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Owain Glyndŵr Day

Paula Bardell-Hedley

On 16th September Wales marks the anniversary of its national hero being named the Prince of Wales

This is the fifth in a series of occasional features about Wales posted in the months leading up to the first ever Dewithon, or Wales Readathon, which takes place annually from 1st to 31st March.

Owain Glyndŵr (1359 – c. 1415), a descendant of the Princes of Powys, was proclaimed Prince of Wales on 16th September 1400 after rebelling against English rule. He is a central figure in Welsh history and was the last Welsh-born Prince of Wales.

Sadly, due to lack of artillery, the uprising was eventually suppressed by the superior resources of the English, and Glyndŵr was driven from his last strongholds in 1409. However, he was never captured or betrayed and, following his death, achieved an almost mythical status – on a par with Cadwaladr, King of Gwynedd and King Arthur – he became a legendary hero awaiting the call to return and liberate his people.

On 16th September events take place throughout Wales to honour the man who instigated the Welsh Revolt. From Cowen, the town of his birth, to Ruthin, where the successful uprising against Henry IV of England began, on to Machynlleth, the site of the first Welsh parliament in 1404, people celebrate his life and legacy. On this day, Medieval castles and other historic properties across the land open to the public; festivals take place; and people fly the Welsh flag from their homes.

Do you celebrate Owain Glyndŵr Day? Please share your plans here and on Twitter using the hashtag #OwainGlyndwrDay.

GLYNDŴR IN LITERATURE

Through the centuries, the rebel Prince has featured in many works of literature and is the subject of several historic novels (see the list of fictional titles). For instance, he appeared, if somewhat briefly, as John Ross’s ancestor and a ghost who serves the Lady in Terry Brooks’ ‘The Word and The Void’ trilogy.

If you have read William Shakespeare’s play Henry IV, Part 1, you may recall the character Owen Glendower (this being the anglicised version of Glyndŵr’s name) who claims he can “call spirits from the vasty deep”. He was portrayed here as a wild and unconventional figure, ruled by magic and emotion.

RECOMMENDED READING

Works of Non-Fiction

The following list comprises a mere fraction of the excellent non-fiction titles published on the subject of Owain Glyndŵr:

>> Although it is now out of print, one can still obtain a Kindle version of Charles Parry’s 2012 study, The Last Mab Darogan: The Life and Times of Owain Glyn Dwr. >>

>> Welsh speakers with an interest in the various ways Glyndŵr has been depicted in Welsh-language literature may like to read E. Wyn James’ 2007 Glyndwr a Gobaith y Genedl: Agweddau ar y Portread o Owain Glyndwr yn Llenyddiaeth y Cyfnod Modern (Glyndŵr and the Hope of the Nation: Aspects of the Portrayal of Owain Glyndŵr in the Literature of the Modern Period). >>

Works of Fiction

Owain Glyndŵr has been featured in numerous works of modern fiction (especially in the historic novel and fantasy genres), including:

Selected Features & Links

Have you read any of the titles named in this post or perhaps other books featuring Owain Glyndŵr? Please do share your discoveries, thoughts and suggestions below.

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