Sir Gruffudd Vychan ( 1395 – 1447), also spelt in English sources as Griffith Vaughan, was a Welsh knight who supported the rebellion of Prince
Owain Glyndŵr
Owain ap Gruffydd (), commonly known as Owain Glyndŵr or Glyn Dŵr (, anglicised as Owen Glendower), was a Welsh leader, soldier and military commander who led a 15 year long Welsh War of Independence with the aim of ending English rule in Wa ...
against the English, and captured the
Lollard
Lollardy, also known as Lollardism or the Lollard movement, was a proto-Protestant Christian religious movement that existed from the mid-14th century until the 16th-century English Reformation. It was initially led by John Wycliffe, a Catholic ...
John Oldcastle
Sir John Oldcastle (died 14 December 1417) was an English Lollard leader. Being a friend of Henry V, he long escaped prosecution for heresy. When convicted, he escaped from the Tower of London and then led a rebellion against the King. Eventual ...
, who was later immortalized by Shakespeare as ''
John Falstaff
Sir John Falstaff is a fictional character who appears in three plays by William Shakespeare and is eulogised in a fourth. His significance as a fully developed character is primarily formed in the plays ''Henry IV, Part 1'' and ''Henry IV, Par ...
''.
He was finally executed after the murder of Sir Christopher Talbot, son of
John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Second E ...
.
Family
Lord of
Burgedin,
Treflydan,
Garth
Garth may refer to:
Places
* Garth, Alberta, Canada
* Garth, Bridgend, a village in south Wales
:* Garth railway station (Bridgend)
* Garth, Ceredigion, small village in Wales
* Garth, Powys, a village in mid Wales
:* Garth railway station (Powy ...
and
Gearfawr, Vychan was the second son of Gruffudd ap Ieuan ap Madoc ap Wenwys by Maud, daughter of Griffri ap Rhys Fongam.
[
The Gwenwys clan traced its ancestry from King Brochwel Ysgithrog through descent from ]Elisedd ap Cyngen
Elisedd ap Cyngen ap Cadell
Biography
He was a son of Cyngen ap Cadell the last King of Powys of the Gwertherion ( Vortigern) Dynasty who claimed descent through Brochwel Ysgithrog. Cyngen died in Rome in 855 having fled the aggression of Gwyned ...
, the eldest son of the last King of Powys
Prior to the Conquest of Wales, completed in 1282, Wales consisted of a number of independent kingdoms, the most important being Gwynedd, Powys, Deheubarth (originally Ceredigion, Seisyllwg and Dyfed) and Morgannwg (Glywysing and Gwent). Bounda ...
from whom they inherited their lands and titles.[ Their principal houses lay in the parish of Guilsfield, in the ]commote
A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...
of Ystrad Marchell
Ystrad Marchell sometimes Strad Marchell ( en, Vale of Marchell) was a medieval commote (''cwmwd'') in the cantref of Ystlyg in the Kingdom of Powys. It roughly coincides with the parish of Welshpool.
It lay at the east of the kingdom, bordering ...
. The name is variously spelt Gruffudd Vychan, Griffith Vaughan, or Gruffydd Fychan: Gruffudd Fychan is the standard orthography in Welsh.
Gruffudd married twice, first to Margaret (Margred), daughter of Madoc of Hope (or Hob).[ They had one two sons, David Lloyd and Cadwaladr. His second wife was also known as Margaret (Margred), daughter of Griffith ap Jenkin Broughten, by whom he had a third son, Reinallt.
]
The Glyndŵr rebellion
Griffith ap Ieuan ap Madoc ap Gwenwys was appointed Seneschal
The word ''seneschal'' () can have several different meanings, all of which reflect certain types of supervising or administering in a historic context. Most commonly, a seneschal was a senior position filled by a court appointment within a royal, ...
of Caus Castle by Sir Hugh Stafford, Lord of Caus to defend it against the rebellion of Prince Owain Glyndŵr
Owain ap Gruffydd (), commonly known as Owain Glyndŵr or Glyn Dŵr (, anglicised as Owen Glendower), was a Welsh leader, soldier and military commander who led a 15 year long Welsh War of Independence with the aim of ending English rule in Wa ...
in the 15th century.[ Following calls from Welsh graduates in law and students in the University of Oxford he and his two sons, Ieuan and Griffith, changed sides and supported Glyndŵr. As a result, his family lands and role at Caus Castle were forfeited in 1404.
