Wales and its History

The sweeping victory for the Welsh at the battle of Crug Mawr was a historic moment in Welsh and British History, however as is normal with Welsh history, most people know nothing of this battle. It not only put the victor, Owain Gwynedd in a position to rule Wales free of English domination, it also marked the arrival on the battlefields of Europe of a new, deadly weapon. The longbow. A Welsh revolt against Norman rule had begun in south Wales, where on 1 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. Fought just east of the town of Ceredigion (Car...

Edward the Confessor  Edward the Confessor, enthroned, opening scene of the Bayeux Tapestry  8 June 1042  January 1066 DIDN’T lead an army into Wales himself.  The first 10 years were taken up by the Welsh killing eachother and fighting vikings, after that we saw Gruffudd ap Llywelyn fighting to unite Wales and taking the fight into England before Harold Godwenson and his brother took the fight to him.  1041   Gruffydd defeated Hywel of Dyfed at the Battle of Pencader 1044  Hywel returned with a Danish fleet to try to reclaim his kingdom, but Gruffydd defeated and killed him. 1047  Gruffydd ap Rhyderch of Gwent expelled Gruffydd ap Llywelyn from Deheubarth. 1052 Gruffydd ap Llywelyn  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 Gruffydd ap Rhydderch and recaptured Deheubarth. He then allied himself with Aelgar of Mercia and ...