Who was Owen Glendower?
Last independent Prince of Wales and Welsh nationalist.
Date and Place of Birth:
Born Owain ab Gruffydd, 1359, Merioneth, Montgomeryshire,
Wales.
Family Background:
Claimed descent from Llywelyn ap Gruffyd. His
father was Gruffydd Vychan and his mother Helen.
Education:
Studied law in Westminster, London.
Chronology/Biography of Owen Glendower:
1386: Became Squire
to the Earl of Arundel and was a witness for Grosvenor in the Scrope
and Grosvenor lawsuit. Afterwards Glendower served in the military
forces of Henry Bolingroke (Later King Henry the Fourth).
1400: Charged with
treason by Reginald Grey for failing to appear for the Scottish
Expedition even though he had never summoned him. His estates were
declared forfeit.
1401: Quarreled
with Lord Grey over the rights to some lands and unable to seek
redress from the English King Henry the Fourth he decided to fight
the other English Lords of the Welsh Marches borderlands. He proclaimed
himself the Prince of Wales and Head of the Welsh Rebellion.
1402: Captured Lord
Grey and later Sir Edmund Mortimer at Pilleth, near Brynglas in
Radnorshire, Wales. Both where to marry one of Glendower's daughters
and joined in a coalition with Henry Percy (Known as Hotspur) against
the English. In the Autumn the English were driven back from Wales
for the third time.
1403: This coalition
was ended When Glendower was defeated near Carmarthen on the 12th
July and Percy crushed at the Battle of Shrewsbury ten days later
by King Henry the Fourth. Undaunted Glendower held a Welsh parliament
at Machynleth.
1404: By
now Glendower had gained overall control of Wales. He entered into
a treaty with King Charles the Sixth of France. He also took control
of the castles at Harlech and Aberystwyth.
1405: The King of
France sent a small army to assist him. (March) However after several
defeats at the hands of Prince Henry (later the English King Henry
V) such as at Grosmont. his powers were curbed. (May) Glendower's
son Griffith and his Chancellor were captured by the English.
1408: Henry captured
Glendower's strongholds of Aberystwyth after a long siege. The plots
of the Earl of Northumberland and the French armies had come to
nothing and this was effectively the end of the armed struggle.
1409: Harlech was
also recaptured and Glendower's wife, daughter and grandchildren
were taken prisoner.
1409-1412: However
undeterred, Glendower was still active and kept on fighting against
the English but the force of the rebellion by then was effectively
crushed.
1415: Gilbert Talbot
held a treaty with Glendower and his supporters to grant them a
pardon from the English King.
Marriage:
To an unknown Welsh girl.
Places of Interest:
SHROPSHIRE:
Shrewsbury
WALES:
Aberystwyth and Harlech
Date and Place of Death:
1415 (Welsh legend says of old age in Monington
amongst his sons-in-law. English legend says he died of starvation
in the mountains).
Age at Death:
61.
Site of Grave:
Monington, Herefordshire.
