The Revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn (All of Wales united and Longshanks besieged at Christmas. )
The Revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn
(When the Welsh united against the English and had Longshanks besieged. )
The great revolt of 1294–5, covered the whole of Wales, from Anglesey to Glamorgan, the Welsh had found a new unity under the experience of foreign rule heavy taxation and the heavy-handed behavior of English officials was partly to blame but it was also the fact that the Welsh were being discriminated against in their own country, of being second- class, underprivileged citizens.
The great revolt of 1294–5, covered the whole of Wales, from Anglesey to Glamorgan, the Welsh had found a new unity under the experience of foreign rule heavy taxation and the heavy-handed behavior of English officials was partly to blame but it was also the fact that the Welsh were being discriminated against in their own country, of being second- class, underprivileged citizens.
Descended directly from Owain Gwynedd and the fifth cousin of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd ), Madog declared himself to be the lawful successor and assumed the royal titles of his predecessors including that of Prince of Wales
Attacks occurred on the same day across Wales. While Madog acted in the north the attacks in mid and south Wales were led by Cynan ap Maredudd, Maelgwn ap Rhys, and Morgan ap Maredudd of Gwynllwg in Glamorgan.
The rebel leaders hoped that by the end of September King Edward and most of his forces would be in France on a planned campaign. However, due to bad weather, Edward's army had not yet sailed and he quickly cancelled the French campaign to deal with the Welsh uprising.
Caernarfon fell first and was occupied, the castles at Castell y Bere , Hawarden, Ruthin, and Denbigh. Criccieth Castle was besieged by Madog's forces for several months, as was Harlech. Morlais castle was captured in the south, and Cynan ap Maredudd besieged the castle at Builth for six weeks.
Half the town of Caerphilly was burnt—although the castle itself held out—and, further south, Kenfig castle was sacked.
Many times the English tried to take control of the situation but failed every time and suffered some very costly defeats.
In December 1294 King Edward led an army of 31,000 men into Wales to quell the revolt.
Edward was ambushed and retreated to Conwy Castle, losing his baggage train to the Welsh.
The town of Conwy was burnt down and Edward besieged. Most of Edwards army was stuck on the other side of the river Conwy which was in flood. They had no way of getting over.
so he was only protected by the walls and a small force.
If the Welsh had breached the walls, Longshanks would of no doubt been killed.
On 4 March Madog's army was camped in a valley and was surrounded and ambushed by the English.
****this last bit is quoted from wiki ****
"The crucial battle between Madog's men and those of the English crown occurred at the battle of Maes Moydog in Powys on 5 March 1295. Surprised by an army led by the Earl of Warwick, the Welsh army regained their composure and successfully defended against an English cavalry charge by using the "porcupine" pikemen formation, or schiltron, a formation favored by the Scots armies against English knights. However, arrow fire from English archers inflicted heavy losses, and in pursuit of the Welsh from the battlefield, many Welsh soldiers drowned trying to cross a swollen river.
Madog barely escaped from this episode with his life and was a fugitive until his capture by Ynyr Fychan of Nannau and hand over to John de Havering in Snowdonia in late July or early August 1295. He was subsequently taken to London, where he seems to have been kept in captivity for the rest of his life; he was still alive in 1312. He was survived by his sons.
The revolt of 1294–95 elicited a harsh response from Edward I in the form of humiliating and punitive ordinances further restricting the civil rights and economic and social opportunities of the Welsh. However, it was not long before Llywelyn Bren, Lord of Senghenydd, led a second rebellion, aided by some of the more prominent Marcher Lords in 1316."
Attacks occurred on the same day across Wales. While Madog acted in the north the attacks in mid and south Wales were led by Cynan ap Maredudd, Maelgwn ap Rhys, and Morgan ap Maredudd of Gwynllwg in Glamorgan.
The rebel leaders hoped that by the end of September King Edward and most of his forces would be in France on a planned campaign. However, due to bad weather, Edward's army had not yet sailed and he quickly cancelled the French campaign to deal with the Welsh uprising.
Caernarfon fell first and was occupied, the castles at Castell y Bere , Hawarden, Ruthin, and Denbigh. Criccieth Castle was besieged by Madog's forces for several months, as was Harlech. Morlais castle was captured in the south, and Cynan ap Maredudd besieged the castle at Builth for six weeks.
Half the town of Caerphilly was burnt—although the castle itself held out—and, further south, Kenfig castle was sacked.
Many times the English tried to take control of the situation but failed every time and suffered some very costly defeats.
In December 1294 King Edward led an army of 31,000 men into Wales to quell the revolt.
Edward was ambushed and retreated to Conwy Castle, losing his baggage train to the Welsh.
The town of Conwy was burnt down and Edward besieged. Most of Edwards army was stuck on the other side of the river Conwy which was in flood. They had no way of getting over.
so he was only protected by the walls and a small force.
If the Welsh had breached the walls, Longshanks would of no doubt been killed.
On 4 March Madog's army was camped in a valley and was surrounded and ambushed by the English.
****this last bit is quoted from wiki ****
"The crucial battle between Madog's men and those of the English crown occurred at the battle of Maes Moydog in Powys on 5 March 1295. Surprised by an army led by the Earl of Warwick, the Welsh army regained their composure and successfully defended against an English cavalry charge by using the "porcupine" pikemen formation, or schiltron, a formation favored by the Scots armies against English knights. However, arrow fire from English archers inflicted heavy losses, and in pursuit of the Welsh from the battlefield, many Welsh soldiers drowned trying to cross a swollen river.
Madog barely escaped from this episode with his life and was a fugitive until his capture by Ynyr Fychan of Nannau and hand over to John de Havering in Snowdonia in late July or early August 1295. He was subsequently taken to London, where he seems to have been kept in captivity for the rest of his life; he was still alive in 1312. He was survived by his sons.
The revolt of 1294–95 elicited a harsh response from Edward I in the form of humiliating and punitive ordinances further restricting the civil rights and economic and social opportunities of the Welsh. However, it was not long before Llywelyn Bren, Lord of Senghenydd, led a second rebellion, aided by some of the more prominent Marcher Lords in 1316."
The Sais...I am learning why I have an instinctive suspicion of the Sais...
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