Owain Glyndŵr, The Last True Prince Of Wales
Owain Glyndŵr, the last native Prince of Wales, remains one of the most significant figures in Welsh history. Revered as a national hero and symbol of Welsh independence, Glyndŵr’s legacy has endured for over six centuries. His followers believed deeply in the prophecy that should Wales ever be in peril from English domination, Owain would rise again to free his people from oppression. To this day, his name is celebrated, and his story continues to inspire those who long for Welsh sovereignty and cultural identity.
Early Life and Noble Heritage
Owain ap Gruffydd, commonly known as Owain Glyndŵr (Owen of the Glen of Dee Water), was born around 1354. Although the precise date of his birth is unknown, his noble lineage was clear. Glyndŵr claimed descent from Llewelyn the Great and the ruling princes of Wales, giving him both the bloodline and prestige to stake his claim to the Welsh throne. Heir to two of the four great princely houses of Wales, Glyndŵr's early life was one of privilege. Following his father’s death in 1370, Owain inherited his estate and received a comprehensive education in London, including time spent at the prestigious Inns of Court. There, he was exposed to the finest legal training available, a skill that would serve him well in the years to come.
Despite his ties to Wales, Owain spent his early years in service to the English Crown, distinguishing himself as a soldier. Notably, he fought in campaigns against the Scots, where he became renowned for his bravery. Legend has it that during one battle, Glyndŵr charged at the enemy armed only with the butt of a broken lance, a flamingo feather in his crest blazing brightly. His actions cemented his reputation as a fierce warrior, but despite his success on the battlefield, it was not long before he turned his attention back to Wales and the brewing tensions between his homeland and its English overlords.
Seeds of Rebellion
For many years, Glyndŵr lived a peaceful life on his estates, married to the daughter of an Anglo-Welsh judge. Together, they had six sons, and by all accounts, his early life was relatively tranquil. However, the political landscape of the late 14th century sowed the seeds of rebellion. A series of disputes with the English Crown and Parliament, particularly over the loss of lands and honour, stirred deep resentment in Glyndŵr. These tensions finally came to a head in 1399, when Henry Bolingbroke usurped the English throne to become Henry IV. The new king’s policies were deeply unpopular in Wales, and it was against this backdrop that Owain Glyndŵr rose as the leader his people had been waiting for.
In September 1400, at the age of 50, Glyndŵr proclaimed himself Prince of Wales and initiated a rebellion against Henry IV. The timing of his uprising could not have been better. Dissatisfaction with English rule had been simmering for years, and Glyndŵr’s declaration ignited a fire that quickly spread across the country. Welsh students abandoned their studies to join him, labourers laid down their tools, and crucially, hundreds of seasoned Welsh soldiers, fresh from fighting in France and Scotland, defected from English service to support their native cause.
The Welsh Uprising
What followed was nothing short of a national uprising. Glyndŵr’s forces swiftly overran key strongholds in northeast Wales, capturing Ruthin, Denbigh, Rhuddlan, Flint, and Hawarden. Towns like Holt, Oswestry, and Welshpool also fell, signalling the strength of Glyndŵr’s movement. In the west, the influential Tudor brothers from Anglesey, cousins of Owain, launched a guerrilla war against the English, lending further momentum to the rebellion. By 1401, despite English attempts to suppress the revolt, northern and central Wales had fully thrown their support behind Glyndŵr.
One of the most famous events of the uprising occurred in 1402, when a comet was sighted in the sky. To Glyndŵr’s followers, this was a divine sign of victory. Shortly thereafter, Glyndŵr’s forces captured Reginald Grey of Ruthin, one of his long-standing enemies. Grey was later released, but not before a hefty ransom of £6,666 was paid – a small fortune at the time.
As the rebellion continued, Glyndŵr demonstrated not only military acumen but also shrewd diplomacy. When Edmund Mortimer, nephew of King Henry IV, was captured by the Welsh forces, Owain did not demand a ransom. Instead, he arranged for Mortimer to marry his daughter, Catherine, thus securing a powerful ally in his bid for the throne of Wales. With the Mortimer family on his side, Glyndŵr’s aspirations grew – not only did he seek to rule Wales, but he also entertained the possibility of challenging for the English throne itself.
Decline and Disappearance
Despite initial successes, the tide began to turn against Glyndŵr after 1405. Following the battle of Woodbury Hill near Worcester, where his forces suffered a setback, Glyndŵr retreated to Wales. The once-united Welsh rebellion began to splinter, and the English Crown pressed its advantage. In 1406, the battle of Pwll Melyn marked a significant defeat for Glyndŵr’s forces. Legend has it that a friar, who had fervently preached that those who fell in battle would sup in heaven, tried to escape when it became clear the battle was lost. Caught by soldiers, the friar gave a witty retort, claiming that it was a fast day for him and hurriedly made his exit.
