Braveheart: Fact or Fiction? Trivia Quiz

Answer: The murder of Scottish nobles in MacAndrew's barn

"But it's our wits that make us men".

The movie begins with a meeting in a barn. Edward the Longshanks has called a meeting of the Scottish nobles in an attempt to stop the fighting after the death of the king. Young William's father, Malcolm, is concerned because their neighbor, MacAndrew, was to come by after the meeting, and is going to check on him. In MacAndrew's barn, Malcolm, William, and his brother, John, find thirty Scottish nobles and their pages hanging from the rafters. Malcolm calls a meeting at his home to discuss retaliation with his neighbors against the English; he and John prepare to leave the next morning, and William wants to go with them, telling his father that he "can fight".

In reality, it is very difficult to know the truth about Wallace's early life. Some historians do believe, however, that he was born to an aristocratic family - not impoverished farmers - and that he was a knight long before the Battle of Stirling, as depicted in the movie. It is certain, however, that Scotland was ruled by Alexander III in 1276, at the beginning of the film, and that the English and Scots had been at peace for quite some time. Alexander III did not die until 1296; at that time of his death, there was a period of uncertainty as his young heir, Margaret, died on her way to claim the throne. Edward the Longshanks was asked to mediate as several made claims to the throne, and John Balliol was eventually chosen as the next king.

Answer: Uncle Argyle

"First learn to use this. Then I will teach you to use this".

Young William has bravely endured the pain of burying his beloved father and brother next to the grave of his mother, Anne. It is clear that the neighbors who have gathered at the grave site know that one of them must step forward and adopt the boy. After the service, a man on horseback rides up to the cemetery. It is Uncle Argyle, Malcolm's brother, who is a clergyman. He has determined that William will come home with him, the Wallace property will be let out to neighbors, and William will be educated. That evening, after viewing the moving Scottish funeral, William tries to lift the sword his uncle was holding; Argyle implies that William must learn to use his mind before he learns to use the sword.

Many historians believe that William's father was Alan Wallace, and that he was still alive when William began his rebellion. William had two brothers, Malcom and John, who was executed a year after William by the English. It is believed that William's grandfather was the Laird of Riccarton, and that William had planned to become a clergyman. His mother's brother, who was a priest of Dunnipace, is said to have been the one who taught William how to stand up against oppression. There was no Uncle Argyle as shown in the movie.

Answer: "If we can't get them out, we'll breed them out".

"That should fetch just the kind of lords we want in Scotland".

When the grown William returns to his village, he finds the people involved in a wedding celebration. There is dancing, music, and food. He is reacquainted with his friend Hamish, sees that Murron is a stunning young woman, and witnesses the abduction of the bride by the English lord, who has been given the right by Longshanks, along with his land grant, to sleep with the bride on her wedding night. "The trouble with Scotland is that its full of Scots. If we can't kick them out, we'll breed them out".

While there appear to be many writings that speak of "primae noctis", there really isn't very much historical evidence to prove that the policy really existed anywhere, and was never used by Edward Longshanks during the time of William Wallace.

Answer: False

"I came back home to raise crops. And, God willing, a family. If I can live in peace, I will".

After the disturbance at the Stewart wedding, with the English lord invoking his right of "prima noctes", the men in William's village decide that it is time to hold a meeting. William is back at his family home, repairing his barn, when he is invited to attend. Murran's father, MacClannough, is with the group. After William declares his intention to be peaceful and have a wife and family, he is given permission to visit MacClannough's daughter.

There is no historic evidence to suggest that William Wallace ever went to Rome or left Scotland for that matter. Some historians believe that he might have had some prior military service - maybe in Edward I's army? As far as a possible marriage, there is no certain evidence that Wallace was ever married, however, there is a legend that says his wife's name was Marion Braidfute. Some sources even claim that the couple had a daughter. It must be noted that director Mel Gibson decided to use Murron in the movie because he thought Marion would be confused with Robin Hood.

Answer: To seek revenge for his wife's murder

"They say this Wallace killed thirty men to avenge the death of his woman".

William and Murron marry in secret in order to avoid the prospect of having to share her with the English lord. William is furious when English soldiers accost Murron in the market and try to rape her; it appears that the couple escapes, however, Murron is taken captive by the magistrate, who is angry that William was able to best several of his men. He kills Murron in an attempt to flush William out, but loses his life when William seeks revenge.

