Sir Stephen Bauzan (born after 1210 – died 1257) was an English knight. Stephen descended from a prominent family originating in Devon/Cornwall.

Move to Wales

Bauzan first came to South Wales in the service of

Gilbert Marshal, 4th Earl of Pembroke Gilbert Marshal, 4th Earl of Pembroke (c. 1207 - 27 June 1241) was the third son of William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke and Countess Isabel, the daughter of Richard son of Gilbert, earl of Striguil. Early life By calculating back from the ...

. In 1243,

Richard de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford Richard de Clare, 5th Earl of Hertford, 6th Earl of Gloucester, 2nd Lord of Glamorgan, 8th Lord of Clare (4 August 1222 – 14 July 1262) was the son of Gilbert de Clare, 4th Earl of Hertford and Isabel Marshal.History of Tewkesbury by James Be ...

(recently appointed feudal lord of Glamorgan, and the Earl of Clare) made Bauzan Sheriff of the County. This was possibly a plot to reduce the influence of the noble Richard Siward, Lord of Talyfan and Llanbleddian (who had been appointed 'keeper' of Glamorgan by

Gilbert de Clare, 5th Earl of Hertford Gilbert de Clare, 4th Earl of Hertford, 5th Earl of Gloucester, 1st Lord of Glamorgan, 7th Lord of Clare (1180 – 25 October 1230) was the son of Richard de Clare, 3rd Earl of Hertford (c. 1153–1217), from whom he inherited the Clare estate ...

- Richard's father). Richard charged Siward with treason for breaking a truce. In order to settle the matter, Bauzan challenged Siward to a Trial by Combat. Siward refused. After refusing the Trial, Siward was declared an outlaw by Richard, and all of his lands were confiscated. Richard granted to Bauzan the lands of Breigan and

Llansannor Llansannor ( cy, Llansanwyr) is a small hamlet in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom. It has a population of roughly 200 people. It contains a parish church, a pub (the City Inn, now closed), a primary school and a village hall, which ha ...

, which he had recently stripped from Siward.

Conflict with the Welsh and the battle of Cadfan

Following his recent land gains, Bauzan began to align himself with the king's son, Prince

Edward Edward is an English given name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sa ...

. Stephen was made Seneschal of

Gascony Gascony (; french: Gascogne ; oc, Gasconha ; eu, Gaskoinia) was a province of the southwestern Kingdom of France that succeeded the Duchy of Gascony (602–1453). From the 17th century until the French Revolution (1789–1799), it was part o ...

in 1255 having fallen further into royal favour. Edward had recently been appointed

Earl of Chester The Earldom of Chester was one of the most powerful earldoms in medieval England, extending principally over the counties of Cheshire and Flintshire. Since 1301 the title has generally been granted to heirs apparent to the English throne, and a ...

, and was starting to put pressure on the

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

prince

Llywelyn ap Gruffudd Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (c. 1223 – 11 December 1282), sometimes written as Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, also known as Llywelyn the Last ( cy, Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf, lit=Llywelyn, Our Last Leader), was the native Prince of Wales ( la, Princeps Wall ...

. Llywelyn responded to the English threat by stripping the English supporter Rhys Fychan of his lands in Southwestern Wales. Stephen Bauzan was sent with a large army to restore Rhys Fychan. However the land taken from Rhys had been given to Rhys's uncles Maredudd ap Rhys and Maredudd ap Owain, and they were not ready to submit to Stephen's army. When Stephen's army invaded

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

, they were greeted by a strong Welsh force and defeated at the

Battle of Cadfan The Battle of Cadfan was fought between English and Welsh forces in 1257. The battle consisted of two military engagements; one at Coed Llathen and the other at Cymerau. The word ''Cadfan'' is Welsh for "place of battle". Background In the year ...

in 1257. Bauzan was killed during the battle.

References

External links

* 1210s births 1257 deaths English knights Seneschals of Gascony {{europe-noble-stub