 |
|
| The Welsh people are descended from a race that have always known battle. From Iberian seafarers, who settled here over 2000 years BC. the Bronze Age Beaker Folk, who brought their skills of working metal and pottery making, to the tall blond Celts with their fair skin and blue eyes, who were driven northwards by the Romans. Harried by many invaders they held onto the mountains of Wales and Scotland, Brittany and Cornwall. They called themselves Cymry, the brotherhood. From this melting pot rich with legend and mysicism, was born Wales and the Welsh people. Through the centuries successive English monarchs tried to conquer Wales and subdue its people, which is why there are more castles per square mile here than any other country in the world. Battles and death their have been, and nearly every inch of Welsh soil is drenched in blood where the Cymry have fought to preserve their land and way of life. It is said that somewhere in the mountains of Snowdonia, in a mist shrouded cave, torchlight gleams on Arthur and his knights, as they wait for the day they will be called once more into battle, somewhere, the spirit of Owain Glyndwr, hand on sword, listens, and waits. In days long gone, these tales would have been told around the flickering firelight and sparks from the torchlight, with shadows dancing, the gleam of a sword and held breath as the bard told his tale, tales of courage, honour, blood and death. I am not a Bard, nor do you sit in a smokey dark cave with a sword in hand, but hopefully you will let your imagination travel, to this land I call home, and join those that used to be. |
| Firstly a little necessary history. Previous to the coming of the Romans, the whole of Britain was inhabited by tribes who probably had little knowledge of anything but their own piece of land. Names emerge from these primitive times, Cymbeline lived in the south east and was known as the "King of Britons", but we can be fairly sure those tribes who inhabited Wales at this time would never have admitted that he was any king of theirs. They would have been too busy surviving skirmishes with their neighbours to worry about such things as kings and princes. At this time Wales was divided into four parts which were later to become Bangor, St Asaph, St David`s and Llandaff. In the south and southeast a tribe called the Silures, Northward dwelt the Ordivices who were known has "Hammermen" from their habit of going into battle swinging flint headed hammers, Westwards lived the Demaete, and in the mountains of Snowdon and the isle of Anglesey many smaller tribes clung onto what land they had. Once the Romans began their takeover of Britain, Wales had its first hero whose battles were to become celebrated. |
| About eight years later, another general, Suetonius Paulinus, led the legions westwards in an effort to capture Anglesey. As well as being the sacred isle of the Druids, Anglesey was noted for the fact that it was where fugitives sought shelter. The tribesmen would never stand against armed forces in a pitched battle, being so lightly armed themselves, and as Suetonius and his men went further and further into Wales the tribes melted into the mountains of Snowdonia, a stronghold that could never be captured, and from where the Welsh could ambush the Legionaires. Suetonius led his troops as far as the Menai Straits. The calvary urged their horses into the water and sat astride their mounts as they made for the opposite shore. The Roman historian Tacitus describes what happened; " On the shore stood the forces of the enemy, a dense array of arms and men, with women dashing through the ranks like the furies, their dress was funeral, their hair dishevelled, and they carried torches in their hands. The Druids around the host, pouring forth dire imprecations with their hands uplifted towards the heavens, struck terror into the soldiers by the strangeness of the sight; insomuch that, as if their limbs were paralysed, they exposed their bodies to the weapons of the enemy without attempting to move.". However, in spite of their shock at this reception, the soldiers did not hesitate for long. Tacitus continues; " At the earnest exhortations of their general, and from their own mutual importunities that they would not be scared by a rabble of women and fanatics, they bore down upon them, smote all who opposed them to the earth, and wrapped them in the flames they had themselves kindled." The Romans killed everyone who stood in their way, including the women and unarmed Druids, blood would have stained the Menai crimson that day. Suetonius` men over ran the island, dragging forth cowering victims who tried to hide, tearing down the sacred groves where the Druids had carried out their rites. |
| The Romans |
| But as Anglesey shuddered beneath the feet of Rome, Suetonius recieved word that Bodicea, the Icini and the other rebel tribes had rebelled. Sutonius and his men withdrew to meet the new threat, and Wales was left to lick its wounds. And for another ten years, while the whole country recovered from the terrible bloodshed in which seventy thousand troops had been cut down by the southerly tribes, and Sutonius had replied by slaughtering more than that number of Britons, the country was quiet, and the Romans considered the wild land to the west conquered. |
