My 77 page timeline of Welsh medievel conflicts condensed into 33 pages for those who dont want to read all of the sources and information.
When i decided to put all the Welsh battles, sieges, ambushes etc all togther i didnt for one second think it would go onto be 77 pages long, for many people this is to long so iv slimmed it down a bit, taking out much of the info relating to the events, including primary sources among other things but the battle remains,
If you want the full 77 page timeline with the primary sources and all the info you can click me to go directly to that post
616
The Battle of Chester
620 - 626
King Edwin of Deira invades the Isle of Man and then Anglesey.
627
The Battle of Pont y Saeson
630
"The Battle of Cefn Digoll,
633
The Battle of Hatfield Chase
633
Battle of Heavenfield
642
Battle of Maes Cogwy
658
Battle of Peonnum
658
A Northumbrian raiding party overran Cynddylan's palace at Llys Pengwern , the royal family, including the king, were slaughtered. .
682
[ASC 16] This year also, Centwine chased the Britons into the sea.
720
In or about 722, the Welsh won a victory against the Mercians in south Wales, at a Pencon or Pencoed
722
"In or about 722 the Welsh won two victories in South Wales
728
Battle of Carno Mountain
735
The Battle of Hereford
743
An allied army of Mercians and West Saxons fight the Welsh.
753
This year Cuthred, king of the West-Saxons, fought against the Welsh.
760
The second Battle of Hereford
765
The Welsh invade Mercia and cause devastation.
769
Mercians invade Wales.
776
And then, the next year to that, the destruction of the South Wales men by king Offa took place.
778.
Offa of Mercia raids Dyfed in Wales
780
seven hundred and eighty was the year of Christ, when king Offa spoiled the Britons in summer time.
784
The Welsh invade Mercia again causing havoc.
795
Offa of Mercia raids Wales (Brycheiniog)
796
In 796, the year of the death of Offa, a battle was fought at Rhuddlan
798
the Mercians led by Coenwulf of Mercia invade Wales
810
St. Davids is burnt
816
Mercians invade Powys. .. Saxons invaded the mountains of Eryri and the kingdom of Rhufoniog
818
And, a year after that, a fight took place in Mona, called the action of Llanvaes.
818
Cenwulf devastated the Dyfed region
820
In 820 the castle of Degannwy was destroyed by the Saxons, who then took over rulership of Powys.
822
Coelwulf of Mercia invaded north Wales and captures Deganwy
828
The lands of Powys are liberated from Mercian occupation by Cyngen ap Cadell.
830
Egbert of Wessex invades Powys
849
Eight hundred and fifty was the year of Christ, when Meurug was killed by the Saxons.
850
Welsh Annals record that one Cyngen died on the swords of "the Heathen," meaning Viking raiders.
The southern Welsh districts of Gwent, Glamorgan and Dyfedd also suffered Norse attacks.
853
Burgred of Mercia overruns Powys. Cyngan ap Cadell abdicates and retires to Rome and his kingdom is annexed by Rhodri Mawr of Gwynedd.
854
Vikings referred to as Y Llu Du are recorded ravaging Anglesey
865
Burgred of Mercia leads his forces against Rhodri Mawr
856
Anglesey was ravaged by the Black Gentiles
56,
Rhodri the great won a notable victory over the Vikings and killed their leader Gorm.
870
The battle of Bryn Onnen
872
Rhodri the great won two battles this year,
873
Battle of Rhiw-saeson
876
The Norse attack in the famous Sunday Battle of Anglesey (Gweith Duw Sul)
877
Rhodri Mawr and his son Gwriad were killed by Mercian forces
880
"Eight hundred and eighty was the year of Christ when the battle of the Conway took place for God to avenge Rhodri."
894
Northmen came and they ravaged Lloegyr, Brycheiniog, Gwent, and Gwynllywiog
903
A party of Danes referred to as Dub Gint or black pagans under the command of Ingimundr attacked the Welsh in pitched battle at Ros Meilon or Osmeliavn,
904
AD The Danes kill Mervyn ap Rhodri Mawr in a retaliatory raid.
905 to 910
AD EirÃkr bloðøx, son of King Haraldr hárfagri of Norway, raids Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Brittany.
922
"And the battle of Dinasnewydd
940
Idwal Foel of Gwynedd invaded England
942
Hywel Dda's cousin Idwal Foel, King of Gwynedd, determined to cast off English overlordship took up arms against the new English king, Edmund.
949
"King Hywel the Good died . . . then the battle of Carno took place between the sons of Hywel and the sons of Idwal."
952
vikings kill Hirmawr and Anarawd ap Gwriad
954
The sons of Hywel in 954 a march into the Conway valley, where their progress was checked not far from Llanrwst and a defeat inflicted upon them
961
The annals record that "the sons of Abloec ravaged Caer Gybi and Lleyn." Abloec (from the Irish Amhlaoibh) meaning Óláfr Cuaran, ruler of the Dublin Norse
962
King Edgar the Peaceful invades Gwynedd.
963
The monastic establishment at Towyn or Tywyn raided by Vikings. Aberffraw in Anglesea, royal seat of the kings of Gwynedd, was also attacked
968
Rhodri ab Idwal was slain. And Aberffraw was ravaged
971
King Magnús Haraldsson, ruler of Man and Limerick, leads an attack on the monastic house of Penmon in Anglesey.
972
Goðfriðr Haraldsson, brother of King Magnús of Man and Limerick, attacks and conquers Anglesey.
980
combined Welsh-Danish force devastated Anglesey from where they crossed to Lleyn and continued ravaging the peninsula
981
LLANWENOG . . . is distinguished as the scene of a memorable battle, which was fought in 981, between the Danes, under their famous leader Godfrid, and the native Welsh under Eineon ab Owain
981
The Norse start 20 years of savage attacks on st davids
985
Hywel ap Ieuaf of Gwynedd is killed fighting Ælfhere, Ealdorman of Mercia.
987
"Godfrey, son of Harold, and the Black Host along with him, ravaged the island of Anglesey. And two thousand men were captured; and the remainder of them Maredudd ab Owain took
with him to Ceredigion and Dyfed."
