Braveheart...a bit rubbish really!

My husband, who is Scottish, has loved the film Braveheart ever since he went to see it at Stirling cinema in 1995 when he was 13. If the truth be told, he was so moved by the spectacle that it made him cry! He had fallen hook, line and sinker for the hugely inaccurate portrayal of the first Scottish war of independence.
The film was released in 1995 and starred Mel Gibson, who doubled up as director, as William Wallace, a 13th century Scottish nationalist. According to this website the film is littered with inaccuracies from the very second it starts-the author lists 18 errors in the first 2 1/2 minutes of the film alone!
For the blog I have picked a number of inaccuracies to share with you, which I have sourced from numerous sites!

• The film starts in 1280, claiming the King of Scotland is dead leaving no heir, thus leaving Edward I of England to seize the throne. In fact, in 1280 King Alexander III of Scotland was alive and had two sons, although neither succeeded him. Alexander III was succeeded by Margaret of Norway in 1286.
• No conflict between England and Scotland actually occurred until 1296 when there was a small rebellion.
• In the 13th century Scots did not wear plaids nor kilts
• Wallace never met Isabelle as she married King Edward II, not when he was Prince of Wales, as depicted in the film, three years after Wallace's death
• Robert the Bruce was not even present at the battle of Falkirk, let alone take the side of the English, as depicted in the film.
• Primae noctis, a Lord's right to take the virginity of women living on his estate, was never used by Edward I. In fact, little evidence exists that suggests the decree ever existed in the first place.
• Lastly, The Battle of Stirling Bridge doesn't even take place on a bridge in the film, a major factor in why the Scots won the battle. 

So there you have it, Braveheart is definitely not a true historical account. Some would argue that it was never meant to be, which maybe it wasn't as Mel Gibson did acknowledge the errors in the film at the time, but the film did go a long way in misleading many people to believe what it was portraying, which even led to a surge in Anglophobia according to some.

Let me know of any errors not mentioned above that you would like to share!