On September 11, 1297, a Scottish army led by William Wallace and Andrew Moray met and defeated the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge, near Stirling on the River Forth. Stirling Bridge followed a Scottish defeat at the Battle of Dunbar in April 1296. The English victor, John de Warenne, thought he was facing a rabble at Stirling and didn’t really take proper precautions … Continue reading The Battle of Stirling Bridge
On 18 July 1290, King Edward I of England issued the Edict of Expulsion, a despicable bit of legislation that expelled all Jews from England. It would be over 350 years before it was overturned by Oliver Cromwell. Not long after William the Conqueror came to England in 1066, Jewish communities started cropping up around the country, and Jews, along with merchants, were granted special … Continue reading The Shameful Edict
He put up a good fight, but on December 11, 1282, Llywelyn the Last, the last native-born Prince of Wales, died in battle, clearing the way for King Edward I to take over Wales completely (and name his own heir as its new prince). Llywelyn started doing battle against the English when he was only in his early 20’s—supporting his uncle, Dafydd, against King Henry … Continue reading Good Effort!
After a brief but glorious career as a legendary freedom fighter, William Wallace was executed for treason on August 23, 1305 after being captured near Glasgow. Wallace was a member of the minor Scottish nobility who came of age at a time of political instability and widespread infighting amongst the greatest Scottish landowners. King Alexander III had died in 1286 after falling from his horse, … Continue reading Freeeeedoooomm!