Following these defeats, Owain’s castles fell one by one, and by 1410 he had become a hunted outlaw. His wife and children were captured, but despite the heavy price on his head, Glyndŵr was never betrayed. His ability to evade capture became the stuff of legend, and his final years remain shrouded in mystery. The last recorded sighting of Owain Glyndŵr was in 1415, though some rumours suggest he lived until 1416, perhaps in hiding on the estate of his son-in-law in Herefordshire.
Legacy and Myth
Owain Glyndŵr’s disappearance only added to his mythic status. Like King Arthur before him, Welsh legend holds that Glyndŵr will one day return to lead his people when they need him most. Though his rebellion ultimately failed, his legacy as a symbol of Welsh resistance and pride remains stronger than ever. In the year 2000, the 600th anniversary of the rebellion was celebrated across Wales, with Glyndŵr’s standard – a quartered banner of Powys and Deheubarth – proudly flown at rugby matches and other national events.
Owain Glyndŵr, Tywysog brodorol olaf Cymru, yw un o ffigurau pwysicaf hanes Cymru. Wedi’i anrhydeddu fel arwr cenedlaethol a symbol o annibyniaeth Cymru, mae etifeddiaeth Glyndŵr wedi para dros chwe chanrif. Credodd ei ddilynwyr yn gryf yn y broffwydoliaeth, sef pe bai Cymru erioed mewn perygl o gaethiwed gan Loegr, y byddai Owain yn codi eto i ryddhau’i bobl o ormes. Hyd heddiw, mae ei enw’n cael ei ddathlu, a’i stori’n parhau i ysbrydoli’r rheini sy’n dyheu am sofraniaeth a hunaniaeth ddiwylliannol i Gymru.
Bywyd Cynnar ac Etifeddiaeth Fonheddig
Ganwyd Owain ap Gruffydd, a elwir fel arfer yn Owain Glyndŵr (Owain o Glyn Dyfrdwy), tua 1354. Er nad yw’r union ddyddiad geni’n hysbys, roedd ei linach fonheddig yn amlwg. Honodd Glyndŵr ddisgyniad o’r Llywelyn Fawr a thywysogion rheoli Cymru, gan roi iddo’r llinach a’r statws i hawlio coron Cymru. Etifedd i ddwy o bedair tŷ tywysogaidd mawr Cymru, roedd bywyd cynnar Glyndŵr yn un o freintiau. Yn dilyn marwolaeth ei dad yn 1370, etifeddodd ei ystad ac fe’i haddysgwyd yn helaeth yn Llundain, gan gynnwys cyfnod yng Nghyfraith Sifil y Goron. Yno, cafodd hyfforddiant cyfreithiol o’r radd flaenaf, sgil a fyddai’n ei wasanaethu’n dda yn y blynyddoedd i ddod.
Er gwaethaf ei gysylltiadau â Chymru, treuliodd Owain ei flynyddoedd cynnar yn gwasanaethu'r Goron Seisnig, gan wneud enw iddo'i hun fel milwr. Yn arbennig, ymladdodd mewn ymgyrchoedd yn erbyn yr Albanwyr, lle daeth yn enwog am ei ddewrder. Dywedir mai yn ystod un frwydr y gorymdeithiodd Glyndŵr tuag at y gelyn wedi’i arfogi’n unig â bwa hir wedi torri, a phluen fflamingo’n fflamio yn ei goryn. Cadarnhaodd ei weithredoedd ei enw fel rhyfelwr dewr, ond er gwaethaf ei lwyddiant ar y maes brwydro, ni fu'n hir cyn iddo ddychwelyd ei sylw’n ôl i Gymru a’r tensiynau a oedd yn cynyddu rhwng ei famwlad a’r gormes gan Loegr.
Hadau’r Gwrthryfel
Am flynyddoedd lawer, bu Glyndŵr yn byw bywyd heddychlon ar ei ystadau, wedi priodi merch barnwr Seisnig-Cymreig. Gyda’i gilydd, ganwyd iddynt chwech o feibion, ac o bob cyfrif, roedd ei fywyd cynnar yn weddol dawel. Fodd bynnag, fe blannwyd hadau’r gwrthryfel o ganlyniad i’r dirwedd wleidyddol bryderus yn niwedd y 14g. Fe gynhyrchwyd chwerwedd yn Glyndŵr oherwydd cyfres o anghydfodau gyda’r Goron Seisnig a’r Senedd, yn enwedig o ran colli tiroedd ac anrhydedd. Yn y pen draw, daeth y tensiynau hyn i’r wyneb yn 1399 pan gymrodd Harri Bolingbroke goron Lloegr drwy esgusodiad i ddod yn Harri IV. Roedd polisïau’r brenin newydd yn amhoblogaidd iawn yng Nghymru, ac yn erbyn cefndir hwn y cododd Owain Glyndŵr fel yr arweinydd yr oedd ei bobl wedi bod yn aros amdano.
