Battles all Welsh people should know about (no 4 + 5 battles of 1136)

 

1136 The Battle of Llwchwr

Who? Welsh forces from Brycheiniog and Northern Gŵyr vs Normans

Result Welsh victory

Numbers involved ????????

Casualties and losses The English lost around 500

A Welsh army was raised by the lord of Brycheiniog (Brecknockshire), Hywel ap Maredudd containing men from Brycheiniog as well as men from Northern Gŵyr. . The Normans sallied out expecting to meet a small collection of Welsh raiding bands, however, the scale of the Welsh army took them by surprise. The Welsh army emerged victorious, the Normans having lost around 500 men.


The victory of the Welsh army-inspired more rebellions around Wales including a battle near Kidwelly Castle fought by an army led by Gwenllian, Princess of Deheubarth and the Battle of Crug Mawr.

 

1136 The Battle of Crug Mawr

Result Decisive Welsh victory

Numbers involved

the welsh had 6000 infantrymen and 2000 cavalrymen.

The English are said to have had similar numbers

Casualties and losses

Welsh casualties are Said to be light.

The English lost 3,000.

A Welsh revolt against Norman rule had begun in south Wales, where on 1st of January 1136 the Welsh won a victory over the local Norman forces at the Battle of Llwchwr between Loughor and Swansea. 

This led to an invasion by the forces of Gwynedd, led by Owain Gwynedd and Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd, sons of the king of Gwynedd, Gruffydd ap Cynan. 

They captured a number of castles in northern Ceredigion and made an alliance with Gruffydd ap Rhys of Deheubarth. The combined forces headed for Cardigan. There they met the combined forces of all the Normans in South Wales.

The Norman army led by Robert fitz Martin consisted of around 1,000 professional Flemish infantry and another 7,000 infantry from local levies. In addition, it had around 2,000 cavalry, most of which was heavy cavalry. The Welsh army under Owain Gwynedd was slightly smaller at around 6,000 infantry and 2,000 longbowmen. Cavalry was around 1,000 horse.

The Normans marched northeast of Cardigan and fortified their position on Crug Mawr hill to meet the Welsh army coming from the north. Flemish troops were placed at the front and the Norman levies were in the reserve. Cavalry were right at the back, as they would be used to smash the Welsh forces when they fled – a classic Norman tactic. Being on a hill, the Normans enjoyed a strategic advantage.

The Welsh deployed their archers in the front, with cavalry on the flanks. The infantry were right behind the longbowmen, with the most experienced infantry in reserve.

As the Welsh advanced, they launched a massed arrow attack. This would be one of the earliest uses of the longbow in warfare, and it’s clear the Normans were unprepared for the devastating results. The infantry began to waver, so fitz Martin ordered a cavalry attack.

Massed arrows directed at cavalry, however, blunted the leading edge, and the attack rapidly lost momentum. As the cavalry approached, the Welsh archers retreated behind the spearmen, who repulsed the Norman attack. The Welsh cavalry on the flanks closed in, routing the infantry and the cavalry.

The Normans fled with the Welsh following closely behind. The troops crossing at Cardigan Bridge caused it to collapse, trapping thousands behind it. Many left armour and weapons behind as they attempted to swim over the river, and the triumphant Welsh slaughtered many more.

EDWARD LAWS QUOTES FLORENCE OF WORCESTER (VOL III, P97):

..''.the slaughter was so great that besides the male prisoners there were 10,000 widows captured, whose husbands had either been slain in battle, burnt in the town, or drowned in the Teivi. Apparently, the whole foreign population had collected at Cardigan for safety. The bridge indeed had been broken down, but the river was so choked with the carcasses of men and horses that folks passed over dry foote.''

Although the Normans held onto Cardigan Castle, the battle was a disaster for them. The biggest fighting force in the area had been destroyed, and it proved the superiority of the longbow, something that the Normans couldn’t match. Norman influence waned for around 20 years after the battle, and in 1157, Henry II took up the fight. Multiple defeats set him back further, and it wasn’t until King Henry III invaded Wales in 1241 that some semblance of English control was created.

This was a significant battle that set the Normans back many years and give the Welsh great confidence but most people have no idea it took place. 

There are many significant events like this in Welsh history, events that would be almost common knowledge if they took place in another county.