Owain Glyndwr

Self-proclaimed Prince of Wales, who revolted against the English and set up a Welsh parliament in Machynlleth.

Born:

c1350

Place of Birth:

Sycharth, Powys

School:

Inns of Court, London

"I am not in the roll of common men" (Owain Glyndwr,William Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part I) Owain Glyndwr

Biography:

Born around 1350, Owain Glyndwr was a member of the Welsh aristocracy and seems to have had a fairly conventional upbringing. But in later life, he led a revolt against the ruling English and held a Welsh Parliament in Machynlleth.

As a young man, Glyndwr studied law at the Inns of Court and was a solider in the English army.

He had a mansion at Sycharth near Llangedwyn in Powys where he lived with his wife and children. Unusually perhaps, it wasn't until he was in his late forties that Owain Glyndwr became a rebel with a cause.

Resentment at the way the English treated the Welsh had been building up across the country. Glyndwr's sense of Welsh identity was strengthened after a dispute over common land with his English neighbour Lord Grey of Rhuthin, who was a close associate of King Henry IV.

It seems the King's failure to mediate fairly in the dispute was a determining factor in Glyndwr's decision to revolt. In 1400, he led an attack the town of Rhuthin where he was proclaimed Prince of Wales by his supporters. As a direct descendant of the Princes of Powys and the Deheubarth, it was a title to which he could lay good claim.

The initial attack on Rhuthin was followed by a series of raids on Rhuddlan, Flint, Holt, Oswestry and Welshpool. Glyndwr was outlawed but support for his cause grew.

Hundreds of ordinary people joined the uprising for Welsh independence and exiles returned home to join him. Many English castles were captured and in 1404, Owain Glyndwr held Wales' first Parliament in Machynlleth - signing international recognition treaties with both France and Scotland.

Pennal Letter
He captured the castles of Aberystwyth and Harlech in 1404 and by 1405, his authority was recognised by almost the whole of Wales. After the successes, however, came defeats at Grosmont Castle and Pwllmelyn, near Usk.

Glyndwr appealed again to France for help in a letter written at Pennal, near Machynlleth. The Pennal Letter survives today and is kept in the French National Archives although there is a facsimile copy on display at Pennal Church.

The letter is regarded as testament to Glyndwr's vision for an independent and united Wales. But despite his diplomatic skills, there was no response from the French.

Glyndwr fought on until he was cornered at his last castle, Harlech, in 1409. No details of the siege survive but Glyndwr somehow managed to escape. However, his wife, two daughters and a grandchild were captured and imprisoned until their deaths in London.

It is thought that Glyndwr lived his remaining years with his son-in-law Sir John Skydmore at Kenturch in Herefordshire.

In 1415, he refused the offer of a pardon. How he died remains a mystery and the location of his grave is still the subject of much speculation.

The building where Glyndwr held his Parliament in Machynlleth is now open to the public as a visitor attraction and there have been some calls for 16 September the day Glyndwr was proclaimed Prince of Wales to be designated a national day.

If you think 16 September should be designated a national day, join our Talking Point and have your say.

---

Owain Glyndwr Guide.

Machynlleth Guide.

Moment of Glory:

Proclamation as Prince of Wales on 16 September 1400

your comments

Gwyn from Colwyn Bay
A true great of Welsh history, he should be honoured with a public holiday, celebrations and flag waving, plus the odd beer or two.Cymru Am Byth.
Mon Apr 20 09:48:09 2009

Carol sneddon cardiff 17-2-09
I think he was an intelligent man, fair minded, he knew the english rules he went on a few of their endless wars hew went to scotland to fight their for the english,for richard 11 but it all changed when he had a dispute over land with his next door neighbour. he was also a charismatic man, capable of men following him, he gave us our first welsh parliament. he and his family suffered in the long run so did we for a long time we were penalised for being welsh. but he makes me proud to be welsh he did accomplish a lot he put wales on the map, they thought he was a magician because of%! 20how he defeated the army that england sent time after time who knows what might have happened if the french had backed us instead of bailing out! i think he deserves to be remembered.
Tue Feb 17 09:40:07 2009

chris bennett (Rhyl)
owain glydwr was the man
Thu Dec 11 12:35:30 2008

Mick Fandango, Wrecsam
Glyndwr Day and St David's Day should both be Bank Holidays in Wales. Both played great parts in making Wales what it is today.
Mon Sep 15 14:28:20 2008

Eric Holman, Greymouth, New Zealand
Hi there is there anyway I can get in touch with Marilyn Stepensen. My great grandfather was Peter Daniel Bywater and the stoires we heard from my grandmother were about the familes change of name from Glyndwr to Bywater were as she stated above.I would be really interested in finding more out about our Welsh heritage and the Bywater connection.
Mon Sep 15 09:44:29 2008

