Gruffudd ap Owain Glyndŵr (c. 1375 – c. 1412) was the eldest son of
Margaret Hanmer
Margaret Hanmer (c. 1370 – c. 1420), sometimes known by her Welsh name of Marred ferch Dafydd, was the wife of Owain Glyndŵr.
Early life and marriage
Nothing is known of Margaret's early life, not even the precise date of her marriage. She ...
and
Owain Glyndŵr
Owain ap Gruffydd (28 May 135420 September 1415), commonly known as Owain Glyndŵr (Glyn Dŵr, , anglicised as Owen Glendower) was a Welsh people, Welsh leader, soldier and military commander in the Wales in the late Middle Ages, late Middle ...
, who led a major revolt in
Wales
Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
between 1400 and about 1415.
Early life
Little is known about any of the children of Owain Glyndŵr. Gruffudd is recorded as being Owain's eldest son and would-be heir to the crown of
Wales
Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
had his father's rebellion ultimately been successful in creating an independent
Wales
Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
.
Role in the rebellion
He is known to have taken part in a raid in south Wales in 1405, alongside his uncle
Tudur ap Gruffudd
Tudur ap Gruffudd (1365–1405), also known as Tudor de Glendore or Tudor Glendower, was the Gwyddelwern#History, Lord of Gwyddelwern, a junior title of the princely house of Powys Fadog, and was the younger brother of Owain Glyndŵr. His father ...
, and another rebel Captain
Rhys Gethin. They were defeated by Prince Henry of Monmouth, later to become
King Henry V
Henry V (16 September 1386 – 31 August 1422), also called Henry of Monmouth, was King of England from 1413 until his death in 1422. Despite his relatively short reign, Henry's outstanding military successes in the Hundred Years' War against ...
or possibly
John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury
John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, 1st Earl of Waterford, 7th Baron Talbot, KG (17 July 1453), known as "Old Talbot" and "Terror of the French" was an English nobleman and a noted military commander during the Hundred Years' War. He was t ...
. The exact place and date of this battle is subject to dispute, but the
Annals of Owain Glyndwr call it the
Battle of Pwll Melyn
The Battle of Pwll Melyn (also known as the Battle of Usk) was a battle between the Welsh and English on 5 May 1405. It was part of the Glyndŵr Rising that lasted from 1400 to 1415. It was the first English victory in a pitched battle during ...
, near
Usk
Usk () is a town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales, northeast of Newport. It is located on the River Usk, which is spanned by an arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. Usk Castle, above the town, overlooks the ancient cr ...
. The result appears to have been a major Welsh defeat, the capture of Gruffudd ab Owain Glyndŵr, and the deaths of Tudur and Rhys Gethin.
Imprisonment and death
Before being taken to the
Tower of London
The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic citadel and castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamle ...
he was first imprisoned at
Nottingham
Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located south-east of Sheffield and nor ...
. He was sent from there to the Tower of London and after seven years died in prison of
bubonic plague
Bubonic plague is one of three types of Plague (disease), plague caused by the Bacteria, bacterium ''Yersinia pestis''. One to seven days after exposure to the bacteria, flu-like symptoms develop. These symptoms include fever, headaches, and ...
.
Family
It is not known if he was married or had sired any children of his own.
Notes
References
* — This source is republished from
*
* — Reference: The House of Mathrafal.pdf relates the entire genealogy of this family to include the histories of Owain Glyndwr's descendants.
Further reading
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Glyndwr, Gruffudd ab Owain
1370s births
1410s deaths
15th-century deaths from plague (disease)
Year of birth uncertain
Year of death uncertain
Welsh princes
House of Mathrafal
Welsh rebels
Prisoners in the Tower of London
Welsh people imprisoned abroad
Welsh people who died in prison custody
15th-century Welsh military personnel
15th-century rebels