scale:50000}}
{{coord|55.6749|-3.7770|display=title|region:GB_scale:50000}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Lanark}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lanark}}

[[Category:Battles of the Wars of Scottish Independence]]
[[Category:Battles of the Wars of Scottish Independence]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1297]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1297]]
[[Category:Lanark]]
[[Category:Lanark]]
[[Category:1297 in Scotland]]
[[Category:1297 in Scotland]]
[[Category:13th-century military history of Scotland]]

Latest revision as of 10:13, 2 February 2023

Action at Lanark
Part of the First War of Scottish Independence
DateMay 1297
Location
Lanark
Result Scottish victory
Belligerents
 Kingdom of Scotland  Kingdom of England
Commanders and leaders
William Wallace William Heselrig †
Strength
unknown unknown
Casualties and losses
unknown unknown

The action at Lanark was an attack at Lanark, Scotland during the First War of Scottish Independence in May 1297. The Scotsman William Wallace led an uprising against the English and killed the Sheriff of Lanark, William Heselrig. The attack was not an isolated incident, but rather saw Wallace joining in with uprisings taking place across Scotland.[1]

Not much is definitively known about this incident. The best account comes from the Scalacronica by Thomas Grey, whose father, also called Thomas Grey, was present. A fracas broke out at a court being held by Heselrig, but Wallace was able to escape with help from an individual named Innes who may have been his wife.[2] He then came back with some supporters and attacked Heselrig and his men, killed Heselrig, nearly killed Thomas Grey senior, and set fire to some houses. Wallace then continued with his rebellion, which culminated in his victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge four months later.

It is unclear what Wallace was doing at Heselrig's court, and whether this was a spontaneous incident or if it was co-ordinated with other risings in Scotland.[2][3]

According to the 15th century poem The Wallace, written by Blind Harry, Wallace carried out the attack in revenge for the killing of his beloved wife by Heselrig.[4][5][6] The identity of Wallace's wife is not known for certain, but her name is believed to be Marion Braidfute. Harry also claims that Wallace dismembered Heselrig's body. Wallace biographer Ed Archer published his findings in 2005 that disputed the existence of Marion Braidfute, as there had been no mention of her prior to a revised rendition of Blind Harry's poem in 1570, believed by Archer to have been commissioned by the Baillies of Lamington, to gain favor with Mary, Queen of Scots by claiming relation to Wallace through their Braidfute lineage.[7]

Fictionalised versions of this incident have appeared in various accounts of Wallace's life, notably in the 1995 film Braveheart, in which his wife was called Murron MacClannough, and her execution preceded the battle.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ John Prebble The Lion in the North
  2. ^ a b Maclean, Fitzroy (2003). Scotland A Concise History. London: Thames & Hudson, LTD. p. 37. ISBN 0-500-28233-1.
  3. ^ Peter Traquair Freedom's Sword
  4. ^ "Wallace: Man and Myth". wallace.scran.ac.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  5. ^ "The Wallace: Introduction | Robbins Library Digital Projects". d.lib.rochester.edu. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  6. ^ "William Wallace myths busted". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  7. ^ "Wallace's dead wife was fictional". The Times. 9 May 2005. Retrieved 28 July 2022.

55°40′30″N 3°46′37″W / 55.6749°N 3.7770°W / 55.6749; -3.7770

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