988
The Norse raid Church of St. David , monastic houses of Llanbadarn Fawr Llandudoch (modern St. Dogmaels) Llancarfan , and Llanilltrud,
992
Church of St. David at Menevia destroyed for the third time by the Norse raiders
993
Anglesey was raided again by the "black pagans."
995
"Mannaw," probably Anglesey, was raided by King Sveinn Forkbeard of Denmark.
999
Church of St. David at Menevia destroyed and Bishop Morgeneu slain by Vikings.
1000
Aeddan ap Blegywryd wrested control of the whole of North Wales and Idwal's son, Iago, fled to Ireland.
1002
Norse raiders attack Dyfed, but this time spare the Church of St. David at Menevia.
1012
Earl Eodwin Streona of Mercia led an English attack against the Church of St. David at Menevia making use of the Danish ships which King Ethelred took into his service that year
1018
Llywelyn ap Seisyll defeated and killed Aeddan ap Blegywryd along with four of his sons and obtained Gwynedd and Powys.
1022,
A man named Rhain the Irishman was made king of Deheubarth Llywelyn ap Seisyll made war against Rhain, Rhain was killed allowing Llywelyn take control of Deheubarth.
1022
Eileifr, a Dane in the service of King Cnut, raided Dyfed and the Church of St. David at Menevia.
1032
Rhydderch ap Iestyn the king of Gwent and Morgannwg seized Deheubarth,
1033
Rhydderch ap Iestyn is recorded by as having been slain by the Irish, but with no explanation of the circumstances
1035
Caradog ap Rhydderch was killed by the "Saxons".
1039
Meurig ap Hywel, who would later become King of Morgannwg, was
captured by the Norse and later ransomed.
1039
Iago ab Idwal ap Meurig was killed by his own men in 1039 and replaced by Llywelyn ap Seisyll's son, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn
1039
Battle of Rhyd y Groes where Gruffudd ap Llywelyn ambushes a Mercian army led by Leofric of Mercia in Brycheiniog, destroying them. killing Edwin, brother of the Leofric, Earl of Mercia.
1041
Gruffydd defeated Hywel ab Edwin in the Battle of Pencader (1041) and carried off Hywel's wife.
1042
King Hywel ab Edwin ab Einon ab Owen of Deheubarth defeated Viking marauders who had been raiding Dyfed in a battle at Pwll Dyfach
1044
"And then Hywel ab Edwin thought to ravage Deheubarth and a fleet of the folk of Ireland along with him. And Gruffudd ap Llywelyn opposed him; and after there had been a fierce battle and a huge slaughter of Hywel's host and of the Irish at the mouth of the Tywi, Hywel fell and was slain. And then Gruffudd prevailed." The Chronicle of the Princes, 1955, p.25.
1047
Gruffydd ap Rhydderch of Gwent was able to expel Gruffydd ap Llywelyn from Deheubarth and became king of Deheubarth himself after the nobles of Ystrad Tywi had attacked and killed 140 of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn's household guard.
1049
" In the same year 36 ships came from Ireland up the Welsh Usk, and did harm thereabout, with the help of Gruffydd, the Welsh king
1052
Gruffydd ap Llywelyn was active on the Welsh border in 1052, when he attacked Herefordshire and defeated a mixed force of Normans and English in the Battle of Leominster and sacks the town.
1055
Gruffydd ap Llywelyn killed his rival Gruffydd ap Rhydderch in battle and recaptured Deheubarth, he allies with the exiled Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia and They marched on Hereford and were opposed by a force led by the Earl of Hereford, Ralph the Timid. This force was mounted and armed in the Norman fashion, but on 24 October Gruffydd defeated it. He then sacked the city and destroyed its motte-and-bailey castle
1055
Gruffydd was also able to seize Morgannwg and Gwent, along with extensive territories along the border with England.
1056,
Gruffydd ap Llywelyn won another victory over an English army near Glasbury. Now recognized as King of Wales, he claimed sovereignty over the whole of the country – a claim which was recognised by the English.
1062
Harold Godwinson obtained the 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, though his other ships were destroyed.
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 met his death. Gruffydd's head and the figurehead of his ship were sent to Harold
1065
Harold Godwinson, after defeating Gruffydd ap Llywelyn in 1063 had begun to build a hunting lodge in Portskewet. Caradog ap Gruffydd prince of Gwent attacked and destroyed it, going on to ravage the district with his forces.
1067
Bleddyn and Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn, co-rulers of Gwynedd, invade Herefordshire in support of Eadric the Wild, an English rebel resisting the Norman Conquest of England.
1067
The Normans invade the Kingdom of Gwent and conquer it driving king Caradog ap Gruffudd into exile
1069
Gruffudd ap Lywelyns sons challenge for the crown of Gwynedd, both are killed.
The Battle of Mechain was fought in 1069 in Powys, for the rule of Gwynedd and Powys.
1072
Caradog ap Gruffudd defeated and killed the ruler of Deheubarth, Maredudd ab Owain ab Edwin, in a battle by the Rhymney River.
1073
The Normans invade Gwynedd and occupy Arfon.
1074
"Goodwick Moor. Here Rhys, son of Owain ap Edwyn, was defeated and slain in 1074 by Trahaearn ap Caradog (Brut y Tywysogion)
1075
And then was the battle in the Camddwr between Goronwy and Llywelyn, sons of Cadwgan, and Caradog ap Gruffydd along with them, and Rhys ab Owain and Rhydderch ap Caradog. And Goronwy and Llywelyn were defeated, and Caradog along with them.
1075
Trahaearn ap Caradog had seized control of Gwynedd, Gruffudd ap Cynan landed on Abermenai Point, Anglesey with an Irish force, and with the assistance of troops provided by the Norman Robert of Rhuddlan first defeated and killed Cynwrig ap Rhiwallon, an ally of Trahaearn who held LlÅ·n, then defeated Trahaearn himself in the battle of Gwaed Erw in Meirionnydd and gained control of Gwynedd.
