Owain Gwynedd Tywysogion


Owain Gwynedd

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-By the mid 12th century...

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-..the Welsh Princes were still

-fighting the old enemy, the Normans.

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-For 40 years, Gruffudd ap Cynan

-kept them out of the north.

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-He also managed to maintain peace.

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-By the end of Gruffudd's life,

-his son, Owain Gwynedd...

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-..was ready to extend his kingdom

-at the expense of the Normans.

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-A year before Gruffudd's death,

-in 1136...

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-..the Norman Lord of Ceredigion,

-Richard fitz Gilbert de Clare...

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-..was murdered in a forest

-near Abergavenny by Welsh soldiers.

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-The death of the powerful Norman...

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-..was a turning point

-in 12th century Welsh history...

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-..and marked the beginning

-of Owain Gwynedd's career.

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-PRINCES

-Owain Gwynedd

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-Richard de Clare's murder

-encouraged Owain Gwynedd...

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-..and his brother, Cadwaladr -

-the sons of Gruffudd ap Cynan...

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-..to attack and try to seize

-Ceredigion from the Normans.

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-For the next twenty years...

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-..Owain Gwynedd loosened

-the Normans' grip on Wales.

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-As a direct result, the Welsh

-Princes' power grew substantially.

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-The attack on Ceredigion was

-the brothers' first campaign.

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-Killing Richard de Clare

-was a key event.

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-His family were so powerful

-in south Wales.

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-Owain Gwynedd was the greatest

-of the Gwynedd Princes.

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-He was the main ruler in Gwynedd...

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-..from 1130 to his death in 1170.

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-During that 40-year period,

-Gwynedd's power base grew.

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-It was undoubtedly the most powerful

-of the Welsh principalities.

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-Owain Gwynedd was born in 1109.

-He fathered more than 20 children.

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-According to popular legend,

-his son, Madog, discovered America.

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-Owain's reign is remarkable

-for his battles with the Normans.

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-They had established themselves

-in England since the 1066 conquest.

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-Henry I was now the King.

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-During Owain Gwynedd's initial

-campaigns against the Normans...

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-..many of their castles were burnt.

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-They included

-Aberystwyth and Caerwedros.

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-The Normans were finally overcome

-by the Welsh...

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-..in the fierce Crug Mawr battle

-in Cardigan.

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-According to Brut Y Tywysogion...

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-..Owain and Cadwaladr

-returned to Gwynedd...

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-..'joyous,

-having secured a noble victory.'

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-This laid the foundations

-of Owain Gwynedd's successful reign.

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-The Normans were unaccustomed

-to being challenged.

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-Owain Gwynedd's early battles...

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-..dealt a heavy blow

-to their authority in Wales.

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-It was possibly the greatest blow

-to them throughout Britain...

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-..since they arrived

-in Hastings in 1066.

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-This revived the power

-of the Welsh Princes.

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-Owain Gwynedd was also motivated...

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-..by the ascension to the English

-throne of a new King.

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-When Henry I died, his nephew,

-Stephen was crowned King.

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-Their policies differed greatly.

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-Henry tried hard

-to maintain control over the Welsh.

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-He employed

-his supporters and relatives.

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-He penalized Welsh Princes

-and caused rifts amongst them.

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-Henry I was determined...

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-..that the Welsh Lords and Princes

-should acknowledge his superiority.

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-This was his main aim.

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-He made sure of this

-throughout his reign.

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-This can be seen in numerous ways.

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-He appointed

-his supporters and relatives...

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-..to the status of Marcher Lords.

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-He placed a Norman, Bishop Bernard,

-in St David's....

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-..and founded the King's

-Administrative Centre in Carmarthen.

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-This is how Carmarthen became...

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-..the centre of Norman and English

-governance in south Wales.

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-However many minor Welsh Lords...

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-..were perfectly happy

-with Henry's regime.

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-On the whole, they willingly

-accepted his superiority.

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-Henry I,

-in return for the cooperation...

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-..was prepared

-to leave them alone...

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-..as long as there was

-no threat from Wales.

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-When Henry I's nephew, Stephen,

-ascended to the throne...

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-..he had a serious family problem -

-Matilda, the King's daughter.

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-He had to defend his throne

-against Empress Matilda...

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-..who believed she should have

-succeeded her father.

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-Stephen was too preoccupied

-to worry about Wales.

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-The English Crown

-loosened its grip on Wales.

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-A new wave of Welsh Princes appeared

-by the end of Henry I's life...

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-..notably Owain, Gruffudd ap Cynan's

-son, from Gwynedd.

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-But although Owain

-was chosen to succeed his father...

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-..his younger brother, Cadwaladr,

-wasn't happy.

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-His ambition

-was a very real threat to Owain.

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-Cadwaladr's status was reflected

-in the many lands he owned.

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-Half of Ceredigion,

-Merioneth and Anglesey.

