WARRIORS

 Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about 

Owain Glyndwr

He was born in Sycharth in Welsh. Owain was a leader who instigated a fierce and long-running war of independence. The war aimed to end English rule in Wales during the Late Middle Ages.

Owain was the first and the last to hold the ‘prince of Wales’ title. He was married to Margaret Hanmer. They had 12 children, 9 with his wife and three with other women. He was a learned man.

Despite being a scholar and spending his life in London, he could speak Welsh as well as English. This showed his love and care towards his people. In addition, he served as a soldier in the army of the King of England.

Owain rebelled against the leadership of King Henry VI. He did not follow his orders. They both ended up in the war to determine who will take over. During the battle, Owain requested support from the French.

The influence created by Owain became strong that it pulled henry’s soldiers to support him. Despite having great visions for his people, he was not supported by everyone. This was inclusive of his family members.

During the war, his battalion had some challenges like a lack of food and other resources. The French troop left before the end of the war. After his death, he was considered a hero. There are several statues and memorial pieces for his celebrations and commemoration.

The following is a record of the most interesting facts about Owain Glyndwr.

1. Owain crowned himself as Prince of Wales before starting the rebellion

Glyndwr sought help from Henry IV to deal with his land being taken, but Henry refused to take action against his supporters. Glyndwr also failed to supply soldiers to the king for another attack on Scotland. Grey called him a traitor.

Glyndwr decided to take action against Henry IV. He gave himself the title of Prince of Wales in then began a series of attacks against Grey. He also attacked towns along the borders with England.

Henry IV sent his army to Wales to fight Glyndwr and regain control, but it had the opposite effect. It became a widespread rebellion against England.

2. Owain was connected to the Tudor dynasty

His mother, Elen Tomas, had a sister who was married to Tudur Goronwy. Their son Maredudd Tudur was the father of Owain ap Maredudd who changed his name to Owen Tudor. After the death of Henry V, Owen married his widow, Catherine of Valois.

Their son took over the throne as Henry VII. This connects Owain to Henry VII as he was his father’s cousin. Maredudd later disappeared thus history-making his fate unclear.

3. Owain was a family man

Owain was married to Margaret Hanmer. Her father was Sir David Hanmer.  Margaret had five sons and four daughters with Owain.

All of Owain’s sons either died while fighting in the war, were taken as prisoners, or died as prisoners. Others died with no children. Owain also had children from other women who were not his wife.

4. Owain was not supported by everyone

Families across Wales were divided when Glyndwr initiated the Welsh Revolt. He claimed that the Welsh had been discriminated against by the English for generations. His rebellion sadly led to anti-Welsh becoming institutionalized.

Whenever an English person was accused of a crime by a Welsh person, they could only be tried by English judges and an English jury. All convicted Welsh felons were to be summarily executed.

Many people supported Glyndwr while others did not for fear of consequences. Glyndwr’s cousin, Hywel Sele of Nannau tried to kill him. His brother died fighting for the king and not Glyndwr.

5. Glyndwr’s daughter was married into the English loyal family

Sir Edmund Mortimer IV was an English nobleman. He was also a great-grandson of Edward III. It is believed Mortimer lost the battle against Welsh because a number of his forces were for the opponents. Many of the forces defected to join Glyndwr’s rebellion.

Mortimer himself later defected to fight alongside the Welsh. On learning this, the king began to seize Mortimer’s estates and belongings. Glyndwr married Mortimer to his daughter, Catrin ferch Owain. Later on, Mortimer wrote that he had betrayed Henry IV to help restore Richard II to the throne.

6. Owain led a two days battle with no fights

The beginning of the end of the rebellion would take place at Woodbury Hill near Great Witley. Henry and his men were able to take up prime positions, leaving Owain and his Welsh and French troops having to take up defensive positions.

Both armies sat a mile apart, neither one daring to make the first move. This lasted for two days when Owain’s men ran out of food. Eventually, they had to turn away and head back without taking part in a battle.

7. A mythical status is formed on Owain’s name as well as several books about his life

His popularity and fame grew so strong. The people of England praise his part well played in liberation. The mystical status ‘the hero awaiting a call to return and liberate his people’ is directed on Owain.  

Thomas Pennant in his Tours in Wales, searched out and published many of the legends and places associated with the memory of Glyndŵr. Other than this, there are other books about him.

8. Owain’s memorial pieces and places are preserved

The Owain Glyndwr Hotel in Corwen is a historic inn. An earlier building had been a monastery and church dating from the age of Glyndwr. The waymarked long-distance Glyndwr’s Way runs through Mid Wales near his homelands.

Glyndwr’s Great Seal and a letter handwritten by him to the French is in the Bibliotheque Nationale de France  in Paris. Six reproductions were made by the National Library of Wales for display in Wales.

9. There are several statues displaying Owain

During the First World War, Prime Minister David Lloyd George unveiled a statue of Glyndŵr in Cardiff City Hall. A monument was erected in Machynlleth in 2000, on the 600th anniversary of the beginning of the Glyndwr Rising. The plinth of the monument has an englyn by the poet Dafydd Wyn Jones.

Another statue shows Owain on a horseback. It was installed in The Square in Corwen, Denbighshire. It was meant for the commemoration of his life as well as his influence on Wales.

10. Owain wrote a request letter to France despite the difference between them and England

This letter was referred to as the Pennal letter. Most French forces had withdrawn after politics in Paris shifted toward peace with the Hundred years’ War continuing between England and France. Glyndŵr wrote a letter to be sent to Charles VI King of France during a synod at the Welsh Church at Pennal.

The letter requested maintained military support from the French to fend off the English in Wales. He suggested that in return, he would recognize Benedict XIII of Avignon as the Pope. The letter sets out the ambitions of Glyndŵr of an independent Wales with its parliament, led by himself as Prince of Wales.

And as always have a chilled day from the Viking