Battle of Mechain

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The Battle of Mechain is one of the hundreds of relatively unknown battles that have taken place in Welsh history.

Gruffydd ap Llywelyn was a ruthless king who conquered all the Welsh kingdoms to unite Wales under his rule.  ( "Speak not of killing; I but blunt the horns of the offspring of Wales lest they should injure their dam.")

In 1055 Gruffydd marched on Hereford and defeated a force led by the Earl of Hereford, Ralph the Timid,  They then sacked the city and destroyed its motte-and-bailey castle. Harald Godwinson (1066) was given the task of rebuilding and fortifying Heriford. 

In late 1062 Harold Godwinson obtained the English king's approval for a surprise attack on Gruffydd's court at Rhuddlan. Gruffydd was nearly captured but was warned in time to escape out to sea in one of his ships.

In the spring of 1063 Harold's brother Tostig led an army into north Wales while Harold led the fleet first to south Wales and then north to meet with his brother's army. Gruffydd was forced to take refuge in Snowdonia where he was killed. Gruffydd's head was sent to Harold.

After the murder of the King of Wales, Harold Godwinson married his widow Ealdgyth and divided Gruffydd's realm into the traditional kingdoms of Gwynedd and Powys, the rule of which was given to Bleddyn ap Cynfyn and his brother Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn

After Harold Godwinsons death in 1066 Gruffudds, two sons started to become more active and show interest in some of their father's conquests, especially Gwynedd and Powys.

So in 1070, the inevitable battle between Gruffudd's sons and Bleddyn and Rhiwallion ap Cynfyn took place. However, Gruffudd's sons were defeated, one was killed in battle and the other died as a result of injuries sustained, Rhiwallon was also killed in this battle, leaving Bleddyn to rule Gwynedd and Powys alone.

It was around this time the Normans started attacking Wales, a Wales that was once again divided into small kingdoms, would things have been different if Wales was still united? 






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