 |
| Eventually the Welsh mines tempted Rome to make renewed efforts to conquer the Silures and the Ordovices, and between 74 AD. and 78 AD. the "conquest" of Wales was taken up by two generals, Julius Frontinus and his successor Julius Agricola. Fronttinus managed to completely subdue South Wales, though the northern tribes remained just as much a worry as ever. It was left to Agricola, who arrived on the scene in 78 AD. to tackle the nortorius Hammermen and the hordes who occupied the mountains of Snowdon, as well as the new population that had established itself on Anglesey since the slaughter of the Druids. The tribesmen fell before his advance and having nearly wiped out the fighting force of the tribe marched on to the coast. Utterly disheartened, Anglesey surrendered and the Conquest of Wales was complete. Agricola pressed on the next year consolidating his forts and garrisons and later proceeded into Scotland where he inflicted crushing defeats on the tribes there. No effort was made to colonise the "wild country", The tribes were left alone to carry on the old ways. National pride began to surface, and once again the Bards carried their golden words of Ancestral Gods, stories from the mists of time. The Bards promised a great leader would rise, and carry them and Wales once again to glory. Around the campfires, in the deepest woods, the spirit of Wales lived on. |
| Prince Caracatus, one of the sons of King Cunobelinus, fled westwards when his fathers kingdom was seized by the Roman General Aulus Plautius. In the south-east all was lost, but Caracatus rallied the Silures and Ordovices to battle the Romans, who were desperate to capture Wales for their mines. He led as a guerilla leader as the Romans tried to break into Wales. Eventually the might of Rome proved too strong and Caracatus was beaten. A hill near Shropshire named Cefn Caradoc, is believed to be where the battle took place, but others set the place as Cefn Carnedd, Llanidloes, or at Dolforwyn Castle near Newtown, but the site has never been positively identified.The Prince was not killed, but managed to escape, only to be betrayed by Queen Cartimandua, and handed over to the Romans, who eventually gave him a pardon. Meanwhile the tribesmen of Wales continued to remain undefeated. By 49 AD., most of southern England was under Roman rule, and had reached as far north as Trent, and west to the Dee and the Severn. Ostorius who defeated Caracatus tried to consolidate his army by building Caerleon-on-Usk, which he found almost impossible, his troops being constantly attacked by the Welsh tribes, who would appear from the trees and cause havoc amongst the workers and soldiers who found themselves unable to deal with guerilla tactics. Soon after Ostorius died. Although he had not died in battle, the feelings around the tribal campfires was triumphant, since it was obviously worry about the war that had killed him. And for several years after his death, no further action was taken to conquer Wales. |
| Slaughter of the Saints Early morning, the mist hanging low over the trees. The hills of Wales against the skyline, In the still morning air you can hear the jingle of harness, the neigh of a horse, and the clash of metal as the warriors arm themselves. Surrounded by his captains, Aethelfrith, King of Northumbria, scans the field, measuring the might of the opposing forces that stand beneath the Welsh banner which hang limply in the still air. The men of Powys have come to support their king, Selyf ap Cynan Garwyn; alongside are the men of eastern Gwynedd, led by Cadwal Crisban of Rhos, whilst around them are the banners and men of lesser princes.To the front strides Prince Brochfael Ysgythrog, grandfather of the young Selyf of Powys, a huge crowd of robed monks take up positions around him to lend their countrymen support. The air is now filled with the sound of deep throated chanting, as the monks raise their hands to the heavens. Aethelfriths face contorts with anger, "The monks fight against me as surly as if they bore arms" and gives the signal to attack, "Spare no-one who stands against me in this field". Helpless as the troops of Northumbria charge upon them, the monks are swept down like blades of grass beneath a scythe, their prayers still on their lips, empty hands uplifted in prayer to the heavens. Twelve hundred were cut down in the "slaughter of the saints", only fifty monks managed to escape before the two armies of Wales and Northumbria was joined, and the battle began in earnest. The horses staggered foot deep in churned up earth and blood, while the flower of Welsh chivalry fell. By evening Selyf and Cadwal lay dead, their sightless eyes and those of their men seeming to look towards the hills of the country they had given their life for. Selyf was the first Welsh king to lay down his life against the English, and as word of his death spread thoughout Wales, the bards told the tale of the battle that would keep those fallen heroes remembered, and of the cruel slaughter of twelve hundred men of God as they prayed for their countrymen. |