1075
Gruffudd AP CYNAN led his forces eastwards to reclaim territories taken over by the Normans, and despite the assistance previously given by Robert of Rhuddlan attacked and destroyed Rhuddlan Castle
1075
However tension between Gruffudd's Danish-Irish bodyguard and the local Welsh led to a rebellion in LlÅ·n, and Trahaearn took the opportunity to counterattack, defeating Gruffudd at the battle of Bron yr Erw above Clynnog Fawr the same year.Gruffudd run back to ireland
1078
Caradog ap Gruffydd won another victory over Rhys ab Owain who had succeeded Maredudd as prince of Deheubarth, killing him too.
Rhys was followed as king of Deheubarth by his second cousin, Rhys ap Tewdwr.
1081
Caradog ap Gruffydd Prince of Gwent invaded Deheubarth and drove Rhys to seek sanctuary in the St David's Cathedral.
1081
Gruffudd ap Cynan returned and made an alliance with Rhys ap Tewdwr, Prince of Deheubarth.
1081
BATTLE OF Mynydd Carn. The battle has been described as one in which "all the leading rulers of Wales took part. Gruffudd ap Cynan, claimant to the kingdom of Gwynedd, and Rhys ap Tudor, king of Deheubarth, defeated Gruffudd's enemies and Caradog ap Gruffudd of Morgannwg. Gruffudd remained king of Gwynedd until 1137.
1085
The Normans launch a wholesale invasion of Wales ravaging Gwynedd and Powys.
1085
Erw Beddau (Acre of Graves) site of a battle between Prince Rhys ap Tewdr and Iestyn Gwrgant
1088
Cadwgan ap Bleddyn of Powys attacked Deheubarth and forced Rhys ap Tewdwr to flee to Ireland. However, Rhys returned later the same year with a fleet from Ireland and defeated the men of Powys, in a battle in which two of Cadwgan's brothers, Madog and Rhiryd, were killed.
1091
The Normans conquer the kingdom of Morgannwg (formerly Glywysing) driving Iestyn ap Gwrgan into exile.
1091
Rhys ap Tewdwr faced another challenge in the form of an attempt to put Gruffydd, the son of Maredudd ab Owain, on the throne of Deheubarth. Rhys was able to defeat the rebels in a battle at St. Dogmaels, killing Gruffydd.
1092
A battle was fought between Bleddin ap Maenarch and Bernard Newmarch near Brecon, traditionally believed to be in Battle parish
1093
Robert of Rhuddlan was enjoying a noontide nap in his castle at Deganwy when the news was brought to him that Welsh raiders had landed in three ships underneath the Great Orme and pillaged his lands
Robert rushed down the slopes to attack them, followed only by his armour-bearer. He was killed by a volley of javelins, and the raiders sailed off with his head attached to the mast of one of the vessels.
1093
The Normans occupy Brycheiniog and ravage south Wales killing Rhys ap Tewdwr, the king of Deheubarth.
1093
Cadwgan again attacked Deheubarth, but it soon became clear that it was the Normans who would benefit from the death of Rhys ap Tewdwr.
1094
Welsh revolt against Norman rule broke out,
1094
the Normans attacked Gelligaer. This resulted in a bloody
battle in which a number of important Norman lords were killed
1094
"And then the French-led hosts into Gwynedd; and Cadwgan ap Bleddyn met them and attacked and defeated them, and drove them to flight and slew them, and overthrew and subdued them with great slaughter. And that battle was fought in Coed-ysbwys."
Source: Thomas Jones, The Chronicle of the Princes, 1955, p.35.
1095
in 1095 the Welsh began a sustained campaign of resistance. By early 1096 Hywel ap Goronwy had become one of the leaders of the Welsh revolt. That Spring he, together with Uchtryd ab Edwin and the war band of Cadwgan ap Bleddyn, laid waste the province of Penfro and strongly besieged Gerald Windsor in Pembroke castle
1095
war had spread to many parts of Wales. This induced William II of England (William Rufus) to intervene, invading northern Wales in 1095. However his army was unable to bring the Welsh to battle and returned to Chester without having achieved very much
1095
The Normans return but fail to draw the Welsh into battle.
1096
"And the French moved a host to Gwent, but they returned empty-handed having gained naught. And as they were returning, they were slain by the Britons at the place called Celli Carnant."
1096
"The men of Brycheiniog, led by Gruffydd and Ifor, sons of Idnerth ap Cadwgan, fell upon another host which had issued from the same region [Glamorgan] and totally routed it at Aber Llech, about three miles north-east of Ystrad Gynlais."
1097
King William mounted a second invasion, but again without much success At this time Cadwgan ap Bleddyn of Powys led the Welsh resistance. defeating a Norman force at the battle of Coed Yspwys
1098
Earl Hugh of Chester and Earl Hugh of Shrewsbury launched an invasion in 1098 to try to recover Anglesey for Hugh of Chester, A Danish fleet hired by Gruffudd AP CYNAN was offered a higher price by the Normans and changed sides, forcing Cadwgan ap Bleddyn and Gruffudd to flee to Ireland in a skiff.
1098
The Battle of Anglesey Sound, The Normans occupy Gwynedd and Anglesey. They withdraw within the year.
1100
The arrival of a Norwegian fleet under the command of King Magnus III of Norway, also known as Magnus Barefoot, who attacked the Norman forces near the eastern end of the Menai Straits
1108
Henry l had conducted a campaign in South Wales in 1108, pushing out royal power in the region and colonizing the area around Pembroke with Flemings
1111
Iorwerth ap Bleddyn prince of Powys was killed by Madog ap Rhiryd in 1111, Cadwgan ap Bleddyn again briefly took over the rule of all Powys, but later the same year Cadwgan himself was also killed by Madog at Welshpool, Madog was able to seize some of his lands, while the remainder fell to his son Owain.
1114
some of the resident Norman lords were under attack, while in Mid-Wales, Owain ap Cadwgan blinded one of the political hostages he was holding.
in North Wales Gruffudd ap Cynan threatened the power of the Earl of Chester.
Henry sent three armies into Wales that year, with Gilbert Fitz Richard leading a force from the south, Alexander, King of Scotland,
1116
The Welsh of Deheubarth revolt against their Norman overlords.
