Owain ap Thomas ap Rhodri, known as Owain Llawgoch was born on his father’s estates in Surrey around 1335. Owain was sent to France as a child to avoid the fate of his cousins who died in captivity. He was raised by the Count of Alencon, brother to King Philip IV. It was at the French courts that Owain learned the skills which led to his being made a “chevalier”
Owain’s father was a nephew of Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, the last recognised native Prince of Wales. This led to Owain’s later claims to the Principality. The first record of Owain in combat is at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356. Unfortunately Owain was on the losing side so he left the service of the French crown, joined a “free company” and went to fight in Lombardy.
In 1363 Owain’s father died and as no-one knew of an heir, his estates were divided amongst several English noblemen. In 1365 Owain returned to England and successfully sued to win back his estates in return for an oath of loyalty to King Edward III. It was during this trip that Owain probably made his only visit to Wales. By 1366 he was back in France.
When war broke out with France again in 1369, Owain took service with the French under Bertrand de Guesclin and had a successful military career. This led to Owain being declared a traitor and his estates being seized by the English crown.
Between 1369 and 1378, Owain declared himself Prince of Wales and made several attempts to raise an army to invade England and exact his revenge on the Plantagenet rulers. All these attempts were doomed to failure, the nearest to success being an invasion of Guernsey in 1372.
Owain’s father was a nephew of Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, the last recognised native Prince of Wales. This led to Owain’s later claims to the Principality. The first record of Owain in combat is at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356. Unfortunately Owain was on the losing side so he left the service of the French crown, joined a “free company” and went to fight in Lombardy.
In 1363 Owain’s father died and as no-one knew of an heir, his estates were divided amongst several English noblemen. In 1365 Owain returned to England and successfully sued to win back his estates in return for an oath of loyalty to King Edward III. It was during this trip that Owain probably made his only visit to Wales. By 1366 he was back in France.
When war broke out with France again in 1369, Owain took service with the French under Bertrand de Guesclin and had a successful military career. This led to Owain being declared a traitor and his estates being seized by the English crown.
Between 1369 and 1378, Owain declared himself Prince of Wales and made several attempts to raise an army to invade England and exact his revenge on the Plantagenet rulers. All these attempts were doomed to failure, the nearest to success being an invasion of Guernsey in 1372.
It was in 1378 whilst involved in the siege of Mortagne that Owain employed a servant called John Lamb, who turned out to be an assassin in the employ of the English. He gained Owain’s trust only to stab him to death with a short spear. Owain is buried in the earthworks surrounding the chapel of St Leger.
Several legends grew up around Owain, one of which says that he sleeps beneath Carreg Cennen castle until he is awakened to take his place as King of the Britons.
