The William Wallace portrayed in the film, however, directly contradicts these historical records. Because of this, William Wallace was most likely trained as a “man of arms” during his childhood, meaning that he learned to fight as a medieval knight would. New revelations by historians have revealed that he was the privileged son of a minor nobleman in Scottish lands. Braveheart seems to use the content and context of historical events only as inspiration for its scenes, valuing the entertainment aspect of the film over the creation of an accurate retelling of history.įrom the few records of William Wallace’s early life that historians have access to, it is known that Wallace was born during 1270 in Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland. While the setting of the story may display traces of accuracy, the portrayal of many events are exaggerated and fabricated in order to keep audiences engaged and provide a more fluid and understandable storyline. It centers around the famous Scottish rebel and knight, William Wallace, who led multiple revolts against the English monarchy in the early 14th century.

Because of the amount of positive attention Braveheart received after its release, it may come as a surprise to many that Braveheart is considered by historians and analyses as one of the most historically inaccurate films of the modern era.

It has been nominated for and won multiple Academy Awards and Oscars, including the coveted Academy Award for Best Picture in 1996. The movie Braveheart, directed by and starring Mel Gibson, has been highly regarded in Hollywood since the time of its release in 1995.

Is brave heart based on a true story