September 16th is the anniversary of the proclamation in 1400, of Owain Glyndwr as Prince of Wales and is now celebrated annually as Owain Glyndwr Day.We can not know for certain whether all the stories about him are true, but what we do know is that his life was a very remarkable one, and there is no name known better here in Wales than that of this great man.
He was born in the year 1359, at the height of the Black Plague, although the exact date remains a mystery, He was an unlikely candidate for the role of freedom fighter, born as he was into an upper-class family descended from the princes of Powys on his father's side, and heir to the lands of Rhys ap Gruffydd on his mother's, he enjoyed the privileges due to one of the most powerful lords in Wales. It was the custom in these days for the sons of noble-men to be taught in the art of fighting early, but Glyndwr, as a lad was fond of learning, and when he was old enough, he was sent to London to study law, at the Inns of Court in London, to become a squire to the Earl of Arundel, and to serve with distinction in the Scottish campaigns of King Richard II, and later in the French campaigns. In 1383, he married Margaret, daughter of Sir David Hanmer, an important justice on the King's bench. He took up residence in his family home in Sycharth in the valley of the Dee. Here he called the Welsh bards and minstrels together in order to encourage music and song.
Events soon brought this comfortable life to an end, and Owain would not enjoy peace for long, which not only disrupted Glyndwr's family circle but altered the course of Welsh history. In 1399, Henry Bolingbroke deposed Richard II. As King Henry IV, he levied even harsher taxes against the Welsh. This happened at the worst possible time for the Welsh, who were already suffering from recurring outbreaks of the Plague. The new taxes added to the hardships and resentment of the common people and made them ripe for rebellion, and soon Owain would be called to lead his people in war
He also had a jealous neighbour called , the Marcher Lord, Sir Reginald de Grey of Ruthin, who was anxious to seize some of the land which Owain now possessed. Glyndwr appealled to Parliament against Grey,but the new king Henry IV, remembered how Owain had served his enemy Richard, and took Grey's side. To make matters worse, Grey would not deliver a writ bidding Owain to join Henry in a war against Scotland, and this made it appear that Owain had disobeyed Henry and had become a traitor. Lord Grey saw this as an opportunity, and seized Owain's lands north of the Dee,declaring them forfeit to the King. When Owain and his people saw this injustice, the old spirit of war bust into a fierce flame,as Owain felt he was left with no option other than to rebel against the unjust and oppressive rule of the English, and soon the whole of Gwynedd was in revolt.
Word of Glyndwr's stance struck a chord with other disaffected Welsh people and he became the symbolic leader of the resistance movement against the crown and in September, 1400, Owain attacked the town of Ruthin, plundered it and left it in flames.He also took possession of some of the lands of Lord Grey.On 16th September on the outskirts of Ruthin he was proclaimed by his followers as Prince of Wales.The men of Wales flocked in droves to Owain's banner as word of the revolt spread, like wildfire throughout the country and many exiled Welsh people returned to join what had become a widespread national uprising. Welsh students at Oxford and Cambridge reportedly dropped their books and headed home to join the fight. Anti-English sentiment grew so strong that Welsh labourers in Shropshire and Herefordshire left their jobs to support the cause.
Parliament didn't take these events lightly, immediately passing even harsher anti-Welsh laws. Henry then marched a large army across North Wales, burning and looting without mercy. Confronted with strong English opposition, Glyndwr and seven supporters headed for the safety of the mountains and bided their time.
Glyndwr won his first great victory against the English in the summer of 1401. Camped with fewer than 500 men at the bottom of the Hyddgen valley, he found himself surrounded by 1500 enemy troops. With no option other than to fight, he amazingly defeated the English, though about 200 of his followers died as well. This success inspired legions of new supporters, many from the higher ranks of Welsh society. Glyndwr received further support from England's enemies: Scotland, Ireland, and France. In the meantime, the English continued their offensive, fanning the flames of Welsh ire by attacking and defiling the Cistercian monastery of Strata Florida.
Owain was a natural leader ,the spark that united the Welsh discontent about specific issues in Wales,many dating back from the death of Llewelyn the last, https://teifidancer-teifidancer.blogspot.com/2016/12/llewellyn-ap-gruffyd-last-prince-of.html who was killed in 1282, and soon Owain had a large loyal army under his command. When Henry IV heard of this he hastened back from Scotland intent on crushing Owain and destroying his army. Owain saw that it would be useless to try and lead his forces against an army of 28,000 of the King's men, so he wisely withdrew into the mountains,there he remained in safety until all was ready for an attack on the English. Henry and his army in the meantime, having destroyed much property returned to England, but after gaining little or nothing.
In his retreat at Snowdon, Owain planned his next campaign. In 1401, Owain made Plymlimon the base of the campaign on which he decided, because there his supporters could easily come to him from both North and South. In the spring of that year he attacked and destroyed various towns on his way to South Wales. Henry heard of this new uprising, and immediately led an army to fight Owain, but again the English had to return after suffering much loss, and gaining nothing.
