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Robert the Bruce was the Real Life ‘Braveheart’

Weird History | March 21, 2026



We all know that historical movies can be inaccurate. Sometimes, they get historical figures completely wrong – for example, Pocahontas was a child when she met John Smith, and so was Isabella of France when William Wallace was alive. Still, most historical movies don’t make executions less gory as was the case with William Wallace’s execution in Braveheart, and they don’t make real historical figures less intense. But Braveheart is guilty of both.

Just look at how Braveheart portrays Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland. In real life, Robert the Bruce and William Wallace were allies, openly fighting together – but in the movie, Robert the Bruce betrays Wallace. That couldn’t be more wrong. Robert the Bruce was so committed to Scottish independence that he offed his rival in church to crown himself King.

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Written by Weird History

Comments

This post currently has 42 comments.

  1. @amandagabby777

    March 21, 2026 at 4:11 am

    I went to Scotland in 2023 and can confirm that the Scottish hate the Braveheart movie. Btw- the Scottish are lovely and fun people! Will definitely go back one day 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💕

  2. @lonnietoth5765

    March 21, 2026 at 4:11 am

    What little I know about Robert the Bruce does not impress me ! He played both sides and murdered his rival in a Church ? Am I right so far ? William Wallace did not seem to bend over for the King of England as did Robert the Bruce . I learned at the age of 7 years old to go to the library after seeing the movies The Alamo and Sparticus in 1960 , and have ever since researched . ( Thank you Nana ) . Mood swings or Bi-Polar might have been the Bruce' s problem ? Kind of like Linsey Graham with King Donald " The Rump " Trump ?

  3. @paulbrechin5018

    March 21, 2026 at 4:11 am

    As a Hollywood movie its won of the best of all time, but please do not think that is how it actually happened, if it was made on historical facts, and 18 plus recommendation would be an understatement. Medieval punishment was brutal to say the least, and Edward the !st pre plans execution of William Wallace was meant to be the most barbaric ever, to deter the Scots……………which to this day, we are still fighting!

  4. @MrWill9002

    March 21, 2026 at 4:11 am

    And while Robert the Bruce was known to swap sides, he never betrayed William Wallace directly, otherwise why would William Wallace resign as Guardian of Scotland in favor of Robert the Bruce?

  5. @jrtomlin1805

    March 21, 2026 at 4:11 am

    Thank you for acknowledging who the real Braveheart was. The something else Robert the Bruce had to do at the time of the Battle of Falkirk was burning Ayr Castle to keep it out of English hands. Not quite the stab in the back that the (lying) Mel Gibson made it out to be. There is no evidence that Robert the Bruce hid out in a cave in Ireland but it is a roughly accurate account.

  6. @HIGHESTofHIGH4321

    March 21, 2026 at 4:11 am

    Robert the Bruce is a long time Ancestor grandfather of mine on my dads side and my maiden name is Bruce and I’m proud to be related to him and other royals weither most were or are still crazy I’m still proud and love all of them no matter what ty

  7. @Randybarby6774

    March 21, 2026 at 4:11 am

    I believe William Wallace inspired Robert the Bruce Immensely. Maybe so much so, that Without that inspiration Robert the Bruce would not have had the gas he needed to accomplish his destiny. 🤷‍♂️ just a theory

  8. @manofgod321

    March 21, 2026 at 4:11 am

    To make a joke about the death of a nineteen year old woman is very distasteful. I appreciate your humour, but that comment was taking humour too far.

  9. @robrob9250

    March 21, 2026 at 4:11 am

    Bruce and Wallace didn't know each other personally. Wallace was a well known figure for his rebellion against the English and Robert The Bruce did support it, but it was when Wallace died that he took up the fight against the English, believing Scotland could stand on it's own and not as a vassal state to the English. When he and Comyn were rivals for the throne Wallace was already dead, and Bruce intended to continue the fight, rather than be a puppet for the English, where Comyn was happy to be so. He threatened to betray Bruce's plans for rebellion to the English and be rewarded with Kingship, so Bruce killed him. It's true he was inspired by Wallace to believe Scotland needn't be subservient to the English but there's no evidence they ever actually met.

  10. @Tsoiugidali

    March 21, 2026 at 4:11 am

    Through the marvels of modern DNA genealogy – I am proud and humbled to share that Robert the Bruce is my 20th gr-gr grandfather from the male side of my family tree.

  11. @duncanadamson6701

    March 21, 2026 at 4:11 am

    Both Robert the Bruce and William Wallace were major players in ensuring Scotland maintained its proud and historic identity to this day. However, we should never forget other great names such as Andrew Moray and the Bruce’s greatest lieutenants Sir James Douglas and Sir Thomas Randolph 1st Earl of Moray, without whom Bruce would never have succeeded. Randolph was for me Scotland’s greatest unsung hero, nephew of Bruce, when you research what this man done for Scotland, you will be in awe. Many people get emotional when they pay respect to the great Robert the Bruce at his final resting place and rightly so. However, if you get the chance to do so, walk a few more yards, kneel in front of where Randolph rests, pay your respects and you will be humbled.

  12. @robertthebruce-geniusofban647

    March 21, 2026 at 4:11 am

    Robert the Bruce’s story, as with all his brothers and the Bruce family is a real life epic, that needs no fiction to enthrall any researcher or anyone with interest.
    He was tried and truly tested, and ultimately overcame!

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