I'r Gad: Welsh Battles to Remember and Commemorate.

Battles in our history to commomorate, annually or otherwise, if we are to be fully aware and understand our history, we need to appreciate why, when and where these battles were fought. Further, we need to know the historical background and also fully realise the consequences of these battles, we need to consider were they to our adavantage or not? Here you may consider not simply victory or defeat but possibly 'pyrrhic victories' maybe? There is thus no better place to start such consideration that with the battle of Mynydd Carn 1081, fought on the ''Mountain of Angels'' in the Preseli Hills of Gogledd Penfro.

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The Post Roman period, is a period known as the ''Dark Ages'' or more correctly today as the early medieval period, although nationalists also refer to this period as the ''Heroic Age'' or ''Golden Age''. In this period Cymru was given it's future non - west Briton identity with the arrival of Cunedda and his sons who settled the west and north, an area I even today describe as 'Tiroedd Cunedda'. The South proably retained much of it's ''Independent mindedness'' by virtue of the fact that it had roots in a pre - Celtic heritage of beaker folk and Iberian settlers from Spain. Also the South had become popualted by a Celtic tribe called the 'Silurians' who no doubt had inter - married greatly with the original 'Beaker - Iberian' peoples, producing a breed of fierce fighters whom would give the Romans more of an hard time than most other Celtic tribes of Southern Britain.

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That's the historic background to the ''Dark Ages'', I still preferr to call it that, as indeed it was for much of the time, this country of ours was torn apart by Saxon pressure on the borders and later Danish and Viking raids along the coast and even into central Wales, at same time the Cymru fight amongst them selves. It is a time of Civil Wars, as brother fights brother in dynastic strife and Gwledydd wage war against Gwledydd, to see who is to become the dynastic ''top dog''. Certainly it is also an ''Age of Heroes'', as the great ''Viking Killer'', Rhodri Mawr, whilst in the same age Hywel Dda codifies 'Welsh Laws but unfortunatly hangs a rope around the neck of all future 'Tywysogion Cymru' by recognising the Saxon - English Kings as the Overlords of our land - Soverienty is Surrendered. All Welsh Princes come to recognise this hard ''Feudal Fact'' and have to pay an heavy price, in the medieval world of ''Real Politik'', it is only Owain Glyndwr who tells the English Kings who claim overlordship, 'GO GET STUFFED!' well! in so many words and he carries out a 16 year war to back it up, that's what ultimatly makes him the greatest prince, hero and national leader, head and shoulders above all the others. DON'T FORGET IT!

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By time of the 11th Century, East Britain has become the ''Land of the Angles'', the Saxon Kingdoms have become all powerful, not least Mercia on the borders of Wales. England, is a fact in the making, but still the Cymry foolishly gling to the belief of returning to former lands to the East. Thankfully, at this time we see a Prince arise, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn who is to become the only ever, and last true 'BRENIN CYMRU', and truelly King of a United Wales. Then true to future form the Welsh go and score a great ''Home Goal'', they themselves kill Gruffydd and hand his head to the Saxons. Why? go read about it, it's too tragic for me to go into here, suffice to say, me thinks the Cymry were taking ''Real Politik'' a bit too far?could they not have considered sticking with Gruffydd and making a solid stand against the Saxon threat?

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Thus Cymru is again plunged into Civil Wars, and it is in a period when we are going to get more to worry about than the Saxons, the Normans are on the way, they were in Herfordshire in time of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, but now it's going to be the whole ''Norman Brutal and Cruel Package'', Yes! 1066 and all that? The English get stuffed at Hastings and Saxon Resistence & Rebellion is really taken care of, in a most brutal and cruel fashion. Don't get smug, the Saxons were not the easy defeat many Welsh Nationalists seem to consider they were, they did resist and got brutally crushed in the Norman ''Harrying of the North 1069''. Meanwhile in Wales ''Our Hastings'' is to be a great battle between contending would be leaders of the Gwledydd of Cymru, it is to be the greatest of Welsh conflicts with all our ''Gwledydd Fawr'' involved. I shall not dwell on a full account of the Battle here, as you will find all that information on the web, I am more concerned that you consider the question, was the outcome good or bad for Cymru? at this moment in time, with the Normans already knocking on the door. Consider this question: Was the victory of Gruffydd ap Cynan of Gwynedd and Rhys ap Tewdwr good for Cymru or ultimatly just good for what would become 'Pura Wallia'', did the defeat of the Caradog ap Gruffydd of Morgannwg and Meiliwr ap Rhiwallon of Powys, just make it easier for the Normans to quickly conquor and colonise the Eastern and southern Lands of Cymru, which were to become 'marcher Walliae', the historic and geographic division that is a legacy that continues to haunt us down throught the ages, up to the present. Think on it! discuss and debate it, and note there is no better place to do that, than at Mynydd Carn with a picnic, and later pop down to see Pentre Ifan and other sites of interest.

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This Famouse Welsh Battles Post will deal with Battles up to the great revolt of 1294, in this first instance I shall draw your attention to the annual Battle of Bryn Glas 1402 and the Battle of Llandeilo 1282. Other battles up for consideration are many, as the Battles of Llwchwr and Crug Mawr 1136, the consequences of which are as important as those arising from the Battle of Mynydd Carn 1081. Other battles will be listed in due course, in the meantime do take a look at my other blogs:

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* I'r Gad - Welsh Battlefields Campaign

http://brwydr.blogspot.com

* Cofiwn History Archive

http://cofiwn.blogspot.com

* Cilmeri 40 Tribute Blog 1966 - 2006.

http://anturysbrydcofiwn.blogspot.com

Also See:

* The Assyrian Rod http://assyrianrod.blogspot.com this site is devoted to the writting of fictional 'Alternate History', having read of battles here, in this posting why not consider thinking or writting possible ''Alternate History'' outcomes for Cymru, if these battles turned out differently from the true historic result, go on! have a go! Read 'Bring the Jubilee' as inspiration, a story which considers outcome if the Confederates had won the Battle of Gettysburg. Also note Pavane, a what if the Spanish Amarda had won?

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WELSH BATTLES - COMMEMORATIONS 2007

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The Battle of Bryn Glas

22 Mehefin 1402.

Glyndwr's Great Victory.

NB: Usually an bi - annual commemoration is held, but check out further up to date information via the web.

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The Battle of Llandielo 17 Mehefin 1282.

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The one that should really witness a major commemoration being held to commemorate 725th anniversary of it being fought in 1282. Cofiwn did in 1982, but no one seems up to organising same in 2007. Bit patriotically pathetic, but there you go, that's the sad situation we are in, one of great disinterest regards commemorating 1282 - 2007, or is it just the times? or just plain old laziness? Whatever, if nothing is organised; individuals, families, groups can still organise their own field trips and outings on, I suggest on 16/17 Mehefin 2007 (make it a weekend break?), possibly starting off at Llandovery (meet up at Castle Inn, on Saturday morning?), then meander down to Llandielo via Myddai (Visit Llyn y Fan) and Llangadog to Llandeilo, for the Saturday Night social. Sunday can be spent visiting Parc Dinefwr and the Castle in the grounds there, what a great patriotic weekend. See below, and use web to get further details.

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That's it for now, be back with more battles in time.
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Gethin.