OWEN GLENDOWER LLYWELYN THE LAST OWEN GLENDOWER

OWEN GLENDOWER, LLYWELYN THE LAST

OWEN GLENDOWER Owain Glyndŵr anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower, was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales. He instigated a fierce and longrunning but ultimately unsuccessful revolt against the English rule of Wales.

On September 16, 1400 Glendower rebelled against the rule of King Henry IV. As on the Continent at this time was the Hundred Years War, Owain support of the French king. Successful at first, the rebellion was suppressed. In 1404, to demonstrate his seriousness as a ruler, Owain held court at Harlech and appointed the brilliant Gruffydd Young as his Chancellor. Soon afterwards, he called his first Parliament of all Wales where he was crowned Prince of Wales and announced his national programme. He declared his vision of an independent Welsh state with a parliament and separate Welsh church. There would be two national universities (one in the south and one in the north) and return to the traditional law of Hywel Dda. Senior churchmen and important members of society flocked to his banner. English resistance was reduced to a few isolated castles, walled towns and fortified manor houses.

MARRIAGE Owain married Margaret Hanmer, also known by her Welsh name Marred ferch Dafydd, daughter of Sir David Hanmer of Hanmer, early in his life. Owain and Margaret had five sons and four or five daughters. 1) Gruffudd, born about 1375, was captured and confined by the English in Nottington Castle and taken to the Tower of London in 1410. He died in prison of bubonic plague about 1412. 2) Madog 3) Maredudd, whose date of birth is unknown, was still living in 1421 when he accepted a pardon. 4) Thomas 5) John 6) Alice married Sir John Scudamore. She was lady of Glyn. Dyfrdwy and Cynllaith, and heiress of the Principalities of Powys, South Wales, and Gwynedd. 7) Jane, who married Lord Grey de Ruthin 8) Janet, who married Sir John de Croft of Croft Castle, in Herefordshire. 9) Margaret, who married Sir Richard Monnington of Monnington, in Herefordshire.

Modern legacy Owain is perhaps best remembered outside Wales as the mysterious Welshman of 'Owen Glendower' in Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1 who claims to be able to "call spirits from the vasty deep, " and proves later on that he can, at least, summon unearthly music He is now remembered as a national hero on a par with King Arthur and numerous small groups have adopted his symbolism to advocate independence or nationalism for Wales.

LLYWELYN THE LAST

Llywelyn ap Gruffydd or Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf , sometimes rendered as Llywelyn II, was the last prince of an independent Wales before its conquest by Edward I of England. Llywelyn was the second of the four sons of Gruffydd, the eldest son of Llywelyn the Great. This freed Dafydd ap Llywelyn's hand as King Henry could no longer use Gruffydd against him, and war broke out between him and King Henry in 1245. Owain, meanwhile, was freed by Henry after his father's death in the hope that he would start a civil war in Gwynedd, but stayed in Chester, Llywelyn had the advantage of being on the spot.

EARLY REIGN When Dafydd ap Gruffudd came of age, King Henry accepted his homage and announced his intention to give him part of the already reduced Gwynedd. Llywelyn refused to accept this, and Owain and Dafydd formed an alliance against him. Llywelyn defeated Owain and Dafydd and captured them, thereby becoming sole ruler of Gwynedd Uwch Conwy. Llywelyn now looked to expand his area of control. The population of Gwynedd Is Conwy resented English rule. This area, also known as "Perfeddwlad" had been given by King Henry to his son Edward and during the summer of 1256, he visited the area, but failed to deal with grievances against the rule of his officers.

Wales after the Treaty of Montgomery 1267 Gwynedd, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd's principality Territories conquered by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd Territories of Llywelyn's vassals Lordships of the Marcher barons Lordships of the King of England Division of Gwynedd in 1247 following the succession of the brothers Owain (whose lands are shown in dark green) and Llywelyn (light green) ap Gruffudd. The Commote of Cymydmaen (gold) was granted to Dafydd ap Gruffudd by Owain when he reached majority in 1252 (Source: J. Beverley Smith)

LAST CAMPAIGN AND DEATH By early 1282, many of the lesser princes who had supported Edward against Llywelyn in 1277 were becoming disillusioned with the exactions of the royal officers. On Palm Sunday that year, Dafydd ap Gruffydd attacked the English at Hawarden castle and then laid siege to Rhuddlan. The revolt quickly spread to other parts of Wales, with Aberystwyth castle captured and burnt and rebellion in Ystrad Tywi in south Wales, also inspired by Dafydd according to the annals, where Carreg Cennen castle was captured. Llywelyn, according to a letter he sent to the Archbishop of Canterbury John Peckham, was not involved in the planning of the revolt. His army was immediately engaged in fierce battle during which a significant section of it was routed, causing Llywelyn and his eighteen retainers to become separated. At around dusk, Llywelyn and a small group of his retainers (which included clergy), were ambushed and chased into a wood at Aberedw. Llywelyn was surrounded and struck down. As he lay dying, he asked for a priest and gave away his identity. He was then killed and his head hewn from his body. His person was searched and various items recovered, including a list of "conspirators", (which may well have been faked), and his privy seal.