Owain Glyndŵr
Realising the university vision
Owain Glyndŵr was one of the most charismatic and visionary figures in Welsh history. Described by Shakespeare as ‘not in the roll of common men’, little is known about him before he was proclaimed Prince of Wales in 1400. After that date however he emerges as a fighter for justice, a scholar, and a visionary who sought the creation of a strong and modern European nation of Wales.
On 31 March 1406, a long, formal letter was written to the King of France in the name of Owain Glyndŵr, Prince of Wales. In this letter, called the “Pennal Letter” after the small village near Machynlleth where it was written, Owain Glyndŵr asks for the support of France and outlines his vision for Wales.
The most innovative and forward-looking clause in the letter was the proposal for two universities in Wales, one in North Wales and the other in the south. Across Europe universities were being established as national leaders acknowledged the importance of universities in serving their country’s needs. It was unprecedented, however, for an economically poor country such as Wales with its small population to consider such a radical move.
The two proposed Welsh universities would not only train civil servants to ensure the effective administration of Wales but also prepare priests for their vocations. Several of Glyndŵr’s advisers, such as John Trefor, Bishop of St Asaph, and his chancellor, Gruffydd Young were university trained and had travelled widely. They were able to draw on this experience when advising Glyndŵr. Such men also raised the ideological tone of Glyndŵr’s administration and the standing of Glyndŵr on the international stage.
The most popular view of Owain Glyndŵr is of an early Welsh nationalist who instigated revolt against English rule. The truth is far more complicated than this. Owain Glyndŵr first comes to prominence in his outrage at what he saw as the illegal overthrow of the English king, Richard II and following Henry IV’s seizure of the throne, Glyndŵr was proclaimed Prince of Wales. In this role he sought to lead a strong and united Wales and transform it into a modern European state.
It was only natural that Wales should turn to Glyndŵr during these times of major political upheaval. He could claim descent from several of the powerful princely dynasties of Wales. Affluent and prominent by Welsh standards of the day, he held lands in both north-east Wales and Ceredigion. His court at Sycharth was regularly described by the poets as centres of learning and culture. Indeed Glyndŵr was a highly educated man, having studied law at the Inns of Court in London.
Although belonging to a well-established Welsh family, Glyndŵr’s family had accommodated easily to the English rule of the March. His father had served Earl of Arundel as steward of Oswestry and had acted as keeper of lordship of Ellesmere. Glyndŵr’s wife, Margaret, was the daughter of Sir David Hanmer, a chief justice of King’s bench who owned an estate close to Wrexham.
In 1404, Glyndŵr summoned a parliament to Machynlleth, which was more widely representative than any previous assembly in Wales. By convening a national parliament, Glyndŵr recognised the need to present Wales as a single political unit with one national leader.
This and subsequent parliaments, held at Harlech and Dolgellau, provided an opportunity for Glyndŵr to present his vision for the future government of Wales. A radical ecclesiastical programme was designed which would elevate St David’s to the status of metropolitan church, which would control the remaining dioceses of Wales (Bangor, Llandaff and St Asaph) and the Marches.
His plans showed an informed awareness of European political and religious realities. In the letter of 1406, he pledged support for the French Pope Benedict XIII at Avignon and asked in return for the assistance of the French king and the Pope in the development of the Welsh church. Such ideas and understanding of political developments took Glyndŵr well beyond the ambitions of all other Welsh leaders since the last native Prince of Wales was killed in 1282.
In his ambitious plans for Wales, Glyndŵr presented himself in the style of a European prince. He devised his own great and privy seals and adopted the coat of arms of the princes of Gwynedd. From his court of religious, political and military advisers he sent out Welsh ambassadors to serve Welsh interests. These emissaries negotiated a treaty at Paris with King Charles VI of France in July 1404 giving Wales a new standing in continental politics.
Throughout his career, Glyndŵr displayed great dignity and the capacity to command and retain loyalty. He was a consummate leader of men and went further than any other Welsh leader in uniting all the ancient divisions of Wales. His rule was characterised by an ambitions and far-reaching movement underpinned by a clear vision of a strong Wales. Glyndŵr himself disappeared from view in 1410 and his ultimate fate remains unknown although his death has been placed at about 1416.
Owain Glyndŵr can be remembered as a dynamic figure, a talented military tactician, a far-sighted political analyst and an ardent advocate for education. He recognised the importance of reform and modernisation, for the church, education and the legal system. In Owain Glyndŵr, we see a mature statesman proudly committed to the vision of a modern Wales as a forward-looking state within Europe.