Gary Smith Swansea
Owain Glydwr was the last welsh man to bring the vast majority of Welsh Wales under one banner. The fact that he did this to establish a Welsh Parliament and not just glorify himself should be remembered and celebrated. We need,as a Nation, to be more positive about our history and celebrate our own heros and saints, such as St Dwynwen. If not a bank holiday, at least a nationally recognised day of celebration for Glyndwr, as is currently the case with St David.
Thu Sep 11 10:33:42 2008

Beth Hensley, USA
Great idea for a national holiday on 16 September!!!
Mon Mar 3 10:53:51 2008

Jon Applegate, Blaenafon
Owain Glyndwr turned his anger on the english because of the harsh and bad treatment dealtout by the english king and his goverment on the welsh nation.At least Owain Glyndwr was never betrayed by his own kind unlike William Wallace.The 16th Sept as his rememberance day is a good idea.
Mon Feb 25 13:00:10 2008

Sian Ifan, Swansea
The campaign for an Owain Glyndwr day has been going on since the 1960's and has been vigorously revived by Embassy Glyndwr since 1998. To date, The National Assembly now flies the Owain Glyndwr flag annually on Dydd Glyndwr after it was presented with a suitable flag by Embassy Glyndwr in 2001. Likewise, The National Eisteddfod flies the flag during Eisteddfod week and I have been assured by the Millennium Stadium that they fly the flag during Welsh sport & other Welsh events. Many councils throughout Wales fly the Glyndwr flag on Dydd Glyndwr, if your local council don't, make sure they do. Organise Dydd Glyndwr celebratory events in your community, organise exhibitions in your local library. Fly the Glyndwr flag anywhere on your property where it can be seen. Only by being pro-active throughout Cymru in such things will we be in a strong enough position to demand official recognition for Dydd Glyndwr. Its up to all you out there to do your bit.
Mon Sep 10 09:42:58 2007

Phoebe
I only looked on this website for homework but I think this man should have won because he was a great leader. I am not Welsh but he is one man I will remember him, he was proud, strong and wanted Wales to be free. Everybody took him seriously like I do.
Sun Mar 18 12:59:16 2007

Barry Alan Williams
Rhaid mynnu fod y diwrnod hon yn dydd gwyl ag ysgolion neud yn gorfodol i ddysgu ei hanes /we should demand this day be a welsh public holiday and schools make it compulsory to learn its history.
Tue Oct 24 09:31:55 2006

Owain Lennard, Builth Wells
"I strongly believe in the vision kindled in the mind of the mighty Glyndwr, who I am so proudly named after. This is a man who recklessly pursued the goal of freeing and uniting a broken country agianst a formidable oppressor. There are too few, possibly none like this man today who would take such a mantle upon their shoulders. God knows we could use one in this day and age. Just on this forum there are many that would like to see Glyndwr's ideas renewed, and I say why not. If there is no official day to celebrate this great life of servitude to our nation, I bid you all spare! a thought, and drink to the legend Owain Glyndwr on september 16th."
Fri Oct 6 15:30:35 2006

Paul Rhodes-Edwards of Llysfaen
A commemoration day in rememberence of our own Glyndwr is long overdue. But politically, we have to answer to an English government. Will the English let us celebrate a man who fought for what he belived was right? A man who wanted freedom for Wales and was such a threat to the English crown, and a man who would shake the English monarchy to it's very roots.We will have an 'Owain Glyndwr Day'. We will make a real event of it and God help any Englishman who dare interupt a celebration such as this. If they do, Glyndwr supporters will muster an army and lay siege to Chester or Shrewsbury.
Thu Sep 21 15:31:07 2006

Michael Edwin Hughes
This is what Wales is historically lacking. Owain Glyndwr Day should be celebrated, if not a general public holiday but certainly as a notable day off in all schools in Wales, following a Church service. St.David's Day should be a public holiday.
Tue May 30 09:36:12 2006

Marilyn Stephensen
The history of this man fits perfectly with the stories of my ancestors. Our family history has it that GlynDwr escaped the british and lived off the land near some lakes and forests. He changed his name to Bywater to avoid capture and lived long enough to have more children who later came to america and settled in Utah.
Tue Jun 21 21:38:00 2005

cymmie strathclyde
Well why not, might as well have a public holiday for something important eh.
Sat Jun 4 06:16:19 2005

David Griffiths Brecon Powys
I feel this great and courageous man should be remembered - why not have another public holiday?

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Tue Mar 15 19:15:15 2005

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