02 August 2007

N.E.Wales Medieval Battle Sites.

The fourth coming Eisteddfod in Sir y Fflint prompts me to post up a little information on important Battles fought in this frontier territory, exercising the mind of those with interest in medieval Welsh Military History, is the crucial Battle of Chester 616. Fortunatly there is sufficient information on this battle to be found on the web to which I could add very little, so I provide you with the following links:

Battle of Chester - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Battle of Chester (in Old Welsh, Guaith Caer Legion and in modern Welsh, Brwydr Caer), is generally agreed to have taken place in 616, as first argued ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chester - 23k - Cached - Similar pages

In Search of Gwgan Gleddyfrudd
The battle of Perllan Fangor, i.e. the Battle of Chester, was in 616. According to Leland[1], Porth Hogan "The Gate of Gwgan" was the name of one of the ...www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id26.html - 36k - Cached - Similar pages

Cronaca: Battle of Chester excavation
About 120 corpses, many with horrendous wounds, can be attributed by radiocarbon dating and historical records to the Battle of Chester in AD 616, ...www.cronaca.com/archives/004199.html - 23k - Cached - Similar pages
Carla Nayland Historical Fiction: Dating the Battle of Chester

Further, to above there is an excellent article: AN UNHOLY WAR The Battle of Chester 616, in Clwyd Historian - Hanes Bro Clwyd published by Friends of the Clwyd Archive/Cyfeillion Archfau Clwyd. Gwanwyn/Spring Issue 2007 No/Rhif 56.


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Another most important battle in this region, is that fought in 1165, known as the Battle of Crogan. Some referr to this as our ''Welsh Thermopylae'', as it is here the Welsh fought a noble delaying action against a mighty invasion by a vast Anglo - Norman Army seeking to attack Gwynedd and bring down Owain Gwynedd. Although the Welsh were defeated at Crogan, with their blood they bought time for the largest show of national solidarity in Welsh History with princes representing all the Gwledydd Fawr coming together in a great gathering of their allied Armies at Caerdrewyn near Corwen. The English who had following the Battle of Crogan crossed the Berwyn Mountains were overawed at the huge Welsh force they were facing, this and then heavy rain made up the minds of the English to retreat. Upon being harried by Welsh guerrilla attacks on their faltering infantary and baggage trains, the English were to carry out ferocious vengeful attrocities on Welsh hostages and any unfortunates who crossed their paths. I know this history quite well having organised a field trip to Crogan on behalf of Cofiwn, what I had not known then was the following information, which I enclude here:


THE most notable of Wales’ ancient trees include: The Pontfadog Oak, at Pontfadog near Chirk, Wrexham. This is Wales’ largest sessile oak, with a girth of 42 foot 5in (12.9m). It was an icon in the landscape even in the 12th century, and Owain Gwynedd is said to have rallied his army to it before going on to defeat Henry II at the battle of Crogan a mile away.



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Other Battles of Interest:



Battle of Coleshill 1150.



Battle of Hawarden 1157.



Also see link below:



Ken Lloyd Gruffydd provides an insight as to Mold's rich past.www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/sites/flintshire/pages/mold2.shtml - 29k - Cached - Similar pages


Also see the following interesting theory


At the Edge archive: Did Boudica die in Flintshire?
Paullinus knew that his army's battle drills and stabbing techniques would always win against .... Paulinus and Boudica, still walk the lanes in Flintshire. ...indigogroup.co.uk/edge/Boudica2.htm - 22k - Cached - Similar pages
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If I have missed any other battles, do please inform me, and if any one is of interesting in establishing a TEGEINGL - I'r GAD Battlefields Research, Study and Survey Group do contact me at gethin.apgruffydd@ntlworld.com

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Last but least, not exactly a battle but rather referring to a Guerrilla war fought in Fflintshire during the Owain Glyndwr led War of Independence. See Emabbsy Glyndwr blog Owain Glyndwr Communicates for information on 'Arwr Glyndwr' Hywel Gwynedd Memorial Project.