Ym Medi 1400, yn 50 oed, fe’i hunan-ddatganodd yn Dywysog Cymru a dechreuodd wrthryfel yn erbyn Harri IV. Ni allai amseru ei wrthryfel fod wedi bod yn fwy addas. Roedd anfodlonrwydd gydag arweinyddiaeth Lloegr wedi bod yn corddi ers blynyddoedd, a chynnau’r gwrthryfel gan Glyndŵr gynnau tân a ymledodd yn gyflym ar draws y wlad. Gadaelodd myfyrwyr Cymru eu hastudiaethau i ymuno ag ef, gollyngodd gweithwyr eu hoffer gwaith, ac yn bwysicach fyth, cannoedd o filwyr Cymreig profiadol, ffres o ymladd yn Ffrainc ac yn yr Alban, a drodd eu cefnau ar wasanaeth Seisnig i gefnogi’r achos cenedlaethol.
Y Gwrthryfel Cenedlaethol
Beth ddilynodd oedd ymgyrch genedlaethol llawn. Yn sydyn iawn, cipiodd lluoedd Glyndŵr orsafoedd allweddol yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Cymru, gan orchfygu trefi megis Rhuthun, Dinbych, Rhuddlan, Treffynnon, a Chaer. Syrthiodd trefi fel Holt, Croesoswallt, a’r Trallwng, gan ddangos cryfder y mudiad Glyndŵr. Yn y gorllewin, lansiodd brodyr Tudur, perthnasau Owain, ryfel gwrthryfelgar yn erbyn y Saeson, gan roi hwb pellach i’r gwrthryfel. Erbyn 1401, er gwaethaf ymdrechion y Saeson i lethu’r gwrthryfel, roedd y gogledd a chanolbarth Cymru wedi mynegi eu cefnogaeth lawn i Glyndŵr.
Un o’r digwyddiadau mwyaf enwog o’r gwrthryfel ddigwyddodd yn 1402, pan welwyd comed mawr yn yr awyr. I ddilynwyr Glyndŵr, roedd hyn yn arwydd dwyfol o fuddugoliaeth. Yn fuan wedi hynny, fe gipiodd lluoedd Glyndŵr Reginald Grey o Rhuthun, un o’i elynion hirsefydlog. Rhyddhawyd Grey yn ddiweddarach ar ôl talu iawndal sylweddol o £6,666 – ffortiwn fach yn y cyfnod hwnnw.
Wrth i’r gwrthryfel barhau, dangosodd Glyndŵr nid yn unig grebwyll milwrol, ond hefyd doethineb wleidyddol. Pan gafodd Edmund Mortimer, nai Harri IV, ei ddal gan y lluoedd Cymreig, ni ofynnodd Glyndŵr am dalu iawndal. Yn lle hynny, trefnodd briodas rhwng Mortimer a’i ferch, Catherine, gan sicrhau cynghreiriad pwerus yn ei gais am goron Cymru. Gyda chefnogaeth teulu Mortimer, roedd dyheadau Glyndŵr’n cynyddu – nid yn unig yr oedd am lywodraethu Cymru, ond fe ystyriodd hefyd yr uchelgais o herio am goron Lloegr ei hun.
Cwymp a Diflaniad
Er gwaethaf llwyddiannau cynnar, dechreuodd y llanw droi yn erbyn Glyndŵr wedi 1405. Yn dilyn brwydr Woodbury Hill ger Caerwrangon, lle cafodd ei rengoedd ysgytwad difrifol, fe wnaeth Glyndŵr encilio’n ôl i Gymru. Dechreuodd yr uned cenedlaethol Cymreig a oedd wedi bod mor gryf ddechrau ymrannu, a phwyso manteision y Goron Seisnig. Yn 1406, nodwyd brwydr Pwll Melyn fel golled sylweddol i luoedd Glyndŵr. Dywedir bod offeiriad, a fu’n pregethu’n frwd y byddai’r rhai a syrthiodd yn y brwydr yn gwledda’n nef, wedi ceisio dianc pan ddaeth yn amlwg bod y frwydr yn cael ei golli. Cafodd yr offeiriad ei ddal gan filwyr, ac wrth gael ei holi am ei heglurhad, fe’i rhybuddiodd hwy ei bod yn ddiwrnod cyflymio iddo a ffoi i ddiogelwch.
Yn dilyn y golledion hyn, dechreuodd caerau Owain syrthio un ar ôl y llall, ac erbyn 1410 roedd wedi dod yn alltud erlidiedig. Cafodd ei wraig a’i blant eu dal, ond er gwaethaf y wobr sylweddol a oedd ar ei ben, ni chafodd Glyndŵr ei fradychu byth. Y gallu i osgoi dalfa fe drodd yn rhan o’r chwedloniaeth amdano, a’i flynyddoedd olaf yn parhau i fod yn ddirgelwch. Y cofnod olaf o weld Owain Glyndŵr oedd yn 1415, er bod rhai sibrydion yn awgrymu iddo fyw tan 1416 neu hyd yn oed yn hwyrach, a marw’n ddistaw mewn heddwch ymysg ei bobl.
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