𝔍𝔢𝔱 ೀ⋆｡˚

 "What do you know about Welsh kings?”

(I am definitely not a historian, so bare with me / this is more of a semi-comprehensive list I’ve sorted into simplified chronological order + related connections to trc for my personal curiousity)

So, let us discuss... the 'Kings' in question, for today:

Owain Glyndŵr (14th c. King of Wales, Leader of the revolt)

'Owen Glendower' (Shakespeare's: Henry IV -The Raven Cycle)

Owain Gwynedd (ap Gruffudd, 11th/12th century)

+Ywain mab Urien (Arthurian, Mabinogion)// Owain mab Urien (6th Century, King of North Rheged) // not wales but I promise he is relevant.

Madoc ap Gwynedd (12th century, legends of North America)

Gruffudd ap Cynan (11/12 century, King of Gwynedd)

+ Gwenllian ferch Gruffudd (11/12th century warrior princess)

(Ferch= Daughter of) (Ap/Mab: name = Son of) Note: the title 'Prince' is used in the Latin sense of the word 'Princeps', meaning Chief ruler, Noble, First in order.

The man, the myth, the legend, Owain Glyndŵr.

You probably know him as a medieval (14th/15th.c) nationalist hero of the Welsh, leading a victorious rebellion against the English (During the rule of Henry IV). Or perhaps, the enigmatic character 'Owen Glendower' from Shakespeare's play: Henry IV (described as that "damn'd magician") or, the mysterious lost king of the name Glendower, featured in Maggie Stiefvater's 'The Raven Cycle' (Given the alias of 'The Raven King').

"Alike the legend of King Arthur, Welsh legend has it that when Wales is threatened again, he will rise to defend his kingdom and lead his people to victory."

His legacy has been mythologised and reinterpreted many times over, although his death remains mysterious. One may wonder how such a revered hero in his final years could have faded into obscurity. There is little known about the date of his death or final resting place, subsequently left to speculation. Where obscurity and greatness lie, legend evolves.

The first prominent account of 'Glyndŵrs rising' was recorded by Adam of Usk, a Welsh priest, late medieval historian and chronicler. Born in Usk (contemporary Monmouthshire) , South East Wales, he eventually left to study law at Oxford University and then served in the English ecclesiastical and political sphere.

His work, written in Latin between 1377 and 1421, recounts first-hand observations of major events. As a result, his chronicles are an important primary source for historians studying this period in Anglo-Welsh history.

Owain Glyndŵr was indeed a celebrated figure of Welsh history, pre-dating the works of the English playwright William Shakespeare (16th-17th century). Nonetheless, the ~1597 play: 'Henry IV' popularised a dramatic retelling of Owen's person, steeping him in supernatural power and magic, to mixed reviews of criticism and acclaim (as some find Shakespeare's 'exoticism' further purveys the subjugation of Welsh culture).

[Glendower seen below in yellow]

In the play ( The spelling Owen Glendower is the anglicisation used in Holinshed's Chronicles, which served as one of Shakespeare's main sources for his history play.) Owen Glendower assumes his role as 'King of Wales', yet he is referred to as the "great magician, damned Glendower". Glendower reports:

"Three times hath Henry Bolingbroke made head/Against my power; thrice from the banks of Wye/And sandy-bottom'd Severn have I sent him/Bootless home and weather-beaten back" (3.1).[2] This is likely a reference to the belief that Glendower's magic enabled him to control the weather.

I began exploring the legacies of 'The Many Owains' as a fan of The Raven Cycle. Naturally, I desired to discover more; however, as you quickly realise, 'Owain Glyndŵr' is questionably related to the fictionalised namesake. The Glendower of The Raven Cycle is most likely a descendant of Shakespeare; alas, I wasn't yet satisfied with that conclusion alone.

Let us travel back to the 12th century, two hundred years before Glyndŵr. In the Kingdom of Gwynedd (Located in the North of Wales), a mighty leader named 'Gruffudd ap Cynan', Fought to maintain Welsh rule against the Normans *Hold that thought.