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-But in his quest for more land

-and his wish to oust his brother...

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-..Cadwaladr was exiled

-from all of his lands...

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-..by Owain Gwynedd's sons -

-Hywel and Cynan.

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-Cadwaladr fled to England

-and was protected by the King.

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-A Prince's family could be as much,

-if not more of a problem...

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-..than an external enemy, another

-Prince, or the King of England.

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-Keeping the peace within the family

-was very difficult.

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-As a result of these

-family problems, Owain knew...

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-..that the status of a medieval

-Welsh Prince was precarious.

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-He was quite prepared

-to deal ruthlessly...

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-..with relatives

-who might undermine his status.

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-He blinded and castrated his nephew,

-Cunedda...

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-..before he became

-too much of a threat.

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-A would-be Prince, without eyes or

-testicles, was no threat to anyone.

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-Anyone who reads

-medieval Welsh history...

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-..particularly in Norman times,

-will realize how bloody it was.

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-There's a reason why so many

-were castrated and blinded.

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-A disabled person had no right

-to rule or inherit land.

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-The Princes deliberately maimed

-their brothers.

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-They blinded them.

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-A blind brother

-couldn't inherit a kingdom.

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-But according to Hywel's Law, the

-brother's children could inherit.

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-So they took a further step.

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-The Princes

-castrated their brothers...

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-..as well as blinding them, ensuring

-that they'd never have children.

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-Artist Ifor Davies portrays

-every Prince in the series.

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-This is Owain Gwynedd.

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-He fought against the Normans.

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-I want to draw a line...

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-..which represents the Prince's

-shadow as he stands there.

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-The idea is to portray

-Owain Gwynedd as a distant memory.

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-Someone who moves around...

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-..waving a banner of the dragon

-in the air.

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-There's one line there.

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-Another line comes down,

-and the third comes across.

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-It's Z-shaped.

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-In the meantime, Owain wanted

-to extend his kingdom eastwards...

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-..towards Chester and Powys.

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-In Powys, he had to battle

-against his brother-in-law...

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-..Madog ap Maredudd.

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-Owain seized Cwmwd Ial, the land

-between Ruthin and Wrexham.

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-He built Tomen y Rhodwydd castle

-in Llandegla...

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-..to defend his new lands.

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-The ruins are amongst the best motte

-and bailey castles in north Wales.

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-It was built by Owain Gwynedd.

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-Iorwerth Goch - Iorwerth the Red -

-set fire to it eight years later.

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-But the earthwork

-was constructed so well...

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-..that King John was still

-able to use it 50 years later.

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-It's a great opportunity

-for archaeologists.

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-We can dig to see

-whether the historical story...

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-..matches the archaeological story

-we get from the earth.

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-The castle looks across

-north-east Clwyd.

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-Owain wanted to extend his kingdom

-to the outskirts of Chester.

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-From his hilltop castle, he could

-observe people in the valley below.

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-That's why he built it here.

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-Unfortunately for him,

-the Powys Princes disapproved.

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-They repelled him

-and burnt down his castle.

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-There was a constant conflict

-between Gwynedd and Powys.

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-Madog ap Maredudd,

-Owain's brother-in-law...

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-..and the last Prince

-of a united Powys...

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-..wanted the King of England's

-support to protect his kingdom...

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-..from Owain's ambition.

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-But Owain defeated

-his brother-in-law...

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-..in the ferocious battle

-of Coleshill, Flint.

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-Madog proved to be

-a difficult leader to beat.

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-It was only

-when Madog was in his grave...

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-..that Owain

-decided to attack Powys.

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-He wanted to seize the remainder

-of that kingdom too.

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-888

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-Stephen's marred reign

-as King of England...

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-..had paved the way

-for Owain to seize more land.

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-It was a different story

-when Henry II ascended the throne.

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-He was a far more powerful King

-than Stephen.

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-He was determined to restore

-the supremacy of the English Crown.

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-Henry wasn't just

-the King of England.

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-Before he came to the throne, he

-owned many lands on the continent...

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-..including Anjou and Aquitaine

-in France.

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-When Henry II became King of England

-in 1154, his authority extended...

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-..from the Cheviot Hills on the

-Scottish border, to the Pyrenees.

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-He was Lord of half of France,

-as well as England.

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-Compared with Henry's lands, Owain

-Gwynedd's kingdom seemed tiny...

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-..stretching

-from the Dee to the Dovey rivers.

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-But England's new King

-didn't dismiss Owain...

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-..as an insignificant Prince

-whom he could ignore.

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-Henry was determined to restore

-the rights of the English Crown...

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-..in Wales as well as England.

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-He mounted major military campaigns

-against Wales to achieve his goal.

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-As he assembled his army...

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-..he turned to a number

-of Welsh Lords for support.

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-They were Owain Gwynedd's enemies...

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-..especially his exiled

-brother - Cadwaladr...