Gruffydd ap Rhys unsuccessfully attacked the Norman castle (nprn 301795) south of Aberystwyth in 1116.
1118
In 1118, Hywel ab Ithel, lord of Rhos and Rhufoniog, and Goronwy, Rhuiddid and Llywarch, the sons of Owain ap Edwin and lords of Dyffryn Clwyd, fought a bitter battle where the sons of Owain and their supporters were defeated. Hywel died of his wounds forty days later.
Thomas Jones, The Chronicle of the Princes, 1955, p.103.
1121
Maredudd AP BLEDUDD carried out raids on Cheshire which provoked King Henry into invading
1121
Another invasion by the king of England was a military failure. The king had to come to terms with Gruffudd AP CYNAN and made no further attempt to invade Gwynedd during Gruffudd's reign.
1125
Cadwallon ap Gruffydd (son of Gruffudd ap Cynan) killed the three rulers of the district Dyffryn Clwyd, being Meilyr ab Owain, Rhiryd ab Owain, and Gronw ab Owain—his maternal uncles, i.e., his mother's brothers.
1127
Gruffydd ap Rhys, the son of Rhys ap Tewdwr came to terms with King Henry I of England and was allowed to rule a portion of his father's kingdom, the Cantref Mawr, although he was soon under pressure from the Normans again and was forced to flee to Ireland
1132
Cadwallon forged eastward to conquer more land for the kingdom of Gwynedd but was stopped in the area of Nanheudwy in 1133, near the town of Llangollen.
1134
Welsh raids into Shropshire destroying Caus Castle.
1136
Anarawd ap Gruffydd and his brother Cadell ap Gruffydd joined with the Prince of Gwynedd, Owain Gwynedd and the latter's brother Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd in an assault on Cardigan Castle which was in Norman hands. The assault was aided by a fleet of Viking ships, but an agreement was reached and the siege lifted.
1136
Battle of Llwchwr
The victory of the Welsh army-inspired more rebellions around Wales.
1136
The Welsh of Gwent, led by Iowerth ab Owain (grandson of Caradog ap Gruffydd, Gwent's Welsh ruler displaced by the Norman invasions), ambushed and slew Richard Fitz Gilbert de Clare, the Norman lord who controlled Ceredigion.
1136
When word reached Gwynedd of Gwenllain's death and the revolt in Gwent, Gwenllian's brothers Owain and Cadwaladr invaded Norman controlled Ceredigion, taking Llanfihangel, Aberystwyth, and Llanbadarn
1136
Battle of Crug Mawr, large battle which resulted in 3000 dead Normans and the aperence of the Welsh Longbow.
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 footed.
1137
An army from Gwynedd captures Carmarthen from the Normans.
1143
Anarawd ap Gruffydd was treacherously killed by the men of Owain's brother Cadwaladr.Owain sent his son Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd to strip Cadwaladr of his lands in Ceredigion in punishment.
1144
The Marcher lord Hugh de Mortimer re-takes Maelienydd.
1145
Gilbert de Clare rebuilds Carmarthen Castle. then began a campaign to reclaim Ceredigion. He built a castle in the commote of Mabudryd,
1146
OWEN GWYNEDD captured Mold Castle
1146
Cadell ap Gruffydd captured the castles of Carmarthen (repairing and retaining it for several years) and then destroyed the castle.
1146
The lord rhys fighting alongside his brothers Cadell and Maredudd capture Llansteffan Castle
This was followed by the capture of
Wiston in 1147,
Carmarthen in 1150
and Loughor in 1151
1147
Cadell ap Gruffydd defeated Walter Fitzwiz.
1149
Madog ap Maredudd advances into Shropshire and annexes Oswestry to the kingdom of Powys; it remains in his possession until 1157.
1150
Maredudd became ruler of Deheubarth and continued a campaign aimed at recovering Ceredigion, which had been held by Gwynedd since
1150
OWEN GWYNEDD captured Rhuddlan
1150
OWEN GWYNEDD encroached on the borders of Powys. The prince of Powys, Madog ap Maredudd, with assistance from Earl Ranulf of Chester, gave battle at Coleshill, but Owain was victorious.
1151
Cadell ap Gruffydd was attacked while out hunting by a group of Norman and Flemish knights from Tenby, and left for dead.
1153.
THE LORD Rhys leads an army to capture the Norman castle of St Clears. Maredudd and Rhys also destroyed the castles at Tenby and Aberafan that year. Maredudd died in 1155 at the age of twenty-five and left Rhys as ruler of Deheubarth.
1157
Henry II leads a massive invasion of the Perfeddwlad to drive Owain ap Gruffudd, the king of Gwynedd, away from the border of Cheshire.
1157
(Battle of Ewloe), Owain's men ambushed the royal army in a narrow, wooded valley, routing it completely with King Henry himself narrowly avoiding capture.
1157
1159
Rhys ap Gruffudd (the lord rhys) of Deheubarth attacks Anglo-Norman castles and settlements in south Wales, capturing Llandovery in 1162.
1162
"Owain [Gwynedd] moved a host to Arwystli, as far as Llandinam. And after they had obtained immense spoil,
1163
Henry II launches a military campaign in south Wales invading Deheubarth. He captures Rhys ap Gruffudd at Pencader and takes him to England. Rhys is restored to his lands in 1164 after he agrees to make homage to Henry.
1163
All the Welsh princes united in an uprising,
1165
The Welsh revolt led to another invasion of Wales by King Henry in 1165, He was met by the united forces of the Welsh princes, led by Owian Gwynedd
1165
Battle of Crogen 'The Battle of Crogen took place in the Ceiriog Valley, in 1165, between Henry II of England and an alliance of Welsh princes led by Owain Gwynedd. Although outnumbered, the ambush tactics and valour of the Welsh aided them in their defeat of King Henry's army'
1165
Rhys ap Gruffudd returned to Deheubarth where he captured and burned Cardigan Castle. He allowed the garrison to depart, but held the castellan, Robert Fitz-Stephen, as a prisoner. Shortly afterwards Rhys captured Cilgerran castle
1167
Owain Gwynedd RE captures Rhuddlan Castle and Basingwerk advancing as far east as the River Dee.
