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Owain Glyndŵr

Owain Glyndŵr
Prince of Wales
Lord of Glyndyfrdwy and of Cynllaith Owain
Owain Glyndwr Siegel 2.jpg
Prince of Wales
Reign 1404 – c. 1415
Predecessor Owain Lawgoch
Hereditary Prince of Powys Fadog
Predecessor Gruffydd Fychan II
Successor Maredudd ab Owain Glyndŵr
Born c. 1359
Died c. 1415
Spouse Margaret Hanmer
Issue
…among others
Gruffudd ab Owain Glyndŵr
Maredudd ab Owain Glyndŵr
Alys ferch Owain Glyndŵr
Catrin ferch Owain Glyndŵr
Ieuan ab Owain Glyndŵr
House Mathrafal
Father Gruffydd Fychan II
Mother Elen ferch Tomas ap Llywelyn
Religion Roman Catholicism

Owain Glyndŵr (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈoʊain ɡlɨ̞nˈduːr]; c. 1359 – c. 1415), or Owain Glyn Dŵr, was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales (Tywysog Cymru). He instigated a fierce and long-running but ultimately unsuccessful revolt against the English rule of Wales.

Glyndŵr was a descendant of the Princes of Powys through his father Gruffydd Fychan II, hereditary Tywysog of Powys Fadog and Lord of Glyndyfrdwy, and of those of Deheubarth through his mother Elen ferch Tomas ap Llywelyn. On 16 September 1400, Glyndŵr instigated the Welsh Revolt against the rule of Henry IV of England. The uprising was initially very successful and rapidly gained control of large areas of Wales, but it suffered from key weaknesses – particularly a lack of artillery, which made capturing defended fortresses difficult, and of ships, which made their coastlands vulnerable. The uprising was eventually suppressed by the superior resources of the English. Glyndŵr was driven from his last strongholds in 1409, but he avoided capture and the last documented sighting of him was in 1412. He twice ignored offers of a pardon from his military nemesis, the new king Henry V of England, and despite the large rewards offered, Glyndŵr was never betrayed to the English. His death was recorded by a former follower in the year 1415.

Glyndŵr is portrayed in William Shakespeare's play Henry IV, Part 1 (anglicised as Owen Glendower) as a wild and exotic man ruled by magic and emotion.

With his death Owain acquired a mythical status along with Cadwaladr, Cynan and Arthur as the hero awaiting the call to return and liberate his people. In the late 19th century the Cymru Fydd movement recreated him as the father of Welsh nationalism.


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