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-..and brothers Madog ap Maredudd

-from Powys and Iorwerth Goch.

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-There's a tendency to view

-the ruling family of Powys...

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-..as traitors

-to the national cause.

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-They often sided

-with the King of England...

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-..against the rulers of Gwynedd.

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-But such an interpretation

-is rather anachronistic.

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-Of course, Powys's weakness

-was its geographical vulnerability.

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-The King of England

-or a Baron of the Marches...

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-..could easily lead an army

-into the Powys heartland.

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-Gwynedd had the geographical

-defences that Powys lacked.

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-That was the reason why Powys

-tended to side with England.

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-Madog ap Maredudd was a powerful

-figure in Powys at this time.

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-He was buried

-in the ancient church of Meifod.

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-This gravestone dates back

-to the 11th century.

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-The Scandinavian-Celtic engravings

-represent sin being vanquished.

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-Madog ap Maredudd

-was highly respected.

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-He appears in Mabinogi stories.

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-Poets pay tribute

-to his generosity and bravery.

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-To say that he, from time to time...

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-..and even more so, his followers...

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-..preferred to turn to England

-for support against Gwynedd...

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-..doesn't mean they were traitors.

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-They wanted

-to retain stability in Powys.

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-If you come from Powys,

-that's a reasonable standpoint.

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-Aided by Powys Princes...

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-..Henry attacked Gwynedd

-from two directions.

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-The King's army

-marched into Flintshire.

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-The English were overcome...

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-..in a battle against Owain's sons -

-Dafydd and Cynan...

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-..in Coleshill forest, near Flint.

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-They suffered great losses.

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-Henry managed to escape

-and he moved on to Rhuddlan.

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-There was another battle

-with Owain's army in that area.

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-It was a brave strategy.

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-Owain defended his new lands in

-north-east Wales...

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-..instead of retreating

-to Snowdonia...

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-..to seek solace in the mountains.

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-But Henry attacked a second time.

-This time, in Anglesey.

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-The naval campaign wasn't a success.

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-Actually, it was a disaster.

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-Many of the sailors were killed.

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-Gerald of Wales later offered

-a reason for the disaster.

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-Soldiers had desecrated

-churches in Anglesey.

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-The Saints sought their revenge.

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-Despite the failed naval attack...

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-..and the King's failure

-to defeat Owain in battle...

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-..Henry won the war.

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-The Prince was forced to kneel

-before the King...

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-..yield lands in north-east Wales...

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-..and return parts of Gwynedd

-to his brother, Cadwaladr.

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-The period of expansion was over,

-at least for the time being.

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-But Owain didn't give up

-his ambition...

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-..of strengthening his lineage, and

-becoming the Ruler of north Wales.

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-He took advantage

-of Powys's weakness...

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-..after Madog ap Maredudd's death.

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-That's when the days

-of a united Powys ended.

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-Madog's sons and nephews fought

-amongst each other over the lands.

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-Owain took advantage

-of the situation.

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-He seized some of Madog's land.

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-But Owain couldn't ignore

-Henry II's strength.

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-Owain, Rhys ap Gruffudd

-from Deheubarth - Lord Rhys...

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-..and Malcolm IV,

-King of Scotland...

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-..were summoned to the King's Palace

-in Woodstock, Oxford.

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-They were forced

-to swear allegiance to Henry.

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-But by October,

-Owain began to rebel again.

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-He challenged Henry...

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-..by opening discussions

-with Louis VII of France...

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-..Henry II's arch enemy.

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-Owain intended to form an alliance

-to oppose the King of England.

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-Louis, like Owain,

-was Henry II's enemy.

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-They shared a common interest.

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-Owain wanted the King of France's

-support against Henry.

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-It didn't amount to much

-on a practical level.

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-But it demonstrates Owain's vision.

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-He took advantage

-of a broader political conflict...

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-..in the hope of safeguarding

-his status in Wales.

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-Owain confirmed his status

-during a major rebellion in Wales.

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-Owain's nephew, Rhys ap Gruffudd

-or Lord Rhys, led the rebellion.

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-But it's obvious that Owain too

-challenged the King's authority.

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-Henry reacted with the greatest

-campaign ever against Wales.

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-Henry began preparing

-for war in November, 1164.

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-By the following summer,

-he'd raised thousands of pounds...

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-..to pay for hundreds of foot

-soldiers - many from the continent.

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-He secured a fleet of ships

-from Ireland...

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-..although they arrived

-too late for the campaign.

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-He had weapons,

-tonnes of corn and other foods.

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-The King intended to destroy

-the whole of Wales.

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-Owain was waiting for him

-here in Corwen.

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-His brother Cadwaladr was at his

-side. They were friends by now.

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-The Princes of Powys and Deheubarth

-were here to support Owain.

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-This broad support is significant.

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-It proves Owain was more

-than the Prince of Gwynedd.

