King Longshanks In Braveheart

In 1286, the death of King Alexander III left the throne of Scotland vacant, which evoked intense contention amongst Scottish nobles who claimed their right to the throne and led them to ask King Edward I of England, better known as King Longshansks, for advice. Surprisingly, King Longshanks declared himself their king, and this led to a lengthy war between the two nations. Compared to early letters, films, such as Braveheart, depict King Longshanks as a devout adversary of the Scottish people instead of praising his unique characteristics. Early English sources have depicted King Longshanks as a mighty and grateful monarch, while later ones, specifically mainstream media, have portrayed him as a ruthless tyrant.
In the 1995 movie, Braveheart,
Gibson’s distinct representation of King Longshanks and his respective soldiers as the enemies of the Scottish people in the film implies that Gibson created this film in order to convey the belief that Scotland should be a separate country from the United Kingdom. By detailing the Scottish Wars of Independence in the film, Gibson alludes to the 18th century inclusion of Scotland in the United Kingdom and implies that Scottish people today experience oppression as a result of being under English rule. In order to effectively establish his position, Gibson uses Longshanks to represent the English government today and how both sought to exert their rule over the land of
Charles Dickens, the author, characterizes King Longshanks as an exceptional king who partook in the formation of Great Britain as a powerful and respected nation. Dicken’s representation of Longshanks occurs when he states, “He was, in general, a wise and great monarch, under whom the country much improved” (Dickens 80). In addition to that, Dickens further presents King Longshank’s greatness when he says, “King Edward's fame had been so high abroad that he had been chosen to decide a difference between France and another foreign power” (Dickens 82). Although Dickens intends to emphasize King Longshank’s greatness in his book, he still remains factual when referring to King Longshanks’ reputation overseas. During the 14th century, King Longshanks maintained a considerable prominence among European nations because of his roles as a statesman and soldier in the past (Santiuste 3). King Longshank’s prominence led to Scottish nobles relying on him to decide whom the heir to the Scottish throne would be. Dickens mentions this in his book when he states, “King Edward being much renowned for his sagacity and justice, it seems to have been agreed to refer the dispute to him. He accepted the trust, and went, with an army” (Dickens 83). In spite of the fact that King Longshanks deceived the nobles when he declared