The year 1402 was the most successful for Owain, a comet that had appeared in the skies was thought to herald greater victories and portending a sweeping victory for Welsh independence. and in fact the tide of battle swung dramatically in Glyndwr's favour. He took his old enemy, Lord Grey prisoner, and carried him off to the mountains, Marching to the South Owain and his army destroyed the castles of Crickhowell and Abergavenny.The town of Cardiff was attacked, and the bishops palace at Llandaf was burnt. Caerphilly and other castles fell, and soon the whole of Glamorgan was one. Henry IV was now planning to send three armies into Wales to surround and conquer the great Owain hurrying back to the North, cut off all the supplies of the English armies, and they returned to England with all haste.
Owain was now at the height of his power.In 1404 , Cricieth, Harlech and Aberystwyth castles were captured. There was something forward thinking in his vision of Wales. He called not one but two Welsh Parliaments and wanted to create two Welsh universities and to have a Welsh Church controlled by Welsh bishops.Until then, with the compliance of the Vatican, English Kings appointed Bishops for Wales,English speaking not Welsh. He called together a Welsh Parliament at Machynlleth, where he was crowned Prince of Wales.He told the Parliament of his schemes to have Welsh universities which should be equal to that of Oxford, and promised to restore the old laws of Howel the Good. Owain intended to use his power for the good of his country, using his charismatic influence as a leader of a Wales free from the yoke of English rule.Agreements with France and Spain were drawn up and rench troops landed at Milord Haven to join his army. The second parliament was held the following year in Harlech, and Glyndŵr's idea of splitting Wales and England into three parts was discussed. Mortimer would have the south and the west, Thomas Percy, Earl of Northumberland, would have the middle and north, and Owain himself would have Wales and the Marches. On 31 March 1406, to ensure extra help from France, Glyndŵr wrote a letter to King Charles VI from Pennal near Machynlleth. This is the famous Pennal Letter. In the letter Owain agrees to transfer the obedience of Welsh churches from the Pope in Rome to the Pope in Avignon. He did not receive a reply to the letter.
Owain Glyndwr's banner
However Owain was not to retain his powers for long, although he had the help of powerful allies. King Henry stopped the tide of his success, and in spite of the help that Owain received from his allies, the royal army won a decisive victory over him in 1405. Many Welsh soldiers were slain and Owain's son Gruffydd was taken prisoner. Prince Henry marched with his army into North Wales/ Aberystwyth castle was captured in 1846, and in the next year Owain's stronghold, Harlech Castle, fell into the hands of the English.
Owain the great hero though remaining a problem for a while, by 1410 Glyndwr was a hounded pariah, and saw anti-Welsh legislation more repressive than ever, Owain and his followers were forced to flee and hide themselves in the hills. In 1413,Henry IV died, and Henry of Monmouth was crowned Henry V. Little is known about the closing scenes of his life, Henry V offered him a pardon in 1415, but he was apparently too proud to accept it,but as the sands ran out of his rebellion, he was never captured or betrayed, and he simply slipped away, some say finding shelter at the home of one of his daughters, across the border in Herefordshire. His son, Maredudd ap Owain Glyndwr, also refused the pardon, but accepted another in 1421, suggesting that by this time that his father was, by then dead.
Owen Rhoscomyl who wrote Flame bearers of Welsh History in 1905 believed Glyndwr’s spirit lived on, saying of Glyndwr’s unknown grave: ”Time shall not touch it, decay shall not dishonour it for that grave is in the heart of every true Cymro. There for ever, from generation to generation, grey Owen’s heart lies dreaming on, dreaming on, safe for ever and forever.”
Yet the people he presided over lost everything in a decade of bitter struggle, and saw the regulations designed to keep them repressed rendered considerably harsher for two generations to come, Wales' citizens were treated as second hand citizens compared to the English..
Centuries have now passed since this great Welshman died, but his name and his spirit will be forever honoured by the Cymry, because he was the champion of its people, and his ideals still inspire this nation, he has since become a symbol of pride and freedom, and our want for self autonomy. The nationalist movement has always held Owain Glyndwr in high regard, and he is now a figure of mass culture in Wales. In his play, Henry IV, Shakespeare portrays Owain Glyndwr (anglicised as Owen Glendower) as a wild, exotic, magical and spiritual man, who recalled him as being “not in the roll of common men”. playing up the romantic 'Celtic' traits. In the 19th century his life and legacy was beginning to be re-evaluated as the Welsh 'nation' began to find its voice once more. The discovery of his seal and letters were proof that he was a national leader of some importance.
He has since become revered, almost a saint, referred to by many as the 'last Prince of Wales', acquiring a mythical status alongside Cadwaladr, Cynan and like the legend of King Arthur, Welsh legend has it that when Wales is threatened again threatened again, he will rise again in order to lead the defense of Wales and liberate his people. Even the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro hailed him as “the World’s first guerilla leader" his coat of arms since waved in parades, an invocation of past grievances, with statues and monuments, alongside pub and street names commemorating him.
The Owain Glyn Dŵr society was founded in 1996 by Adrien Jones (the society’s President) to “...commemorate the role of Owain Glyn Dŵr in Welsh history...” and “... create a permanent memorial....” That memorial was unveiled at Machynlleth on the 600th anniversary of the start of his revolt against the English crown. For information about the society click her
Dydd Owain Glyndwr hapus i pawb/ Happy Owain Glyndwr day to all.