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-He was a national leader.

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-On one level, the history

-of the Welsh Princes at this time...

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-..was a series of inner conflicts.

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-An attempt of one

-to stamp his authority on another.

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-But on more than one occasion...

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-..Welsh leaders were prepared

-to unite behind one leader...

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-..if they thought that he could

-win lands and privileges...

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-..from the Crown

-and the Marcher Lords.

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-The two armies converged

-on the Berwyn mountains...

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-..from Oswestry and Corwen.

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-The forest route

-taken by Henry II's army...

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-..is known to this day

-as 'English Road.'

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-Before Henry's army moved north...

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-..he'd managed to seize

-a number of hostages...

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-..including two of Owain Gwynedd's

-sons - Rhys and Cadwaladr.

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-But coming

-to the harsh Berwyn highlands...

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-..almost 2,000 feet above sea level

-proved disastrous, even in August.

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-Wales' geography favoured the Welsh.

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-Much of the land

-was covered in forests.

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-It was mountainous.

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-Leading an army into Wales

-took some doing.

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-Henry II faced a crisis

-in the Berwyn range.

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-He was almost defeated here.

0:22:480:22:51

-Caught in a raging storm,

-the army's food rations ran out.

0:22:530:22:59

-They had no choice but to retreat

-and head for the English plains.

0:23:000:23:05

-To Owain and the Welsh,

-this was a miraculous deliverance.

0:23:060:23:10

-God had answered their prayers.

-But the King was furious.

0:23:100:23:13

-He blinded and castrated

-Rhys and Cadwaladr, Owain's sons...

0:23:140:23:19

-..and many other hostages.

0:23:200:23:22

-This was done, it's claimed,

-by Henry himself.

0:23:230:23:26

-A few months after his Berwyn

-defeat, Henry sailed to France...

0:23:270:23:31

-..where he remained for four years.

0:23:310:23:34

-Despite the preparations

-and the expense...

0:23:340:23:37

-..he failed to conquer Owain.

0:23:370:23:40

-As a result, Henry didn't stage

-another campaign against the Welsh.

0:23:400:23:44

-888

0:23:560:23:58

-It's easy to view medieval society

-as uncivilized and cruel.

0:24:010:24:05

-But culture was also important -

-as it is today.

0:24:060:24:09

-The Court Poets

-flourished during this time.

0:24:110:24:14

-But it's important to remember that

-literature was a political weapon.

0:24:140:24:19

-One of the era's most popular and

-influential pieces of literature...

0:24:210:24:25

-..was a Latin book,

-'Historia Regum Britanniae'.

0:24:250:24:29

-The History of the British Kings.

0:24:290:24:31

-The author, Geoffrey of Monmouth...

0:24:320:24:34

-..recounted the heroic feats of the

-Brythonic forefathers of the Welsh.

0:24:350:24:39

-The book's hero was King Arthur.

0:24:390:24:42

-Perhaps it's no coincidence...

0:24:480:24:49

-..that Geoffrey

-located Arthur's court in Caerleon.

0:24:500:24:54

-The Welsh had recently seized

-the Roman town.

0:24:540:24:58

-The Britons' descendants.

0:24:590:25:01

-Through Arthur,

-we can summarize the book's theme.

0:25:020:25:07

-On the one hand, Arthur displays

-all of the qualities of the Britons.

0:25:080:25:12

-On the other hand,

-he must concede...

0:25:130:25:15

-..that in Arthur's day, the fateful

-battle against the English was lost.

0:25:160:25:20

-Arthur was killed. But Arthur,

-too, symbolizes our rebirth.

0:25:200:25:26

-Geoffrey of Monmouth portrayed him

-as Arthur of the Britons.

0:25:270:25:32

-That's why it's such

-an important book to the Welsh.

0:25:320:25:36

-Geoffrey turned Arthur

-into a international hero.

0:25:400:25:43

-His book shows how the Norman

-conquerors in Owain Gwynedd's day...

0:25:440:25:48

-..stole Welsh traditions, and

-adapted them to their own purposes.

0:25:490:25:53

-He wrote

-for an Anglo-Norman audience.

0:25:560:26:01

-To a lesser degree,

-they can be called Cambro-Norman.

0:26:010:26:06

-Possibly...

0:26:060:26:08

-..he wrote to gain the attention

-of these influential people.

0:26:080:26:13

-That was probably his intention.

0:26:130:26:15

-The idea of the Welsh

-being descendants of the Britons...

0:26:170:26:21

-..was a crucial element

-of their culture.

0:26:210:26:24

-The Britons once reigned

-over most of Britain.

0:26:240:26:28

-In Owain Gwynedd's day,

-people still believed Arthur...

0:26:280:26:32

-..King of the Britons,

-would rise again...

0:26:320:26:35

-..and oust the conquerors

-from the land.

0:26:350:26:38

-The poets perpetuated

-this powerful ideology.