I want to discuss his children, specifically his successor, Owain ap Gruffudd (Owain Gwynedd by the time of his rule) and Gwenllian ferch Gruffudd.

Owain Gwynedd (would it be inappropriate to paraphrase as the 'OG'? He is the OG of this history), succeeded his father and was the prominent leader of the Welsh from 1137 to his death in 1170 ~ Link to his story: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Owain-Gwynedd

*A reference to the weather, I found a nice link to Shakespeare's play about the other Owen...'for the Welsh weather came to Owain's assistance as torrential rain forced Henry (II) to retreat in disorder. The infuriated Henry mutilated many Welsh hostages, including two of Owain's sons.' Probably a coincidence... I came across a reference to O-G when looking for info on Owain Glyndwr, O-G was depicted in a painting with Ravens decorating his shield. I found it a delicious detail..

Gwenllian ferch Gruffudd

Daughter of Gruffudd, was an extremely influential figure in the 12th-century Welsh rebellion against the Normans, sometimes likened to the legacy of Boudicca. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofWales/Princess-Gwenllian/

‘Gwenllian was a warrior princess, leading an army of Welshmen in 1136 against the mighty Norman forces. Her bravery has made her a beloved figure, revered much like Boudica for her strength and tenacity in the face of great danger.'

12th c. Lullaby to Gwenllian:

“Sleep, Gwenllian, my heart's delight Sleep on through shivering spear and brand, An apple rosy red within thy baby hand; Thy pillowed cheeks a pair of roses bright, Thy heart as happy day and night!”

Her story is so interesting! Literal legend. And I wish more people knew of her name... (In this post, I partly bring her up as a nod to the Blue Lily, Lily Blue Character of Gwenllian...

(There is also the later Gwenllian ferch Llywelyn, 13th/14th century, known as 'Gwenillian of Wales', perhaps another nod, although I found the connection less compelling)

Now, this next piece of information was a diamond in my forays of the Owainverse (I was ecstatic). The whole 'undocumented arrival in the Americas, to never be seen again' is very 'Owen Glendower', alla The Raven Cycle.

Madoc ap Gwynedd (legendary Son of Owain)

Madoc was the son of King Owain, one of many 19~ sons. As the story goes, animosity bubbled within the family and the kingdom. So having eventually decided to leave, Madoc embarked on a voyage into the unknown. Perhaps willed by the desire for something more... or to discover his 'destiny' (to be cliché about it). He sailed far into the Atlantic Ocean, beyond the known limits. And after many weeks of travel, he found himself in unfamiliar lands, as the legend claims, Madoc had reached North America. Bearing in mind, this would be the 12th century, so 300+ years before Christopher Columbus.

Not a ‘Welsh’ king unfortunately: but I make this next point to elaborate on the connections to Arthurian legend and more Ravens !!

Owain mab Urien - Son of Urien - King of North Rheged, lived and ruled in the 6th century, his legacy swiftly absorbed by mythology (Also referred to as Ywain). The character of Owain (based on the 6th c king) can be found in the Mabinogion, and features as a knight (and nephew to Prince Arthur) within the Arthurian legends (commonly referred to as the son of Morgan Le Fey). He is also mentioned in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae.

Literary reference to the fictionalised Owain:

‘Chrétien's Yvain, the Knight of the Lion and the related Mabinogion story Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain are devoted to his exploits, and he appears prominently in the Mabinogion tale The Dream of Rhonabwy and briefly in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae

He also features as the knight Sir Owayne fytz-Vryene in the fifteenth century romance Awntyrs of Arthure at the Terne Wathelyne.[1] The character is portrayed as an excellent knight in the later romances, the Lancelot-Grail cycle and Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur’

In The Dream of Rhonabwy, Arthur and Owain play an ancient form of chess ( gwyddbwyll ) and here we have mention of his Ravens : ‘ Three times, messengers inform Owain that Arthur’s squires are slaughtering his flock of magical ravens ‘…

you can read the full tale here :

Right, and now I finish here. As this is one hefty chunk of a post…more like an article of my curiousity. I have more to say, but this is long enough.