Some historians believe that William Wallace became a rebel while in school. It was there, when taunted by an English boy, that he drew his dagger and stabbed him to death. This incident, which happened when he was in his late teens, made William an outlaw fugitive. Another source described a similar incident, but it took place in Lanark, where Murron lived. The hot-headed William decapitated a taunting English soldier and fled the scene; Murron was executed by the sheriff after being named an accomplice. William returned the same evening, killing the sheriff and others involved. The bottom line? No one knows exactly what caused William's rebellion to begin. Many times great men are the stuff of which legends are made.

Answer: Cavalry

"Steady! Hold... hold... NOW"!

The English and Scottish are assembling; while the Scottish nobles seem to want to negotiate with the English, William insults the commander of the English army and picks a fight. William's men are obviously ready for the attack of the English cavalry. They have prepared pointed spears that are 14 feet long, which they use to form a wall that impales the cavalry horses and riders. The use of this weapon required patience and precision.

During the Scottish Wars of Independence, the Scots used a schiltron, which was a group of soldiers, armed with pikes, who formed a shield wall. It is documented that the Scots used a circular schiltron, described as follows: "The front ranks knelt with their spear butts fixed in the earth; the rear ranks leveled their lances over their comrades heads; the thick-set grove of twelve foot spears was far too dense for the cavalry to penetrate". There is still some debate regarding the origin of the use of pikes in this way, but some sources point to the use of this type of warfare by the Picts in Scotland.

Answer: Princess

"I come as the king's servant, and with his authority".

William arrives at the English camp and is stunned to see a woman, who resembles Murran in many ways, there. It is the Princess of Wales, Isabella, who thinks she has been sent to negotiate a truce with Wallace; in reality, unbeknownst to the Princess, her appearance has been used to buy the English a bit of time to gain conscripts and move them into place.

While the relationship between William and Isabella may have produced an interesting story, the fact of the matter is that at the time of Wallace's execution (1305), Isabella was nine years old and living in France. She did not marry Edward II until 1307; by then, Edward I was dead too. By the way, although there has been much talk about Edward's relationship with Piers Gaveston, he and Isabella did have four children together.

Answer: The Scots and Irish shook hands in the midst of battle.

"So that's where Longshanks got his soldiers. Irishmen, willing to kill Scottish cousins for the English".

Before the battle begins each side is sizing up the other as they line up on the battle field. Edward I is there with English soldiers, as well as Irish and Welsh conscripts. He wishes to sacrifice the Irish first - if it's at all possible. The two sides - Scots vs. Irish - begin running toward each other; as they begin to come together, they stop, shake hands, and begin fighting together against Edward's army, which has stayed a reasonable distance behind.

What's up with that? Is it even conceivable that such an event would take place? While it is true that the Battle of Falkirk was the first major defeat for the Scottish army, it was the Welsh archers, armed with their new technology, the longbow, who made the difference. Did Longshanks really order the shooting of arrows in the midst of the fighting that was taking place? Historians agree that he did not - but it was the new bow is what really made the difference.

Answer: He knocked the Bruce off his horse thinking he was an English knight.

"Fight me! Fight me!"

The battle is going poorly for the Scots - not only that, but Campbell, Hamish's father, has been mortally wounded. William continues to fight, however. As he is approached by an English knight, William is able to unseat him, consequently reeling in horror as he realizes that the person is Robert the Bruce. Stunned and betrayed, William refuses to further engage the Bruce, even when goaded; William is rescued by Stephen with some help from the Bruce, and Robert is left behind to consider the gravity of his actions.

Robert the Bruce never betrayed William Wallace - that's not to say that they were the best of friends - especially in the early days of the uprising - but he later did support Wallace's efforts. Did you know that the title "Braveheart" actually refers to Robert and not Wallace? After Robert's death, his heart was carried into battle.

Answer: Hamish and Stephen

"In the year of our Lord 1314, patriots of Scotland, starving and outnumbered, chargedd the fields of Bannockburn. They fought like warrior poets. They fought like Scotsmen. And won their freedom. Forever".

William Wallace has just been executed - disemboweled, drawn and quartered, and beheaded. Just crowned as the King of Scotland, Robert the Bruce, with his ragtag army, is preparing to pay homage to the English army, and in return gain the English endorsement of his rule. Robert looks at the handkerchief Murron made for William that he has kept. Instead, he rallies the men, and leads them into battle.

Hamish, Campbell, and Morrison were fictional people; there is one legend that Wallace had a friend named Stephen of Ireland, and another that Wallace's closest friend was named Kerly. Robert the Bruce was crowned King of Scotland in 1306, but never assembled his men to accept endorsement from anyone. The Battle of Bannockburn began as the Scots were laying siege to Stirling Castle, which was held by the English at the time. While trying to lift the siege, an English army was defeated by a much smaller Scottish army led by Robert the Bruce.