0:26:470:26:50

-Many wrote verses

-about Owain Gwynedd.

0:26:510:26:53

-He was portrayed

-as Arthur's rightful successor...

0:26:530:26:56

-..and the old Brythonic

-and Welsh Kings.

0:26:560:26:59

-Owain Gwynedd is the first

-of the Gwynedd Princes...

0:27:090:27:13

-..commemorated

-in poetry and epic poems.

0:27:140:27:17

-Gwalchmai ap Meilir wrote about him.

0:27:180:27:21

-Gwalchmai's father, Meilir...

0:27:210:27:24

-..paid homage to Owain's father,

-Gruffudd ap Cynan.

0:27:250:27:28

-The greatest Poet of the Princes

-wrote a poem about him.

0:27:290:27:34

-Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr.

0:27:340:27:36

-"I praise a generous man,

-who leads glorious campaigns

0:27:380:27:41

-"An adventurer

-who leads his warriors

0:27:420:27:45

-"A wolf, who rises to the challenge"

0:27:450:27:48

-From reading these poems,

-comparing and contrasting them...

0:27:580:28:02

-..it's obvious that Owain's prowess

-and ability as a soldier...

0:28:030:28:08

-..impressed his contemporaries.

0:28:090:28:11

-That's the principal element

-in the poems.

0:28:110:28:14

-To a degree,

-Owain Gwynedd is seen as a hero...

0:28:150:28:20

-..just like the leaders

-of the Old North settlements.

0:28:210:28:25

-The heroic element

-matches the sixth century eulogies.

0:28:260:28:29

-It runs through

-the poems to Owain Gwynedd too.

0:28:300:28:33

-This period is considered the

-Golden Age of our early literature.

0:28:440:28:48

-The Gogynfeirdd, the court poets,

-reflect a growing confidence...

0:28:490:28:53

-..as the Welsh Princes

-succeeded against the Normans.

0:28:530:28:57

-The poets were important members

-of the Princes' courts.

0:28:580:29:02

-They praised the Princes.

0:29:020:29:05

-They confirmed their status

-as leaders of Wales.

0:29:060:29:10

-We can see how important they were

-by the gifts the Princes gave them.

0:29:120:29:16

-Cynddelw boasts about receiving

-a purple and red costume...

0:29:170:29:22

-..royal colours at that time...

0:29:230:29:25

-..which set the wearer apart

-from the rest.

0:29:260:29:31

-It's misleading,

-as we look back on these poets...

0:29:350:29:39

-..to assume

-because they received payment...

0:29:400:29:44

-..that the praise poems

-were a form of false flattery.

0:29:450:29:51

-We tend to see them

-as medieval arse lickers...

0:29:520:29:56

-..spouting what the Prince

-expected them to say.

0:29:560:30:02

-But it's important to remember that

-poets had a certain authority...

0:30:020:30:09

-..that allowed them to go as far

-as to criticize the Prince.

0:30:090:30:13

-They were important men...

0:30:140:30:16

-..who were aware of their influence

-and constantly emphasized this.

0:30:170:30:20

-Cynddelw often said to Owain

-Gwynedd or Madog ap Maredudd...

0:30:210:30:25

-"..You're no-one without me,

-and I'm no-one without you."

0:30:250:30:28

-It was a mutually dependent

-relationship.

0:30:290:30:32

-"Let my world be enhanced through

-you, defender of your soldiers

0:30:340:30:37

-"I hope that I enhance your world"

0:30:380:30:40

-This is when the legends,

-known today as The Mabinogi...

0:30:460:30:50

-..were first recorded.

0:30:500:30:52

-They were recorded

-in the 14th century...

0:30:520:30:56

-..in The White Book of Rhydderch

-and The Red Book of Hergest.

0:30:560:31:00

-When we consider

-Owain Gwynedd's era...

0:31:040:31:07

-..we must remember

-it was a very productive period...

0:31:080:31:11

-..for the composition

-of poetry and prose.

0:31:110:31:13

-Our medieval prose was preserved

-in later manuscripts.

0:31:140:31:19

-They include The Mabinogion...

0:31:200:31:22

-..the best known

-of our medieval legends.

0:31:230:31:26

-There were also translations

-and poetry.

0:31:260:31:29

-But even though

-the tales of The Mabinogion...

0:31:290:31:32

-..appear in manuscript form

-in 1350-1400...

0:31:330:31:36

-..it's obvious they belong

-to a much earlier period.

0:31:360:31:40

-The original scripts were written

-in the late 11th century.

0:31:400:31:46

-There are historical figures -

-for instance Caswallon.

0:31:540:31:58

-But Rhiannon and Bendigeidfran

-derive from Celtic mythology.

0:31:580:32:03

-The eleven legends are a strange

-mixture of history, mythology...

0:32:040:32:09

-..and traditional legends.

0:32:100:32:12

-Elements of legends

-found all over Europe.