1168
the lord rhys attacked the Normans at Builth, destroying its castle.
1170,
Rhys ap Gruffydd had made the southern kingdom of Deheubarth the strongest of the Welsh kingdoms and had established himself as the leader of Pura Wallia
1170
''Following the death of Owain Gwynedd in 1170, saw a
battle at Pentraeth on Anglesey where Hywel Ab Owain Gwyned, the likely nominated
heir was killed alongside his six foster-brothers, by his half-brother Dafydd ab
Owain Gwynedd.
1176
Cadwallon ap Madog brought destruction to the English
Marches of Herefordshire and Shropshire.
1185
Welsh raiders sack Cardiff.
1188
Llywelyn, ap lorwerth won two notable victories, at Aberconwy (Conway) and Porthaethwy.
1189
Henry II died in and was succeeded by Richard I. The lord rhys considered that he was no longer bound by the agreement with King Henry and attacked the Norman lordships
He ravaged Pembroke, Haverfordwest, and Gower and captured the castles of St. Clear's, Laugharne, and Llansteffan
1194,
with the aid of his cousins, Gruffudd ap Cynan and Maredudd ap Cynan, Llywelyn the Great defeated his uncle. Dafydd ab Owain at the Battle of Aberconwy.
1194
Rhys was defeated in battle by Maelgwn and Hywel, who imprisoned him in Nevern castle
1196
The lord Rhys launched a campaign against the Normans, He captured castles, including Carmarthen, Colwyn, Radnor and Painscastle, and defeated an army led by Roger de Mortimer and Hugh de Say near Radnor, with forty knights among the dead.
1197
Llywelyn the Great captured Dafydd and imprisoned him. A year later Hubert Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury, persuaded Llywelyn to release him, and Dafydd retired to England where he died in May
1198 .
Gwenwynwyn ab Owain, Prince of Powys Wenwynwyn, raised a great army to besiege Painscastle, which was held by the troops of William de Braose, Lord of Bramber. Llywelyn the Great sent troops to help Gwenwynwyn, but in August Gwenwynwyn's force was attacked by an army led by the Justiciar, Geoffrey Fitz Peter, and heavily defeated. Gwenwynwyn's defeat gave Llywelyn the opportunity to establish himself as the leader of the Welsh.
1199
Llywelyn the great, captured the important castle of Mold
1202
Llywelyn the great raised a force to attack Gwenwynwyn ab Owain of Powys, who was now his main rival in Wales
1210
relations between Llywelyn and King John deteriorated Llywelyn destroyed his own castle at Deganwy and retreated west of the River Conwy. The Earl of Chester rebuilt Deganwy, and Llywelyn retaliated by ravaging the earl's lands. John sent troops to help restore Gwenwynwyn to the rule of southern Powys.
1210
Rhys and Owain ab Gruffudd gathered three hundred men and at Cilcennin they slaughtered, captured or drove to flight a superior force of French and Welsh soldiers under Maelgwn ap Rhys.
Source: Thomas Jones, The Chronicle of the Princes, 1955, p.189-91.
1211
King John of England launches an invasion of Gwynedd from Chester but has to retreat without making gains. A second invasion later that year, this time from Shrewsbury, leaves the Welsh town of Bangor in ruins;
1212
Llywelyn formed an alliance with Gwenwynwyn of Powys and the two main rulers of Deheubarth, Maelgwn ap Rhys and Rhys Gryg, and rose against John. They had the support of Pope Innocent III,
1213
, Llywelyn took the castles of Deganwy and Rhuddlan
1215
Llywelyn in December 1215, led an army which included all the lesser princes to capture the castles of Carmarthen, Kidwelly, Llanstephan, Cardigan and Cilgerran.
1216
Gwenwynwyn of Powys changed sides again that year and allied himself with King John. Llywelyn called up the other princes for a campaign against him and drove him out of southern Powys once more.
1220
Hostilities broke out with William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, in 1220. Llywelyn destroyed the castles of Narberth and Wiston, burnt the town of Haverfordwest and threatened Pembroke Castle, but agreed to abandon the attack on payment of £100
1223
Llywelyn crossed the border into Shropshire and captured Kinnerley and Whittington castles. The Marshalls took advantage of Llywelyn's involvement here to land near St David's in April with an army raised in Ireland and recaptured Cardigan and Carmarthen without opposition
1223
Marcher lord Hubert de Burgh starts a series of campaigns during which he retakes Carmarthen, Cardigan and Montgomery.
1223
Llewelyn ap Iorwerth took several of the Earl of Pembroke's castles in south Wales in his absence; the earl on his return in 1223 retaliated by taking the castles of Cardigan and Carmarthen.
"William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke "made his way across the Tywi to Carmarthen bridge and Gruffudd ap Llywelyn waited for him fearlessly. And after protracted fighting for the greater part of the day, each of the two hosts fell back from the other to encamp, after many had been slain on either side and others had been wounded. And then because of hunger Gruffudd ap Llywelyn returned again to his land."
1228,
Llywelyn was engaged in a campaign against Hubert de Burgh, who was Justiciar of England and Ireland and one of the most powerful men in the kingdom
n October the royal army was obliged to retreat and Henry agreed to destroy the half-built castle in exchange for the payment of £2,000 by Llywelyn. Llywelyn raised the money by demanding the same sum as the ransom of William de Braose, Lord of Abergavenny, whom he had captured in the fighting
1228,
Some of llywelyns men had been taken prisoner by the garrison of Montgomery and beheaded, Llywelyn responded by burning Montgomery, Powys, New Radnor, Hay, and Brecon before turning west to capture the castles of Neath and Kidwelly. He completed the campaign by recapturing Cardigan castle.King Henry retaliated by launching an invasion and built a new castle at Painscastle, .
