MEANWHILE, 200 YEARS EARLIER…

Owain Glyndŵr wasn’t the first person to try and overthrow the English and create an independent Wales. In 1211 there was a lesser-known uprising against King John by several Welsh princes.

At the time, much of Wales was governed by Anglo-Norman barons. The other regions were ruled by Welsh princes, independently of each other, who swore allegiance to the English crown.

But when King John defeated Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, who ruled Gwynedd, it united the princes against the English monarch. They fought against him, eventually signing a peace treaty allowing greater independence from England. This was largely thanks to the diplomatic skills of Joan, Lady of Wales, who was not only Llewelyn’s wife, but also – such was the way of the world at the time – King John’s daughter.

Llewelyn’s grandson, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (sometimes known as The Last Prince of Wales), attempted another uprising in 1282 with his brother Dafydd. His ambitions were swiftly quashed by King Edward I, who invaded and whose supporters killed Llewelyn near Builth Wells, Powys. Dafydd was handed over and killed the following year, after which England took control of Wales.