The Battle of Llwchwr (or Battle of Gower) was a battle fought between Welsh and

Norman Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norm ...

forces between

Loughor Loughor () ( cy, Casllwchwr) is a Welsh town in the City and County of Swansea, within the Historic counties of Wales, historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales. It lies on the estuary of the River Loughor. The town has a community (Wales), ...

and Swansea on New Year's Day 1136.

Background

In 1135–1136 an opportunity arose for the Welsh to recover lands lost to the Marcher lords after Stephen de Blois had displaced his cousin

Matilda of England Empress Matilda ( 7 February 110210 September 1167), also known as the Empress Maude, was one of the claimants to the English throne during the civil war known as the Anarchy. The daughter of King Henry I of England, she moved to Germany as ...

from succeeding her father to the English throne the previous year, sparking the Anarchy in England.

The battle

A Welsh army was raised by the lord of

Brycheiniog Brycheiniog was an independent kingdom in South Wales in the Early Middle Ages. It often acted as a buffer state between England to the east and the south Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth to the west. It was conquered and pacified by the Norman ...

( Brecknockshire), Hywel ap Maredudd, containing men from Brycheiniog as well as men from Northern Gŵyr that despised the Norman rule in Southern Gŵyr. The Normans sallied out expecting to meet a small collection of Welsh raiding bands, however the scale of the Welsh army took them by surprise. The two armies met on the common of Carn Coch. In a violent melee, the Welsh army emerged victorious, the Normans having lost around 500 men.

Aftermath

The victory of the Welsh army inspired more rebellions around Wales including a battle near Kidwelly Castle fought by an army led by Gwenllian, Princess of Deheubarth and the

Battle of Crug Mawr The Battle of Crug Mawr ('Great Barrow'), sometimes referred to as the Battle of Cardigan, took place in September or October 1136, as part of a struggle between the Welsh and Normans for control of Ceredigion, West Wales. The battle was fou ...

External References

– I'R GAD: Welsh Medieval Battlefields Campaign. {{DEFAULTSORT:Battle of Llwchwr 1136 in Wales History of Glamorgan Llwchwr 1136 Llwchwr 1136

Llwchwr Llwchwr is a community and (from 2022) electoral ward in the central western part of the City and County of Swansea, Wales, UK. It lies west-north-west of Swansea city centre and is bounded by the communities of Gorseinon to the north, Penllerg ...