1231
The Breviate Chronicle for the year 1231 notes that following Llywelyn ap Iorwerth’s attacks in Mid Wales:
1231
Lywelyn ap Iorwerth laid an ambush for the men of King Henry III, who were stationed at Montgomery Castle, with the help of a monk from Abbey Cwm Hîr, who was instructed by Llewelyn to deceive the garrison with false intelligence. When the king's men rode out and became trapped in boggy ground, Llywelyn's men attacked and a violent battle ensued, the Welsh eventually gaining victory. One suggested site for the battle is at Abermule, another being at Hay
1233
The Cronicon de Wallia for the year 1233 note:
eodem anno . l(ewelinus) . princeps uillas de brechonia et de clua . combussÃt et castrum quod uocatur castelh?choet cepÃt et destruxÃt necnon et villam de albo monasterÃo Ãn cÃnerem redegÃt(Gough-Cooper, e31.2).The same year Prince Llewelyn burned the towns of Brecon and Clun and he took and destroyed Castellhychoet(Remfry, 241).
1233
Earl Richard of Pembroke, supported by Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, defeated John of Monmouth in a pitched battle near Monmouth on 26 December 1233
1233
And their sons and the host of Llywelyn ap lorwerth and the host of the earl of Pembroke gathered together against Carmarthen. And they laid siege to it for three months,
1240
With Llywelyn Fawr dead the English attack Wales. Marcher lords retake the territorial gains made by Llywelyn.
1241
Henry III invades Wales; Dafydd ap Llywelyn is forced to surrender (Aug). The subsequent peace agreement, the Treaty of Gwerneigron, sees the English occupy the Perfeddwlad.
1244
Dafydd ap Llywelyn declares war, several Welsh raids are mounted on the Wales-England border.
1245
A victory of the English near Montgomery in 1244 (some sources suggest 1245), where 300 Welshmen were drawn into an ambush and slain.
Source: J.E.Lloyd, A History of Wales, vol II, 1912, p.703.
1245
In August 1245 King Henry again invaded Gwynedd, but his army suffered a defeat in a narrow pass by Dafydd's men. Undaunted, Henry proceeded as far as the river Conwy, and began building a new castle at Deganwy.
1255
The Battle of Bryn Derwin Llywelyn ap Gruffudd won a battle against his brothers Owain and Dafydd:
1256
Gwynedd, led by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, grandson of Llywelyn Fawr, invades and annexes the Perfeddwlad. Gwynedd annexes Brycheiniog, Maelienydd, Gwrtheyrnion and Builth (late 1250s). The Treaty of Montgomery (1267) allows Llywelyn to keep these gains. Deheubarth makes territorial gains in the south.
1256
Coed Llathan and the related battle of Cymerau took place on 2 June 1257 and marked a significant phase in the extension of the reach and power of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd
1257
"Llywelyn ap Gruffydd invaded the valley of the Severn, occupied the country as far as Pool and burnt the little town which clustered round Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyns castle
1257
According to several nearly contemporary Welsh chroniclers a severe defeat of an English force under Stephen Bauzan took place on the 2nd June 1257. The encounter is no doubt historical, and the English losses appear to have been so heavy as to make a considerable impression upon the victors. The site of the battle is marked by place-names like 'Cae trange,' 'Cae dial,' 'Cae yr ochain' and others, but these are probably the aftermath of a struggle that may have stuck long in popular memory.
1258
Maredudd ap Rhys allied himself with the English and was subsequently attacked by the Welsh, united under Lywelyn ap Gruffydd, becoming severely wounded in a battle fought near the bridge at Carmarthen in 1258.
1262
"On 29th November [1262] the men of Maelienydd took Roger Mortimer's new castle at Cefnllys by stratagem and proceeded to dismantle it; when Roger and young Humphrey de Bohun came with an army to repair the broken walls, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd swooped upon them with a still larger force, closely beset them in the ruined fortress, and then induced them to accept the offer of a free passage through his lines across the border."
1263
"The following year John Lestrange the Younger, who was then bailiff in Baldwin's Castle, and a mighty host with him, made a night raid across Ceri to Cydewain. And after he had gathered vast spoil he came back down again. And when the Welsh heard that, they pursued them and on that day they slew of the English more than two hundred
1263
the slaughter of Robert of Rhuddlan at Degannwy and a seven years blockade and siege ending in the castle's destruction in 1263.
1263
Peter of Montfort stoutly resisted a Welsh attack at Abergavenny, led by Gronw ab Ednyfed and the princes of south Wales, in late February
1265
Llywelyn captured Hawarden Castle and routed the combined armies of Hamo Lestrange and Maurice fitz Gerald in north Wales. Llywelyn then moved on to Brycheiniog
1266
Llywelyn ap Gruffudd routed Roger Mortimer's army. With these victories and the backing of the papal legate, Ottobuono, Llywelyn opened negotiations with the king, and was eventually recognised as Prince of Wales by King Henry in the Treaty of Montgomery in 1267.
1277
Llywelyn the Last) refused homage, resulting in a large English invasion from multiple directions,
Following his ascension, Edward I demanded homage from Llywelyn, who had previously secured significant lands under the Treaty of Montgomery but was reluctant to fully submit to English rule.
The Invasion (1277):
Three-Pronged Attack: Edward launched a massive, well-supplied invasion from Chester (north), Montgomery (center), and Carmarthen (south).
Naval Support: An English fleet from the Cinque Ports provided crucial naval support, notably targeting Anglesey, Llywelyn's power base.
Rapid Success: The English advance, coupled with Welsh defections and the loss of Anglesey, quickly overwhelmed Llywelyn.
Humiliating Terms: Llywelyn surrendered, forced to sign the Treaty of Aberconwy.
Territorial Loss: He lost all lands east of the River Conwy, retaining only Gwynedd (Uwch Conwy).
1282
War in Wales was the final major conflict in Edward I's conquest
March 1282: Dafydd ap Gruffudd launched coordinated attacks on English castles, initiating the war.
1282
English armies from Carmarthen defeat the princes of Deheubarth,
1282
armies from Chester overwhelm Powys Fadog and armies from Shrewsbury retake Maelienydd, Builth, Brycheiniog and Gwrtheyrnion.
1282
In the Treaty of Aberconwy Llywelyn is confined to western Gwynedd and Powys Fadog and Deheubarth are broken up.
1282 ,
Dafydd ap Gruffudd attacked the English at Hawarden Castle and then laid siege to Rhuddlan.
