Owain Glyndwr

The last Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales, Owain Glyndwr instigated a revolt against the English at the turn of the 15th Century raising his standard at Glyndyfrdwy (just east of Corwen) on September 16th 1400.

Much has been written about the nature of the uprising which Glyndwr lead for the best part of 15 years and this website simply isn’t big enough to give the history as much weight as it deserves. Suffice to say, the year 1399 saw the dethroning of Richard II and the seizure of the crown by Henry IV - the lord of Brecon, Monmouth, Cydweli and Ogwr. Many of the Welsh gentry had close links with Richard II, and the usurpation weakened their allegiance to the English crown.

Glyndwr (or Glendower), as Welsh aristocracy, had three estates across North-East Wales including Glyndyfrdwy where his home and castle motte are believed to be sited at Glyndwr’s Mount.

The immediate spark for revolt seems to have been the king’s unwillingness to mediate fairly in a dispute between Owain and his neighbour, Reginald Grey of Ruthin, a lordship of the Marches. But the following years saw battles and sieges at Conwy, Harlech and Aberystwyth with Glyndwr raising a parliament and crowning himself King of a free Wales at Machynlleth in 1404.

owain glyndwr