Scottish knight and champion of the independence of Scotland, probably born in Elderslie, Renfrewshire, W Scotland, UK. He routed the English army at Stirling Bridge (1297), and was knighted. He was given control of the government of Scotland as ‘Guardian’ in the name of the Scottish king imprisoned by Edward I of England, but was defeated by Edward at Falkirk (1298). He was eventually captured near Glasgow (1305), and executed in London. Many legends soon collected around him due to his immense popular appeal as a national figure resisting foreign oppression, and these were the subject of the Oscar-winning film, Braveheart (1995).