1282
The revolt quickly spread to other parts of Wales, with Aberystwyth castle captured and burnt and rebellion in Ystrad Tywi in south Wales, also inspired by Dafydd according to the annals, where Carreg Cennen castle was captured.
1282
The English invade Wales under Edward I.
16 June – Battle of Llandeilo; an English army in the south is routed at the Battle of Llandeilo Fawr
6 November Battle of Moel-y-don; an English army is routed on the banks of the Menai Straits.
Edward raised several armies through levy and indenture, and sent them into Wales on multiple fronts to surround and destroy Llywelyn's armies. One important expedition, consisting of 2000 infantrymen and 200 cavalrymen under the former constable of Gascony, Luke de Tany, was sent to capture the island of Anglesey. This would deprive the Welsh of much of their grain, and outflank the Welsh who were defending the Conwy.
attempting to cross the bridge of boats which had been thrown across the Menai Straits near Bangor, some sixteen knights, with their followers, were set upon by the Welsh and overwhelmed."
1282
Battle of Orewin Bridge (11 Dec); Llywelyn II is killed in a chance ambush nearby at Cilmeri. Dafydd ap Gruffudd succeeds him.
1283
The last remaining castles in Gwynedd are captured. The royal court of Wales withdraws to shelter in the mountains. Dafydd ap Gruffudd is captured in June
1287
Rhys ap Maredudd of Dryslwyn, a prince of Deheubarth incensed at his treatment by Edward I, leads attacks on English holdings in the south taking back the Deheubarth royal centre at Dinefwr
1294
a Welsh uprising led by Madog ap Llywelyn
Caernarfon was overrun by Madog's forces and the castle occupied, as were 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 under the aegis of Morgan in the south, and Cynan ap Maredudd besieged the castle at Builth for a period of six weeks. Half the town of Caerphilly was burnt—although the castle itself held out—and, further south, Kenfig castle was sacked.
The lord of Denbigh, Henry de Lacy led a march to Denbigh after the castle there was besieged; however, he was ambushed outside the town on 11 November, and in the ensuing battle his force was routed
1294
Welsh soldiers assembling at Shrewsbury, due to march to Portsmouth for Edward’s campaign in Gascony, mutinied and killed their English officers. The rebels rallied around Madog ap Llywelyn and his rebelion.
1294
Edward mustered an army at his customary base of Worcester to send reinforcements to a besieged Brecon Castle and the area south of Cardiff.
1294
Madog ap Llywelyn defeated the forces of the earl of Lincoln in a pitched battle near Denbigh.
1294
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
1295
King Edward led an army into north Wales to quell the revolt, stopping at Wrexham, Denbigh, Abergele, and elsewhere on his way to Conwy Castle, which he reached shortly before Christmas. Edward himself was ambushed and retreated to Conwy Castle, losing his baggage train. The town of Conwy was burnt down and Edward besieged until he was relieved by his navy in 1295.
Edward sacked the town of Nefyn. On the return journey, his troops were ambushed by Welsh forces near Bangor who retook the booty they had taken from the town. The King and most of his force survived and made it back to Conway, but were besieged, and because the rough winter seas prevented any fresh supplies from reaching the castle, they were forced to live off salted fish and water flavoured with honey.
1295
Battle of Maes Moydog (5 Mar); Madog is defeated and the Welsh army destroyed. Madog is soon captured and imprisoned. 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.
1316
uprising in Gwent and Morgannwg led by Llywelyn Bren the lord of Senghennydd and a descendant of the kings of Morgannwg
llywelyn began the revolt by a surprise attack on Caerphilly Castle , They burned the town and slaughtered some of its inhabitants and started a siege.
1316
The revolt quickly spread through Glamorgan and Gwent; Kenfig castle was sacked, as was the castle at Llantrisant, and several others were attacked, including St Georges-super-Ely, Llangibby and Dinefwr Castle.
1316
Towns including Cardiff were raided and buildings burned.
Edward ordered Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford and Lord of neighbouring Brecon to crush the revolt and he gathered overwhelming forces supported by the men of the chief Marcher Lords like Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster and Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March. Troops came from Cheshire, north Wales, and also some Welsh soldiers from west Wales.
In March, 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 where Hereford and his men were moving south from Brecon.
1316
Realising the fight was hopeless, on 18 March 1316 Llywelyn surrendered to the Earl of Hereford
he pleaded that only he should be punished and his followers spared. This behaviour earned him the respect of Roger Mortimer, one of the witnesses to his surrender. Hereford and Mortimer both promised to try to intercede on Llywelyn's behalf, and promised him "leniency.
however he was betraid and eventualy hung drawn and qutard in cardiff , After parts of his body had been exhibited in various parts of the county, he was buried in the Grey Friars at Cardiff
1345
an uprising in Gwynedd known as the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre when Henry de Shaldeforde, the king of England's attorney and his men were ambushed and slaughtered by Welsh rebels. Anti-English rioting had begun earlier in 1344 centred at Rhuddlan.
1400
start of glyndwrs war
Ruthin Castle was attacked and almost destroyed. Denbigh, Rhuddlan, Flint, Hawarden, and Holt followed quickly afterward. On 22 September the town of Oswestry was badly damaged by Owain's raid. By the 23 September Owain was moving south attacking Powis Castle and sacking Welshpool
1400
Glyndŵr and his men put Coity Castle under siege, which was not lifted until Henry IV invaded Wales on a ‘Royal Expedition’ in September 14051400
On 24 September 1400, the Welsh under Owain Glyndwr were met not far from Welshpool on the banks of the Vrynwy by forces under Hugh Burnell and there suffered a crushing defeat.
1400
Henry IV, on his way back from invading Scotland, turned his army towards Wales. By 26 September he was in Shrewsbury ready to invade Wales
Henry led his army around North Wales. He was harassed constantly by bad weather and the attacks of Welsh guerrillas. When he arrived on Anglesey, he harried the island, burning villages and monasteries including the Llanfaes Friary
Rhys ap Tudur led an ambush for the king's forces at Rhos Fawr. After they were engaged, the Englishmen fled back to the safety of Beaumaris Castle.
