A list of the film's main inaccuracies and accuracies
The film is notorious for its inaccuracies: (1.) kilts did not become a popular form of men’s wear in Scotland until almost 400 years later. (2.) The first night or Primae Noctis wherein English nobles had the privilege of sleeping with Sottish brides is considered a historical urban myth by most historians. While there are plenty of writings that allude to it, there’s very little legitimate evidence that it was ever actually used by any nobles anywhere. (3.) Scots at the time of Wallace didn’t paint their faces for battle, although the Picts did wear blue face paint to scare off the Romans centuries earlier. (4.) We see no bridge at the Battle of Sterling Bridge in the movie. In the real battle the English had to cross a small bridge to attack the Scottish, but the bridge only allowed for three cavalrymen to cross at a time, which Wallace’s men took advantage of, immediately killing the English once they made it to the other side.
(5.) Princess Isabelle of France (Sophie Marceau) was actually only 3-4 years old during Wallace’s military campaigns and, in fact, never met Wallace. (6.) Although it’s one of the best scenes in the movie, Phillip was never defenestrated (thrown out a high window), but lived long after Longshanks’ death. However, it is likely true that wimpy Prince Edward II had homosexual affairs, although he fathered as many as five children. (7.) While Longshanks was present at the Battle of Falkirk and was known for using Irish & Welsh conscripts, at no point did the Scots and Irish stop in the middle of battle to shake hands. Also Edward I (aka Longshanks) never told his archers to fire blindly into the mêlée of English and Scots. (8.) Robert the Bruce (Angus Macfadyen) never betrayed Wallace, although he initially disowned him publicly, he secretly supported his war effort and openly admitted it later.
Despite these inaccuracies, the gist of the tale is true: William Wallace existed. He fought a battle with the English at Stirling and won. He fought another battle with the English at Falkirk, but was betrayed and lost. He was deceived and captured by the English, taken to London and excruciatingly executed (although it was even worse in real life than in the film). Wallace`s rebellion set Scotland on the road to freedom.