| Misc |
 |
| Below are a few short mentions of battles that were fought during the many years of conflict for the Welsh homeland. |
| Battle(Powys) Near Brecon, Takes its name from a battle fought here in 1093 in which Bleddyn ap Maenyrch, the last of the Brychan princes was killed by Bernard de Newmarch. In the area is Cwm Gwyr y Gad-Vale of the battle men. Bwlch y Gwyddel(Gwynedd) This name translates into the Pass of the Irishmen and is near Snowdon. According to tradition it was once the scene of a battle between the Britons and the invading Irish. It would seem that the Irish won the day and settled in Nant Gwynant. Cefn Digall(Powys) A great battle took place here on Hir Mynedd in the seventh century between Cadwallawn and Edwin, King of Northumbria. There is a circular encampment on the summit of the hill called the Brecon Ring, which was probably involved in the conflict. It was said that after this great battle the Severn was coloured with blood from its source to the estuary. Cerrig y Gwyddyl(Gwynedd) This site is on Anglesey and was where Cadwallon Lawhir(The Long-handed) defeated the Irish and drove them out of North Wales. Devauden(Gwent) Is derived from Ffawgdden, meaning beech tree. A battle took place here in 743 A.D. when the Welsh were slaughtered by the Saxon kings Ethelbald of Mercia and Cuthred of Wessex. Garth Maelwg(Mid Glamorgan) Is the location of a battle that took place in 720 A.D. between Arfael and the Saxons. Three huge cairns are supposed to mark the burial place of those who fell. Rhiw Saeson(Saxons Slope) is possibly the site of the battle. Arthfael was killed fighting the Saxons near Cardiff and he was buried at Roath. Hirwaun(Mid Glamorgan) Is derived from Hirwaun Wrgan, which means Gwrgan`s long meadow. It was here at the end of the eleventh century, that a battle was fought between Iestyn ap Gwrgan, with his Norman allies, against the forces of Rhys ap Tewdwr, Prince of Dynevor. Rhys fled from the battle and was captured and beheaded at Penrhys in the Rhondda Valley, where a monastery was later built over his burial site. There are several cairns in the Hirwaun area that are reputed to be monuments to this great battle and some name refer to this event, for example, Maes y Gwaed (The Field of Blood), Carn y Frwydr (Battle Cairn) and Gadlys (The Hall of Battle). Llantilio Crossenny(Gwent) This is where the Welsh king Iddon, son of Ynyr Gwent fought the Saxons in the late sixth century. The battle was not going in Iddon`s favour until St Teilo prayed for victory and the Welsh won the day. A cross was put up to mark the spot where Teilo prayed. Llechryd(Dyfed) Is the scene of a battle in 1067 between Rhys ap Tewdwr and the three sons of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, in which the sons were defeated and to of them slain on the battleground. Maes Mawr y Gad(Gwynedd) Anglesey. This is where the Druids were massacred by the Romans in the first century A.D. See above.The name means `Field of the Great Army.` Suetonius arrived in North Wales in 60 A.D. amnd constructed some flat bottomed boats to carry his legionaires across the waters of the Menai Straits. His calvary crossed on the backs of their horses, The crossing was probably somewhere between Aber and Beaumaris. The Druids stood with their white robes and long beards, solemnly chanting and uttering curses on the Roiman invaders. The sight of the Druids struck terror into the superstitious soldiers, but were coaxed into battle by their general. The soldiers surged forward and descended on the Druids in overwhelming numbers. Men, women and children were all slaughtered. The sacred groves were felled and burned, and the island of Mona, the sanctuary of the Druids and the seat of the Arcg Druid, was left ruined and desolate. Mynydd y Gaer(Mid Glamorgan) Above Cwm Ogwr Fach is a fascinating hill where numerous encampments and burial mounds can be seen. Their are legends of ancient battles taking place on this hill and where thew trig point now stands is known as Mynwent y Milwyr (The Soldiers Burial Place). Mynydd Llangattock(Powys) Two huge cairns mark the location of a great battle which was fought here in 728 A.D. between Ethelbald the Mercian and the men of Morgannwg, led by Rhoderic Molwynog. The remains of a warrior were discovered in one of the cairns. The waters of the Usk were to prove fatal for the men of Ethelbald, while they were trying to make their escape they were swept away and drowned. Twyn y Beddau(Powys) A large mound can be seen about two miles from Hay on Wye under the shadow of the Black Mountains. It is said to mark the spot where a huge battle was once fought. `The carnage was so great that the stream, the Dulas, ran red with blood for three whole days. |