1400
The Tudur brothers from Anglesey launched a guerrilla war against the English. When Glyndŵr announced his revolt, Rhys, Gwilym and their third brother, Maredudd ap Tudur, openly swore allegiance;
1401
February 21st - The English Parliament reported that the Welsh were ‘in a dangerous mood’, and passed harsh Penal Laws against them.
1401,
the revolt began to spread. Much of northern and central Wales went over to Owain. Multiple attacks were recorded on English towns, castles, and manors throughout the north. Even in the south in Brecon and Gwent reports began to come in of banditry and lawlessness.
1401
The Tudur brothers take Conwy castle .
1401
Henry Hotspur, a son of the Earl of Northumberland, was commanded by the King to take action, At the foot of Cader Idris he met with the forces of Owain Glyndwr. A severe but undecided conflict took place, in which the followers of Glyndwr fully held their ground. Hotspur did not attempt to renew the attack, nor did he pursue Glyndwr farther, but quitted North Wales and resigned his offices of Justice and Constable
1401
Owain scored his first major victory in the field in May or June, at the battle of Mynydd Hyddgen
1401
October = The situation was sufficiently serious for Henry IV to assemble another punitive expedition. Henry IV and his troops attacked the abbey at Strata Florida on a ‘Royal Expedition’ and, on October 9th, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd Fychan was hanged, drawn and quartered in Llandovery by Henry for his support of Glyndŵr.
Owain's forces harassed him and engaged in hit-and-run tactics and Henry's army was forced to retreat
1401
Battle of Tuthill, The Battle of Tuthill
1402
April - Glyndŵr had attacked Ruthin at the beginning of 1402, and then again in April when Reginald Grey, his neighbour and arch-enemy, was captured nearby. Reginald was eventually released on November 11th after a ransom of 10,000 marks had been paid to Glyndŵr.
1402
Battle of Bryn Glas
Owain's forces encountered an army led by Sir Edmund Mortimer, the uncle of the Earl of March, at Bryn Glas in central Wales. Mortimer's army was badly defeated and Mortimer was captured.
It is reported that the Welsh women following Owain’s army, killed the wounded English soldiers and mutilated the bodies of the dead, supposedly in revenge for plundering and rape by the English soldiery the previous year The English are driven from Wales.
1402
Adam of Usk notes that Glyndwr, and a large army, during a series of attacks on South Wales in August 1402,
"Owen; backed by a force of thirty thousand men who would issue forth from their caves, he seized castles everywhere throughout Wales and the march- including Usk, Caerleon, and Newport- and burned the towns"
1402
September 7th - Henry IV was nearly killed during a storm while on another ‘Royal Expedition’ into Wales
1402
November 30th - Edmund Mortimer was released by Glyndŵr and then married his daughter, Catrin. Henry IV had refused to pay a ransom for Mortimer because his nephew, the Earl of March, had a strong claim to the English throne.
1403
February 22nd - The town of Hope was liberated by Glyndŵr’s men.February 22nd - The town of Hope was liberated by Glyndŵr’s men.
1403
In response, Henry of Monmouth (son of Henry IV and the future Henry V) attacked and burned Owain's homes at Glyndyfrdwy and Sycharth
1403
June 24th, 1403 - The Welsh of Brycheiniog attacked Brecon Castle before Owain started a large-scale campaign down the Tywi Valley:
July 3rd - After they had put Llandovery Castle under siege, Glyndŵr’s army continued on to Llandeilo Fawr where they joined up with Henry Dwn, who had just attacked Dinefwr Castle.
July 5th - Glyndŵr and 800 men attacked Carreg Cennen Castle, which was defended by John Scudamore (his future son-in-law.) Glyndŵr also took the castles of Dryslwyn, Llansteffan and Newcastle Emlyn, before taking Carmarthen on July 6th.
July 11th - Lord Carew met with Glyndŵr near St Clears and negotiated an agreement.
1403
November - A French fleet joined Glyndŵr in attacking Caernarfon Castle and, by the end of the year, Glyndŵr was in control of almost the whole of Wales.
1403
Carmarthen, one of the main English power-bases in the west, fell and was occupied by Owain. Owain then turned around and attacked Glamorgan and Gwent. Abergavenny Castle was attacked and the walled town burned.
1403
Owain pushed on down the valley of the River Usk to the coast, burning Usk and taking Cardiff Castle and Newport Castle.
1403
The men of Bristol, captained by the esquires James Clifford and William Rye, took an armed fleet and raided Glamorgan, plundering the church of Llandaff, but through a miracle of St Teilo they were defeated by the local people and driven off in confusion, with considerable loss
1403
Royal officials reported that Welsh students at Oxford University were leaving their studies for Owain and Welsh labourers and craftsmen were abandoning their employers in England and returning to Wales in droves
1404
By the end of the year the French ships were raiding the coast of England, with Welsh troops on board, setting fire to Dartmouth and devastating the coasts of Devon.
1404,
Owain captured and garrisoned the great western castles of Harlech and Aberystwyth.
1404
Anxious to demonstrate his seriousness as a ruler, he held court at Harlech and appointed the deft and brilliant Gruffydd Young as his chancellor.and John Hanmer as his Special Ambassador
1404
Glyndŵr’s first parliament in Machynlleth.
1404
The Welsh under Owain Glyndwr were heavily defeated by an English force here in June 1404: "The young earl of Warwick . . . won a victory over the Welsh at Campstone [Hill], not far from Abergavenny, which set a check to the designs of Glyn Dwr in the neighbourhood
1404
At Craig y Dorth, between Penclawdd and Monmouth, in 1404 following defeat at the battle at Campston Hill (nprn 402328), Owain Glyndwr's men overcame the English forces, chasing them relentlessly to the gates of Monmouth town. Source: J.E.Lloyd, Owain Glyndwr, 1931, pp.88,152.
The site of the battle is marked on early large scale OS maps as 'Craig-y-dorth (Site of Battle A.D.1404)'
1405
Franco-Welsh force under Owain Glyndwr attacked Haverfordwest, which resulted in the capture of the town but not the castle.
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