0:32:120:32:17

-Another development

-in Europe at this time...

0:32:260:32:30

-..was the growth of towns

-as social units.

0:32:300:32:33

-Today, Trelleck, not far

-from Monmouth, is a quiet village.

0:32:350:32:40

-But this was one of Wales's

-largest towns in the Middle Ages.

0:32:410:32:44

-The development began during

-Owain Gwynedd's reign.

0:32:480:32:51

-Newport University archaeologists

-have been digging here.

0:32:510:32:55

-Archaeological work has been

-carried out here for years.

0:33:030:33:07

-They've concluded that an ironworks

-was founded here.

0:33:080:33:11

-That's why the town

-became one of the largest in Wales.

0:33:110:33:15

-This is the key to it all.

0:33:160:33:18

-The ironworks was founded when

-Trelleck fell into the hands...

0:33:190:33:23

-..of the de Clare family.

0:33:230:33:25

-This was an important family.

0:33:260:33:28

-They had land in Glamorgan,

-in England and Ireland.

0:33:290:33:35

-They were the Lords of Glamorgan.

-It was very important.

0:33:360:33:40

-I think the ironworks in Trelleck

-supplied iron...

0:33:410:33:46

-..to support the war in Glamorgan.

0:33:460:33:48

-That's how it worked.

0:33:490:33:51

-We're looking for a road

-that led in and out of Trelleck.

0:33:550:34:00

-We want to discover

-how often the road was rebuilt...

0:34:010:34:04

-..and what the road surface

-was made of.

0:34:040:34:06

-Nearby, there are ironworks.

0:34:070:34:10

-They used slack from the ironworks

-to surface the road...

0:34:110:34:14

-..so that carts

-could travel along it.

0:34:140:34:16

-People have been digging here

-for 18 years.

0:34:190:34:22

-They've found houses

-and the lay-out of the town.

0:34:230:34:27

-This year, they've worked on

-specific research questions.

0:34:280:34:31

-The road in and out of the village.

0:34:320:34:35

-There's a building at the far end

-that is similar to a brewery.

0:34:360:34:39

-It has a well nearby.

0:34:400:34:42

-We're looking for anything

-that was close to the water.

0:34:450:34:48

-We've found glass,

-medieval pottery and lots of stone.

0:34:480:34:53

-We think the rocks will form

-a semi-circle here.

0:34:540:34:58

-People tell us a stone staircase

-will lead up there.

0:34:580:35:03

-We haven't had a chance to look yet.

0:35:030:35:06

-OK, one piece coming out.

0:35:200:35:22

-Oh, it's marked, too. That's really

-nice. That's very nice indeed.

0:35:230:35:27

-As Trelleck grew...

0:35:290:35:30

-..Wales came under the influence

-of new European cultures...

0:35:300:35:34

-..especially in architecture.

0:35:340:35:36

-We know Gruffudd ap Cynan

-built churches in Gwynedd.

0:35:530:35:58

-There are more than twenty

-12th century churches on Anglesey...

0:35:580:36:04

-..in the Romanesque style.

0:36:040:36:06

-St Seiriol Church, Penmon, was built

-in Gruffudd ap Cynan's era.

0:36:070:36:13

-But it was completed

-during Owain Gwynedd's reign.

0:36:130:36:19

-They added the tower and transepts.

0:36:190:36:23

-Owain Gwynedd was prepared

-to broaden his horizons...

0:36:290:36:32

-..and emulate

-continental Romanesque architecture.

0:36:320:36:35

-He created a new visual culture

-in Wales.

0:36:360:36:39

-Romanesque is the word we use

-to describe a Roman-style building.

0:36:410:36:46

-It's as simple as that.

0:36:460:36:48

-We don't use the word

-to describe classical work.

0:36:490:36:52

-They recreated the Roman style

-in the 9th, 10th and 11th centuries.

0:36:530:36:59

-The main feature

-is the semi-circular arches.

0:37:030:37:08

-There's one on the south side

-here in Penmon.

0:37:080:37:12

-Usually, the arches rest on heavy,

-round, solid columns.

0:37:130:37:19

-It's a dignified style.

0:37:190:37:22

-But what I find rather strange,

-as you can see here...

0:37:220:37:28

-..there's a decorative element

-on the arches and columns.

0:37:290:37:34

-They're very lively -

-almost disorderly sometimes.

0:37:350:37:39

-It's like a combination of elements.

0:37:390:37:42

-The decorative arch in Aberffraw

-is also in the Romanesque style.

0:37:490:37:55

-It was built around the same time.

0:37:560:37:59

-It's important to remember...

0:38:010:38:03

-..that Aberffraw was part of the

-main court of the Gwynedd Princes.

0:38:030:38:08

-Owain Gwynedd's brother, Idwal,

-was an abbot in Penmon.

0:38:080:38:14

-It shows a connection between

-royalty and the Church in Penmon...

