Llywelyn Bren of Senghenydd and his revolt.

Recorded evidence reveals LLYWELYN BREN  as a man of culture with ‘unusual literary interests for a person of his class and period, possessing considerable property and personal wealth in Senghenydd and Miscin —  a great man and powerful in his own country’ 

Before  Llywelyn's revolt in 1316, there had been a recent outbreak of violence in Anglo-Norman south-east Wales

 Gilbert de Clare was the most prominent landowner in the area, so when he died at the battle of Bannockburn in June 1314  it left a power vacuum in the area which also lead to a revolt in late summer.  
Llywelyn wasn't involved in this revolt which was soon ended by Bartholemew de Badlesmere who was the new royal custodian in Glamorgan.

Edward II soon replaced Bartholemew de Badlesmere with a new English administrator, Payn de Turberville of Coity who was extremely brutal in his dealings with the welsh people who was at the time suffering a serious famine.

Because he spoke out for his people, Llywelyn incurred the wrath of de Turberville, who charged him with sedition. Llywelyn then appealed to King Edward II to call off or control his self-interested agent. But Edward ordered Llywelyn to appear before Parliament to face the charge of treason. 
The king promised Llywelyn that if the charges were found true, he would be hanged. Llywelyn then fled and prepared for war against the English.

On 28 January 1316, Llywelyn began the revolt and attacked Caerphilly Castle. He captured the Constable outside the castle and he and his men captured the outer ward but could not break into the inner defences, They then burned the town and slaughtered some of its inhabitants before starting a siege.

The revolt spread through Glamorgan and Gwent; Kenfig castle, Llantrisant, and several others were attacked, including St Georges-super-Ely, Llangibby and Dinefwr Castle. Towns including Cardiff were raided and buildings burned.

Edward ordered the lord of Brecon and  Humphrey de Bohun to crush the revolt.

With the help of other marcher lords like  Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster and Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, they put together a large overwhelming force.

In March, English forces advanced from Cardiff and in a brief battle at Castell Morgraig forced Llywelyn and his men to break off the siege of Caerffili after 6 weeks. The Welsh retreated higher up the north Glamorgan plateau towards where  Hereford and his men were moving south from Brecon.

Llywelyn soon realised there was no chance of defeating this advancing army so Llywelyn surrendered unconditionally to the Earl of Hereford at Ystradfellte on 18 March 1316, he then pleaded that only he should be punished and his followers should be spared.

Both Hereford and Mortimer urged the King to pardon Llywelyn and it seems likely that their influence won a pardon for many of Llywelyn's men.

In 1318 Llywelyn became the prisoner of the ruthless Hugh the younger Despenser, who had become Lord of Glamorgan in November 1317 and thus the largest landowner in South Wales, and was a rival of Mortimer. He took Llywelyn to Cardiff Castle where he had him hanged, drawn and quartered without a proper trial. After the parts of his body were exhibited in various parts of the country he was buried in the Grey Friars at Cardiff. Llywelyn's lands were seized by Dispenser. This action was condemned at the time and later used as an example of the Despensers' growing tyranny. Dispenser also imprisoned Lleucu and some of her sons in Cardiff.