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.
. 
