List of Anglo-Welsh wars: Difference between revisions

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This is a list of wars and battles between England (or more generally the Anglo-Saxons) and the Britons, the pre-existing Brythonic population of Britain south of the Antonine Wall who came to be known later as Welsh -The list of wars and battles Adventus Saxonum in c.446AD to the late Middle Ages when Wales was eventually subdued.

• c.452 The Germanic people settled on the eastern "Saxon Shore" of Britain rise in a revolt led by Hengest and his sons against their Romano British masters.

• c.455 Battle of Aylesbury - Anglo-Saxons (particularly a group called Jutes) led by Hengest defeat the Britons (Welsh) led by Vortimer in Battle at Aylesbury, Kent.

• c.456 Battle of Crayford - Anglo-Saxons (Jutes) led again by Hengest defeat the Britons (Welsh) led by Vortimer in battle. The Britons are driven from (Kent) which is afterwards ruled by Hengist and his son Æsc and their descendants.

• c.465 Battle of Wippedsfleot - Britons (Welsh) defeat the Anglo-Saxons (Jutes) in battle in Kent and confine them to the island of Thanet.

• c.473 The Anglo-Saxons (Jutes) move westwards and drive the Britons once again out of Kent.

• c.477 Battle of Cymensora - Anglo-Saxons (Saxons) led by Ælle defeat the Britons (Welsh) close to Selsey.

• c.486 Battle on the River Glein - Arthur of the Britons is reputed to have defeated the Anglo-Saxons.

• c.490 Second, third and fourth battles of Arthur in Linnuis thought to be modern Lindsey where he led the Britons to defeat the Anglo-Saxons at each battle.

• c.491 Siege of Anderida - Anglo-Saxons (Saxons) led by Ælle capture the Castle of Anderida from the Britons (Welsh) and slaughter the inhabitants. Ælle establishes the Kingdom of the South Saxons (Sussex).

• c.492 Battle of Bassas - Arthur defeats the Anglo-Saxons at an unidentified location.

• c.493 Battle of Guinnion - Arthur defeats the Anglo-Saxons in battle. The site was probably at Winchester which was then known as Caer Guintguic.

• c.495 Battle of Urbe Legionis - Arthur defeats the Anglo-Saxons in battle at the "City of the Legions" which is thought to probably by Chester.

• c.495 A man named Cerdic reputedly defeats the Britons (Welsh) in battle close to modern day Bournemouth and establishes kingdom of the West Saxons (Wessex).

• c.496 Battle of Mons Badonicus - The Anglo-Saxons are soundly defeated in battle by the Britons (possibly led by King Arthur) at a site generally thought to be close to Bath. This defeat establishes 50 years of relative peace.

• c.509 Battle of Natanleod - the West Saxons led by Cerdic defeat the Britons at Netley, Hampshire.

• 519 Another battle in which Cerdic is victorious. He establishes the Kingdom of Wessex at this point.

• 527 Battle of Cerdicesleag - the West Saxons led by Cerdic and his son Cynric defeat the Britons.

• 530 The Britons (Welsh) of the Isle of Wight are conquered by the Anglo-Saxons (Jutes).

• 538 The Britons of Gododdin are defeated at Din Eidin and forced to retreat inland to Catreath.

• 547 the Northern Angles led by Ida the Flamebearer capture the fortress of Din Guyaroi from the Britons of the Kingdom of Bryneich.

• 575 a northern alliance of the Britons led by Urien Rheged defeat the Angles of Bernicia and besiege them on Ynys Metcaut for three days.

• 577 Battle of Deorham where the West Saxons and their allies captured the Welsh fortress at Hinton Hill near Dyrham in modern Gloucestershire. The Welsh of the Severn Valley attempted to retake this strategic location but were defeated with three of their kings killed in the fighting. The West Saxons went on to capture Gloucester, Cirencester and Bath thus separating the "West Welsh" of the South West Peninsular from the Welsh of modern Wales.

• 584 Battle of Tintern where the armies of the Kingdom of Gwent, led by Tewdrig and his son Meurig defeated the West Saxons and forced them to retreat from the Gloucester area. Tewdrig was mortally wounded and died three days after the battle.