0:38:150:38:20

-..in the 12th century.

0:38:210:38:23

-There are smaller, less important

-churches on Anglesey...

0:38:390:38:44

-..that are influenced

-by the Romanesque style.

0:38:440:38:47

-The tiny Llanbabo Church

-is an example.

0:38:480:38:51

-It's quite possible that English

-or French stonemasons...

0:38:510:38:55

-..worked in Gwynedd in Owain's day.

0:38:560:38:58

-Either that, or new churches

-were built and decorated...

0:38:590:39:02

-..by Welsh people who had learnt

-their trade beyond Offa's Dyke.

0:39:030:39:06

-The continental connection proves...

0:39:110:39:13

-..that conflict

-wasn't the only element...

0:39:130:39:16

-..in the Welsh-Anglo-Norman

-relationship.

0:39:160:39:19

-In addition to fiercely

-opposing the conquerors...

0:39:190:39:22

-..Owain Gwynedd willingly borrowed

-from them culturally.

0:39:230:39:26

-888

0:39:360:39:38

-Following the disastrous failure

-of Henry II's campaigns...

0:39:410:39:44

-..on Anglesey and Berwyn...

0:39:440:39:46

-..Owain Gwynedd was undoubtedly

-the most powerful Welsh leader...

0:39:470:39:50

-..in the 12th century.

0:39:510:39:52

-His status was a foretaste

-of his descendants' power.

0:39:520:39:56

-Llywelyn the Great and Llywelyn

-the Last a century later.

0:39:570:40:01

-Owain was fully aware

-of his special status in later life.

0:40:090:40:13

-He's the first known leader

-to use the title, Prince of Wales...

0:40:140:40:18

-..or Prince of the Welsh.

0:40:190:40:21

-He used the title in correspondence

-with the King of France...

0:40:220:40:25

-..the Archbishop of Canterbury

-and the Pope.

0:40:250:40:28

-This may seem a backward step.

0:40:300:40:32

-Why relinquish the title King - Rex?

0:40:320:40:35

-The title 'King'

-had been devalued in Wales.

0:40:360:40:41

-Leaders of minor territories

-called themselves Kings.

0:40:410:40:47

-The title 'King'

-disappears from Wales.

0:40:490:40:53

-Chroniclers, charter writers

-chose an alternative title...

0:40:550:40:59

-..Princeps - Prince.

-The main leader.

0:41:000:41:03

-But curiously, although there were

-four or five kingdoms in Wales...

0:41:050:41:10

-..it's only in two

-that the title 'Princeps' was used.

0:41:100:41:14

-Mainly in Gwynedd, where Owain

-Gwynedd occasionally used it...

0:41:150:41:19

-..Princeps Nord Walia...

0:41:190:41:21

-..or even Princeps Walarium,

-Prince of the Welsh...

0:41:220:41:26

-..rather than the territorial,

-and more defiant, 'Prince of Wales'.

0:41:270:41:32

-But the term means

-he is the leader of the Welsh.

0:41:320:41:36

-The fact Gwynedd kept for itself

-the title, 'Prince'...

0:41:360:41:40

-..sets out Gwynedd as the exception

-by Llywelyn the Great's day...

0:41:410:41:46

-..in the early 13th century.

0:41:470:41:49

-That's part of the process

-of turning the Prince of Gwynedd...

0:41:490:41:54

-..into the Prince of Wales.

0:41:540:41:56

-It was the main theme of Welsh

-politics in the 13th century.

0:41:570:42:01

-In calling himself 'Prince'...

0:42:070:42:09

-..it's possible Owain

-wanted to defy the principle...

0:42:090:42:12

-..that every Welsh ruler should

-be loyal to the King of England.

0:42:120:42:16

-Owain, not Henry II,

-was now the ruler of the Welsh.

0:42:160:42:19

-Owain's decision to use a new title

-displays his willingness...

0:42:250:42:29

-..to use creative devices

-to strengthen his status.

0:42:290:42:33

-The same defiance was shown when

-he sought an alliance with France.

0:42:330:42:37

-Owain was the first Welsh Prince to

-turn to the continent for support.

0:42:380:42:42

-In his letters to Louis VII...

0:42:460:42:48

-..Owain said that divine

-intervention delivered Wales...

0:42:490:42:52

-..from Henry's oppression after

-his failures in Anglesey and Berwyn.

0:42:520:42:57

-Owain feared that Henry planned to

-lead another campaign against him.

0:42:570:43:03

-He pleaded with Louis

-to attack Henry.

0:43:040:43:07

-During this time,

-Owain had problems with the Pope...

0:43:070:43:11

-..and Thomas Beckett -

-the Archbishop of Canterbury.

0:43:110:43:14

-He ends one letter asking Louis to

-plead his case with the Churchmen.

0:43:150:43:20

-Owain had annoyed Beckett

-and the Pope for two reasons.

