Stirling

In 1297, at Stirling Bridge, a large English force was routed by a much smaller Scottish army led by Wallace. In England, preparations for a retaliatory campaign started immediately, but the Scots refused to engage in open battle again, preferring instead to raid the English countryside in smaller groups. Nevertheless, the English managed to subdue the country by other means: Wallace was betrayed. When responding to the treason charge, he stated "I could not be a traitor to Edward, for I was never his subject." He was publicly executed. He has just turned 35.