A national hero, or a divisive force for Wales? Which is the more appropriate description of Owain Glyndwr?

years before the legend of Glyndwr was born in order to welcome this view. Early

Wales enjoyed many years of independence, it can be dated back to the fifth century

AD that Celtic Wales began to form its own character gradually shaping its own

customs and traditions different to its Anglo-Saxon neighbours in England. Wales had

control of its own law, church, language and kings. With constant threat from the

Vikings it was their descendants, the Normans, who became the principal danger with

the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. It was a gradual process but eventually

much of the welsh land was also invaded. Taking away not just land but powers too,

inflicting English rule upon much of the country

It was the Norman invasion that led Britons to generate a sense of nationalism. Being

introduced to a completely different set customs and rules from France, Britons found

themselves a totally alien nation in their own territory. The grievances that were held

in Wales prior to the Glyndwr rebellion were held by the fact that when the Norman

conquest left Wales a country of two nations, the welsh and English. The Norman

conquest of Wales was a process that took two centuries and  by the end of the

fourteenth century had affected most of the country. The once private, independent  

Wales now consisted of uneven, unfair practices. By the time Glyndwr began his

rebellion the welsh almost certainly felt like second class citizens. Although under the

same parliament the laws that were set were set separately favouring the English.

Taxes were applied differently depending on your nationality and if a welsh person

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was to require weapons and alliance to the king had to be sworn.

 

The Wales of Glyndwr’s days were, a reflection of the Wales that stood for hundreds

of years before his birth and the complete aftermath of the conquest. The attitudes and

beliefs that the welsh held due to national identity still sat firmly despite the fact that

the fourteenth century was a relatively peaceful period when it came to social

tensionOn the contrary, the Welsh were a nation that shared a strong sense of

mythological value, hybrid together with their dedicated sense of nationalism they

were barely going to accept the idea of having to live in such a way in conquered

grounds. In the writings of Gerald of Wales in Journey through Wales/A Description

of Wales, written in 1191 and 1194 a picture is described of a nation that is separate of

its neighbouring country England, and that one day would recuperate its hold of the

British isles. The books, written especially to describing the people of Wales and the

Welsh way of life are an excellent source to help one appreciate the role that Owain

Glyndwr had been chosen for and had chosen himself. For example when describing

the welsh as fighters he remarks “they are passionately devoted to their freedom and

to the defence of their country; for these they fight, for these they suffer hardships.”

Over two hundred years later Owain Glyndwr himself was proclaiming the same

declaration as he stood in court just before the welsh rebellion began explaining

Wales to be“ 'A country of great pride, a country of poets, of musicians and brave

fighters. The country of Wales'

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Therefore, the freedom that the welsh so longingly wished for was one that  those of

Wales would most certainly fight for, and, all Wales was doing was waiting for a

leader to guide the way, a national hero that would almost certainly suffer hardships

to lead his cause. In the book National Redeemer, Elissa R. Henken, describes Owain

Glyndwr as a ‘National Redeemer ’, that is, a hero that never sleeps and that will one

day return to save its land from hardship and suffering and restore it to its original

glory. Henken states that many cultures have adopted their expected characters in this

way and, in order for this to happen that culture needs to consist of two types of

people. People that hold their own sense of national distinctness to all others and

people who believe to be exploited by other national groups. If this is the case, then

medieval Wales fit’s a description of one of these cultures splendidly. Observations

mentioned by Gerald of Wales leads one to discover that the Welsh were a nation that

held a strong sense of national pride, so in that respect the first group fits the bill.

If being conquered was not enough, there are many reasons as to why the people of

Wales fitted into the category of Henken’s second group; a nation that believed to be

being oppressed by another group. It was not just the fact that Laws and taxes were

being applied differently depending on you nationality in Wales. There were many

different ways of life being introduced to Wales that contradicted welsh origin, thus

oppressing their underlying society. Pre Anglo French conquest, Gerald of Wales

describes the welsh as a nation that “Pay no attention to commerce, shipping or

industry…do not live deep within towns, villages or castles, but leads a solitary

existence, deep in the woods.” The most vital conclusion one can conclude from this

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statement is that in the 12th century welsh society was almost certainly less stratified

than neighbouring England, and that the Welsh were a Nation dedicated to its

freedom.

If you compare Gerald’s description of the welsh to a century later after Edward I

Conquest you will begin to notice a completely different Wales. One that consisted of

settler towns, that encouraged English immigration and one that contained a number

of deeply intimidating, huge, well built castles surrounded by boroughs to be used by

English tradesmen. All in all the Wales Glyndwr had been born into was a society

that consisted of Henken’s theory; of a culture that was in need of a national

redeemer. A culture that’s values and ways of life were being completely oppressed.

Indeed, it was that oppression that started the great rebellion. English property laws to

be exact.

