Ever since its release in 1995, Braveheart has been a whipping boy for scholars.
All of its historical inaccuracies – ranging from Mel Gibson‘s blue painted face to its garbled chronology – have been gleefully pointed out.
And further fuel was poured on the fire this week by one of the film’s stars, Brian Cox, who said the Oscar-winning production was ‘b******s’.
Speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Cox added that the film is a ‘f***ing lie, the whole thing’, and added he only agreed to portray Wallace’s fictional uncle Argyle, after Gibson pleaded with him.
But the tale of Scotland’s push for ‘freeeeeeedom!’ against the tyrannical English did get a few things right.
Ever since its release in 1995, Braveheart has been a whipping boy for scholars. All of its historical inaccuracies – ranging from Mel Gibson ‘s blue painted face to its garbled chronology – have been gleefully pointed out
Brian Cox, who played William Wallace’s fictional uncle Argyle in Braveheart, said this week the film was ‘b******s’
The Scots were defeated at the Battle of Falkirk
One of the many fighting scenes in the film depicts 1298 Battle of Falkirk, which ended with Scottish defeat.
Troops led by Wallace fought valiantly but ultimately succumbed to the strength of the English army headed by King Edward I.
The version of the battle in Braveheart accurately depicts the desertion of the Scottish cavalry as defeat loomed.
Around 2,000 men on each side were killed, though the English force triumphed in part because of its overwhelming numerical superiority.
One of the many fighting scenes in the film depicts 1298 Battle of Falkirk, which ended with Scottish defeat
Troops led by Wallace fought valiantly but ultimately succumbed to the strength of the English army headed by King Edward I
William Wallace was betrayed
In Braveheart, Wallace is betrayed by noblemen Mornay and Lochlan in the lead-up to the Battle of Falkirk.
Gibson’s character goes on to kill the pair as revenge for their treachery.
Although Mornay and Lochlan were Hollywood inventions, Wallace really was betrayed.
The treachery of Scottish nobleman John Mnteith – who was not depicted in Braveheart – led to his capture near Glasgow in 1305.
A depiction of William Wallace, who remains a Scottish hero
William Wallace was gruesomely executed
One of the final scenes in Braveheart depicts Wallace’s gruesome execution.
The Scot was hanged, drawn and quartered at Smithfield in London.
The killing method involved hanging someone until they were nearly dead and then cutting off their genitals and disembowelling them while they were still alive.
Gibson opted not to depict Wallace’s death scene in graphic detail, and instead focused on his face as he was tortured and then cried out his message of defiance.
Sticklers will have pointed out that Wallace would have been in no fit state to shout out anything after being subjected to such horrendous disfigurement.
One of the final scenes in Braveheart depicts Wallace’s gruesome execution
A depiction of the moments leading up to Wallace’s execution at Smithfield in London
The English were defeated at Bannockburn
The final scenes of Gibson’s film depict the Scottish victory at the Battle of Bannockburn.
The clash, which took place in June 1314, saw Robert the Bruce’s Scots defeat English troops led by Edward II.
Robert’s victory at Bannockburn put paid to Edward’s plans to conquer Scotland.
In Braveheart, the ramshackle Scots charge at their enemies as the film ends by showing Wallace’s sword – having been thrown by Argyle – sticking out of the ground and wavering in the wind.
Angus McFadyen as Robert the Bruce, addressing his troops before the Battle of Bannockburn
The final scenes of Gibson’s film depict the Scottish victory at the Battle of Bannockburn
A depiction of the Battle of Bannockburn, in which Robert Bruce’s forces triumphed
This 15th century illustration of the Battle of Bannockburn is the earliest-known depiction of the clash
Robert the Bruce did become King of Scotland
Braveheart’s depiction of Robert the Bruce leading his men into battle at Bannockburn comes after he has been crowned as Scotland’s king.
Robert became King of the Scots at Scone, near Perth, in 1306.
After the formal inauguration, he agreed to be crowned for a second time by the Isabella MacDuff, the Countess of Buchan.
That moment is immortalised in a tableau on display at Edinburgh Castle.
Robert reigned until his death in 1329, when he was succeeded by his son, King David II.
The tableau at Edinburgh Castle depicting Isabella MacDuff crowning Robert the Bruce King of the Scots
Robert the Bruce became King of the Scots at Scone, near Perth, in 1306