]
Capture of Sir John Oldcastle
The family honours were re-affirmed as a result of his role in the capture of the renegade Lord Cobham in November 1417. The reward for his capture was awarded to the Lord of Powys, but he died before receiving it, though a portion was paid to his widow in 1422.[ The principal agents in the capture were four of the tenants of the lord of Powys, Ieuan and Griffith, sons of Gruffudd ap Ieuan, being two of them.
By a charter dated at Mathrafal, 6 July 1419, Sir Edward de Cherleton pardoned the murders and felonies committed by them on the occasion.][ At Shrewsbury, 4 March 1420, in the presence of ]Henry V Henry V may refer to:
People
* Henry V, Duke of Bavaria (died 1026)
* Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor (1081/86–1125)
* Henry V, Duke of Carinthia (died 1161)
* Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine (c. 1173–1227)
* Henry V, Count of Luxembourg (121 ...
and of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester
Humphrey of Lancaster, Duke of Gloucester (3 October 139023 February 1447) was an English prince, soldier, and literary patron. He was (as he styled himself) "son, brother and uncle of kings", being the fourth and youngest son of Henry IV of E ...
, the four acknowledged satisfaction by the Lord of Powys for their portion of the reward for the capture of Oldcastle.[ On 10 March 1420, the lordship of Broniarth was constituted a mesne manor in favour of Ieuan and Sir Griffith Vaughan, empowering the brothers to hold tri-weekly courts.
]
A knight banneret at Agincourt?
There is a persistent tradition that Gruffudd Vychan was in the band of Welshmen who are said to have saved the life of King Henry V
Henry V (16 September 1386 – 31 August 1422), also called Henry of Monmouth, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1413 until his death in 1422. Despite his relatively short reign, Henry's outstanding military successes in the ...
when he rushed to rescue his brother, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester
Humphrey of Lancaster, Duke of Gloucester (3 October 139023 February 1447) was an English prince, soldier, and literary patron. He was (as he styled himself) "son, brother and uncle of kings", being the fourth and youngest son of Henry IV of E ...
, at the Battle of Agincourt
The Battle of Agincourt ( ; french: Azincourt ) was an English victory in the Hundred Years' War. It took place on 25 October 1415 (Saint Crispin's Day) near Azincourt, in northern France. The unexpected English victory against the numerica ...
, 1415.[ The belief grew that he, like Dafydd Gam, Roger Vaughan, and others, were knighted on the field.][ These knights are not recorded in Shaw's Knights of England. If Gruffudd Vychan was of age he could well have been at Agincourt, for two of his territorial lords, ]John Grey, 1st Earl of Tankerville
John Grey, 1st Earl of Tankerville ''jure uxoris'' 6th Lord of Powys (after 1384 – 22 March 1421), KG, was an English peer who served with distinction in the Hundred Years' War between England and France under King Henry V.
Origins
John Grey w ...
, son-in-law of Sir Edward de Cherleton, Lord of Powis, and Sir Hugh Stafford, Lord of Caus, were in that campaign, in the retinue of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester.[ The view that he was the "Griffin Fordet" of a French chronicle of Agincourt must be rejected.
A Welsh poet, in a cywydd, wrote that Gruffudd Vaughan was made an esquire in London and knighted in a town beyond Rouen in France. It may be gathered that his promotion was largely due to the patronage of Duke Humphrey after Sir John Grey fell at the ]Battle of Baugé
The Battle of Baugé, fought between the English and a Franco- Scots army on 22 March 1421 at Baugé, France, east of Angers, was a major defeat for the English in the Hundred Years' War. The English army was led by the king's brother Thomas, ...
in March 1421, and Sir Gruffydd arranged for the body to be returned to Welshpool
Welshpool ( cy, Y Trallwng) is a market town and community in Powys, Wales, historically in the county of Montgomeryshire. The town is from the Wales–England border and low-lying on the River Severn; its Welsh language name ''Y Trallwng'' m ...
for an impressive funeral.[
He was styled knight in the poem and was probably knighted by Henry VI after the death of Henry V in 1422 in recognition of his valour as a leading captain in the King's service at home in Powis, in England and the field in France – maybe after ]Pontoise
Pontoise () is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris, in the " new town" of Cergy-Pontoise.
Administration
Pontoise is the official ''préfecture'' (capital) of the Val-d'Oise ''dépa ...
fell in 1441.[
]
Later life and execution
This was still a time when any discussion of Welsh independence or pretensions of royal title were extremely dangerous occupations.
However, by virtue of his ancient pedigree and local connections as time went on his rise in stature became increasingly apparent and probably fearing a "second Glyndŵr" the local English lord allowed him no quarter.
