Owain Glyndŵr 1354- Unknown

noreply@blogger.com (The Glitch) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:53:00 +0000

Owain Glyndwr was the first Welsh leader to unite the PEOPLE of Wales. People followed him not due to some Middle Ages feudalism but because he inspired them. There was still a body of native Welsh magnates and landowners, known by the Welsh term “uchelwyr.” For the most part they lived in reduced circumstances in the interior parts of the country, but there were enough of them to provide military expertise and a native leadership cadre to the Welsh in an age when social rank and family descent meant a lot.

One of these uchelwyr was a man by the name of Owain, who owned two modest estates at Sycharth and Glyndyfrdwy in North Wales, the last of which gave him the name of Glyn Dwr, or as the English (and Shakespeare) would have it, Glendower. Like other noblemen of his time Glyn Dwr was a military man, a loyal knight of King Richard II, and served with distinction in Richard’s campaign against the Scots. Under Richard’s reign many Welsh had found favor at the English royal court, but when Richard was overthrown by Henry Bolingbroke the Welsh suddenly found themselves out of favor and frozen out of opportunities for preferment.

In 1400, after more than a century of subjugation to the English crown, the Welsh were in rebellious mood. Henry IV had seized power from Richard II, in whose army Glyndwr had served against the Scots. When the new king refused to hear his grievances against Reginald de Grey, Lord of Ruthin, Glyndwr’s local dispute quickly became a national uprising.

Rallying other Welsh nobles to his cause, Glyndwr proclaimed himself Prince of Wales in the presence of ambassadors from France, Spain, and Scotland. Although his official seals - a “great” seal and a “privy” seal - depicted him in the traditional trappings of royalty, his choice of the title of Prince, rather than King, left the door open to a possible compromise whereby he would be allowed to rule Wales in some sort of subordinate status to the king in London. Welsh scholars from Oxford and building workers from London returned home to join Glyndwr’s revolt.

Henry responded in kind and marched his army into Wales. Glyndwr remained elusive, disappearing into the hills with his trusted band. This was how he spent much of the rest of his life; continually evading capture and creating the template for guerrilla leaders of the future. The success of his military tactics ensured that by the end of 1403 Owain Glyndwr controlled much of Wales

Glyndwr sought to establish external alliances, both with the Scots and the French. His letter to Charles VI of France, the famous “Penal” letter which survives today, yielded some financial and military support, though it was too little and too late. French troops landed at Milford Haven in 1405, but stayed in Wales for less than a year.

The turning point came with the rebel’s defeat at Pwllmelyn in Monmouthshire. His power ebbing, Glyndwr retreat into his heartland in central Wales. He died, probably in around 1416, still a free man and with his legendary status assured, according to Welsh lore, if Wales is ever under serious threat, Glyndŵr will rise from his grave and lead Wales to victory