0:43:220:43:27

-Firstly, Owain refused to accept

-the Archbishop should decide...

0:43:280:43:34

-..who would be

-the new Bishop in Bangor.

0:43:340:43:37

-Bishop Meurig died in 1162.

0:43:380:43:41

-Owain was determined to appoint

-someone he found acceptable.

0:43:420:43:46

-But Beckett didn't accept that.

0:43:480:43:50

-As Archbishop of Canterbury,

-he felt he had authority over Wales.

0:43:510:43:55

-He believed he should have

-the last word.

0:43:550:43:57

-Beckett and the Pope were

-displeased by Owain's marriage...

0:44:030:44:08

-..to his cousin, Cristin,

-his mother's niece.

0:44:080:44:11

-The relationship was far too close,

-according to the Law of the Church.

0:44:120:44:16

-But Beckett raised the matter again.

0:44:170:44:20

-He insisted Owain

-had to separate from Cristin...

0:44:200:44:23

-..because the marriage

-was contrary to Church rule.

0:44:230:44:26

-The Pope supported Beckett.

0:44:260:44:28

-It's remarkable that Owain refused.

0:44:300:44:33

-Although Owain had fathered children

-by several wives...

0:44:380:44:41

-..his marriage was important to him.

0:44:410:44:43

-Unlike Beckett, the Pope,

-and Bishop Meurig earlier...

0:44:430:44:47

-..it's unlikely Owain considered

-marrying his cousin to be illegal.

0:44:480:44:52

-The Normans were harshly critical

-of Welsh marriage rules...

0:44:520:44:57

-..based on the Wives' Law,

-in Hywel Dda's Laws.

0:44:580:45:02

-Gerald of Wales criticized the Welsh

-for marrying their cousins.

0:45:020:45:06

-He based his argument on Norman Law,

-ecclesiastical law...

0:45:080:45:12

-..which stated people

-couldn't marry close relatives.

0:45:120:45:15

-They couldn't even marry

-a distant relative.

0:45:160:45:19

-The fact the Welsh married

-their cousins was an outrage.

0:45:190:45:24

-The Welsh were accused of incest.

0:45:240:45:28

-Owain refused to divorce Cristin...

0:45:350:45:37

-..contrary to the Pope and

-Archbishop of Canterbury's wishes.

0:45:370:45:41

-He was excommunicated shortly

-before his death, in November, 1170.

0:45:410:45:47

-However, Owain

-was given an honourable burial...

0:45:480:45:51

-..near the altar

-at Bangor Cathedral.

0:45:510:45:54

-The Bangor clerics were loyal

-to their Prince to the very end.

0:45:540:45:58

-Although Owain

-introduced some innovations...

0:46:080:46:11

-..primarily he was a warrior seeking

-to protect his family and lineage.

0:46:120:46:17

-In one sense, he failed.

0:46:180:46:20

-He couldn't ensure that only one

-successor would be acknowledged...

0:46:210:46:25

-..as a Prince who could secure

-the unity of Gwynedd.

0:46:260:46:29

-Owain chose his son Hywel ab Owain

-as his successor.

0:46:330:46:38

-He was a famous poet too.

0:46:390:46:41

-He was the son of an Irish woman,

-not Cristin, Owain's wife.

0:46:420:46:49

-But Cristin's sons, nor Cristin

-herself, weren't happy with this.

0:46:490:46:55

-Hywel was killed in a battle

-in Pentraeth, Anglesey...

0:46:560:47:01

-..soon after his father died

-at the end of 1170.

0:47:020:47:06

-There was a problem.

0:47:070:47:09

-There was no acknowledged

-method of choosing a successor.

0:47:090:47:16

-Many sons of Princes felt they had

-the right to succeed the father.

0:47:160:47:23

-A 30-year civil war

-or internal conflict...

0:47:310:47:35

-..broke out between Owain's sons

-and then the grandsons.

0:47:360:47:39

-They fought to be

-his successor in Gwynedd.

0:47:400:47:43

-It's only through the ascension

-of his grandson...

0:47:440:47:47

-..Llywelyn ap Iorwerth that

-this turbulent time came to an end.

0:47:470:47:52

-Owain laid down the firm foundation

-of Gwynedd as a principality.

0:48:020:48:05

-It led to the supremacy of Llywelyn

-the Great and Llywelyn the Last.

0:48:050:48:10

-But in the short-term...

0:48:100:48:12

-..the unity he and his father,

-Gruffudd ap Cynan, established...

0:48:120:48:16

-..was shattered.

0:48:160:48:17

-In the meantime...

0:48:180:48:19

-..there was only one united

-and powerful principality in Wales.

0:48:190:48:23

-Lord Rhys's Deheubarth.

0:48:230:48:25

-S4/C Subtitles by GWEAD

0:49:060:49:08

-.

0:49:090:49:10

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