On 10 August 1443, at Caus Castle Sir Gruffydd pierced with a lance the heart of his master, Sir Christopher Talbot (1419–1443), son of John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Second E ...
, and the champion tilter of England.[ It is not known whether the blow was struck by accident or design. He was outlawed and a reward of 500 marks (£333 6s 8d) offered for his capture, as the death of the young knight was not regarded as an accident.][ For the next four years, Sir Gruffydd remained at large as an outlaw.
A year later on 18 July 1444, his estates and those of his eldest son, Reynold, and nephew David Lloyd, were made over to ]John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley
John Sutton VI, 1st Baron Dudley, KG, (25 December 1400 – 30 September 1487) was an English nobleman, a diplomat, and councillor of King Henry VI. He fought in several battles during the Hundred Years War and the Wars of the Roses, as well as ...
. In April 1447, a general pardon was issued for those involved in the affair, but Sir Gruffydd was excluded from it.[
Vychan was summarily executed by ]Henry Grey, 2nd Earl of Tankerville
Henry Grey, 2nd Earl of Tankerville, 7th Lord of Powys (1418/1419 – 13 January 1449/1450) was an English peer. He was the son of John Grey, 1st Earl of Tankerville and his wife Joan Charleton, co-heiress and 6th Lady of Powys.
Life
He became the ...
at Powis Castle
Powis Castle ( cy, Castell Powys) is a British medieval castle, fortress and grand country house near Welshpool, in Powys. The seat of the Herbert family, Earls of Powis, the castle is known for its formal gardens and for its interiors, the form ...
in 1447, in violation of a safe conduct given.[ It is not known whether Vychan was suspected of ]Yorkist
The House of York was a cadet branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet. Three of its members became kings of England in the late 15th century. The House of York descended in the male line from Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, t ...
sympathies, whether it was in retribution for the death of Sir Christopher Talbot at Sir Gruffydd's hand, or whether he wished to eliminate Vychan's claim to Powis.
The Welsh poets were infuriated by Grey's treachery, and the indignant elegies of Lewis Glyn Cothi
Lewys Glyn Cothi (c. 1420 – 1490), also known as Llywelyn y Glyn, was a prominent 15th century Welsh poet who composed numerous poems in the Welsh language. He is one of the most important representatives of the ''Beirdd yr Uchelwyr'' ("Poets of ...
and Dafydd Llwyd ap Llywelyn ap Gruffudd ( Dafydd Llwyd o Fathafarn) have survived. In the second of these Dafydd Llwyd o Fathafarn expresses the deep sense of anger and loss in Powys
Powys (; ) is a Local government in Wales#Principal areas, county and Preserved counties of Wales, preserved county in Wales. It is named after the Kingdom of Powys which was a Welsh succession of states, successor state, petty kingdom and princi ...
at the taking of his life:
Descendants
Gruffudd was succeeded by his children David Lloyd (who inherited Garth), Cadwaladr, Reinallt (Reginald) Vychan, Gwenhwyvar, Catherine, Anne and Margaret.[ Reinallt and David Lloyd received the royal pardon 21 December 1448.
On David Lloyd's death in 1497 his wide estates were divided between the children of his two marriages, who founded numerous families of Montgomeryshire Lloyds. David Lloyd's son, Humphr(e)y Lloyd, became the first ]High Sheriff of Montgomeryshire The office of High Sheriff of Montgomeryshire was established in 1541 since then a High Sheriff was appointed annually until 1974 when the office was transformed into that of High Sheriff of Powys as part of the creation of Powys from the amalgama ...
in 1541.
Reinallt, or Reginald, was the ancestor of the Wynnes and Myttons of Garth
Garth may refer to:
Places
* Garth, Alberta, Canada
* Garth, Bridgend, a village in south Wales
:* Garth railway station (Bridgend)
* Garth, Ceredigion, small village in Wales
* Garth, Powys, a village in mid Wales
:* Garth railway station (Powy ...
and the Derwes family.[
]
References
Sources
* Shaw, William A. ''The Knights of England: A Complete Record from the Earliest Time'' 2v. London: Central Chancery, 1906 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1970)
* Williams, G. (1998). ''Sir Gruffydd Fychan (?–1447)'' Montgomeryshire Collections Vol 86, pp. 17–28
External links
The proclamation offering a reward for the capture of Sir John Oldcastle, held at The National Archives
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vychan, Gruffudd
1390s births
1447 deaths
Place of birth unknown
Welsh soldiers
People from Powys
Welsh rebels
Welsh knights
Knights banneret of England
Executed Welsh people