Owain Glyndwr was indisputably a man with strong English connections, seeing as he

fought for the English army, was trained in Law in England and most likely spoke

English and French, as well as Welsh. What is extremely interesting, however is the

fact that the Glyndwr family very much survived through the assistance of the

English. Belonging to the welsh elite, the Glyndwr family very much owed their

status of living to English laws. If, after the conquest, the family would have followed

Welsh law, the estate that they owned would have become extremely fragmented. It

would have been highly unlikely that by the time Owain Glyndwr was born, his

family would have represented the 5% upper ranks in welsh society.It was because

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of this that when Owain became involved with land disputes between himself and his

neighbour that he did not fight, he just argued his cause by taking his dispute to

parliament. In many respects Owain being so reliant upon the English leaves the

impression that he could hardly have been seen as the welsh redeemer myths spoke

off. However, Owain was a hero through circumstance. Granted, his intentions were

not to rebel at first, and his family did historically rely on the English, but when in in

parliamnt Owain experienced first hand the Welsh animosity towards the English,

turning him into the hero many had been waiting for.

It was not just the fact that English property laws had made a challenging dispute in

reference to his home that demonstrated welsh hostility towards the English. It was

also the fact that because in  an English parliament, Owain did not stand a chance

against his English neighbour, Lord Grey. The case got dismissed, and the words

‘what do we care for these barefoot Welsh Doggis?’, were spoken loud and clear. As

a result of the quarrel Owain gained support from fellow Welshmen and began to

revolt.

Like any revolt, support is needed in order for it to be sustained. This is where

Henken’ idea of a national redeemer, comes back into play. Although it can be argued

that aspects such as the welsh people were quite effortlessly fighting wars for England

before the rebellion and that Wales enjoyed a century of unbroken peace just before,

that the start of Owain’s rebellion was a diversion force for Wales, there are also other

aspects to look into. For example although there was no military upheaval during the

century , the Psychoanalyst theory of Franz Alexander, would suggest that there is no

such thing as peace. Periods that are peaceful are phases of preparation for a future

war, or in this case upheaval. In that respect his theory certainly fits with this time

period. Additionally, the century of peace before Owain’s uprising was one that

consisted of  many other tensions arousing. Economic and social upheaval from other

directions added to quandary. Wales was affected by the black death substantially

killing one third to one half of the population along with  a drought in trade leading to

peasants becoming even more poorer, along with the hundred year war beginning in

1337 resulting in regular heavy taxing.

 Indeed, difficult times provided a pathway for a ‘redeemer’ to walk through, in order

to salvage and redeem a nation. As R. R Davies described it ’Discontent and

disillusion among the population may have provided favourable conditions in which

dreamers and prophets, and ambitious leaders could set to work,’ which brings the

subject back to the matter of a time in desperate need for a national redeemer. Never

had the ideology of ancient folk law and myth of a promised man to return been so

appealing. An ideology that Owain Glyndwr, himself had believed and with so much

widespread support throughout Wales towards Owain, an ideology accepted by most

of the welsh people too. In short, the assertion that is worth noticing here is that the

rebellion was not one of personal grievances that grew, it the beginning of an

important reminder of a conquered land that needed a hero to recover it.

As previously mentioned, in order to rebel one must sustain support something in

which Owain Glyndwr certainly had. This is just another aspect proving Owain’s hero

status.  After the military successes in he and his rebels had won in 1401-1403, Owain

must have acknowledged the support he was winning as he seemingly gave himself

the title of Prince of Wales. Undoubtedly, it can be easy to round up support in order

to rebel but sustaining it is normally the problem. For a while, however, Owain

Glyndwr most certainly had the privilege, as his revolt lasted nine years. Owain’s

hero, status, however, would most probably been held by people who did not quite

have the same view of welsh independence as Owain himself. Whether Owain knew

all along that his plan was to completely overthrow the English army is uncertain.

What is certain though is that throughout the years by putting Wales on the

international map, gaining help from England’s arch enemy France, and plans to give

Wales an independent church, Owain almost certainly set upon these aims. His

supporters, however, were mostly uneducated and unable to understand such

aspirations. What they would have understood though, is that they thought that the

redeemer had come, at last. Although most would have been unable to read, ancient

myths and traditions were not always passed on through poems and such, they were

for the higher classes. Oral traditions were also very much used, so in short, the man

that had been talked off for so long had returned. 

 

Although eventually Owain Glyndwr’s luck ran out, what stands out about the magic

of Glyndwr is the support he gained not just on a national level, but over sea’s too.

Obviously, not everybody supported him but his leadership was not challenged

throughout Wales and although he may not have been completely understood he was

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certainly wanted. Wales was a nation that fought for pride and stood scorned by

England, a nation that fought for power. So when Owain Glyndwr, came to fight

cause for Wales, the nation took to the idea, like it was one that expected, and indeed

it was. The theory of  a national redeemer seems no more apparent than in the tale of

Owain Glyndwr and with his disappearance, after being defeated by the English, the

myth tradition lived on with theories that he never died, and one day when Wales is in

great need he will return.   

   

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