• 590 the northern alliance of the Britons is defeated following the assassination of their leader and divisions between the former allies.

• 598 Battle of Catraeth - the northern Angles led by Æthelfrith destroy the remaining forces of the Britons of Gododdin and Bryneich (Bernicia).

• 614 Battle of Beandun - The West Saxons led by Cynegils defeat the West Welsh, possibly led by Tewdwr ap Peredur, at Badbury Rings, Dorset. In what is likely to have been a seige over two thousand Welsh warriors died following the capture of the fort. After this battle it is likely Dorset was annexed by Wessex.

• 616 Battle of Chester - the Northern Angles of Northumbria led by Aethelfrith of Northumbria defeat an alliance of Powys and Gwynedd and capture the city of Chester amid great slaughter.

• 619 The united Northumbrian Angles led by Edwin of Northumbria invade and conquer Elmet, a Welsh territory close to modern Leeds. The Kingdom of Elmet is occupied and its last ruler, Ceretic, is driven into exile in Powys where soon after he dies.

• 620 the Northumbrians invade Gwynedd and drive Cadwallon ap Cadfan into exile.

• 633 Battle of Hatfield Chase near Doncaster. Cadwallon of Gwynedd invaded Northumbria and defeats Edwin who is killed. Cadwallon occupies and ravages Northumbria, capturing York and killing many members of the Northumbrian dynasty.

• 634 Battle of Heavenfield near Hadrian's Wall where Cadwallon is defeated and killed by the Northumbrians led by Oswald of Northumbria. The Welsh are driven from Northumbria ending any pretentions at regaining the North.

• 642 Battle of Maes Cogwy near Oswestry where the Welsh alongside their Mercian allies were defeated by the Northumbrians.

• 650 Battle of Bradford on Avon, a West Saxon victory against the West Welsh.

• 658 The small Welsh kingdom of Pengwern in modern Shropshire was overrun and annexed by Mercia.

• 658 Battle of Peonnum in Somerset where an allied force of the West Welsh and Cadwaladr of Gwynedd are defeated. The West Saxons move to conquer western Somerset.

• 665 Second Battle of Badon, somewhere in the Cotswold Hills which was a West Saxon victory against the Kingdom of Gwent and her local allies.

• 670 The West Saxons led by Cenwealh capture central Somerset including the important religious centre at Glastonbury.

• 682 the West Saxons led by Kentwine move westwards and defeat the West Welsh somewhere near the River Parrett, driving them "to the sea".

• 710 after defeating the West Welsh of Devon, led by Geraint of Dumnonia, and capturing the stronghold at Norton Fitzwarren, King Ine of Wessex builds a fortress at Taunton to defend his conquests. In the course of the battle King Geraint is slain.

• 722 Ine of Wessex advances as far as the River Tamar but is defeated and withdraws. The West Saxon fortress at Taunton is destroyed.

• 743 an allied army of Mercians and West Saxons fight the Welsh. Possible construction of Wat's Dyke.

• 752 where Eadbert of Northumbria invades the Kingdom of Strathclyde and conquered the territory of Kyle.

• 753 the West Saxons led by Cuthred fight the Welsh of Cornwall. The result is not known but the Cornish preserve their independence.

• 755 the westward expansion of Wessex resumes. Over the next thirty or so years eastern and northern Devon is permanently conquered by Wessex.

• 756 the Northumbrians led by Eadbert in alliance with the Picts invade the northern Welsh Kingdom of Strathclyde and defeat their king Dumnagual who is forced to submit thus becoming, for a while, a vassal of Northumbria.

• 769 Mercians campaign in Wales.

• 760 Battle of Hereford is recorded as a Welsh vistory against the Mercians led by Offa of Mercia. The Welsh were probably led by Elisedd of Powys and his son Brochfael.

• 780 the construction of Offa's Dyke begins. It appears this frontier ditch deliniated an agreed frontier between Powys and Mercia.

• 784 it is presumed that Exeter was captured by Cynewulf of Wessex following a seige.

• 798 the Mercians led by Coenwulf of Mercia invade Wales but withdraw after killing Caradog ap Meirion.

• 815 where Egbert of Wessex invades Cornwall and subdues the kingdom.

• 816 Mercians invade Powys.

• 822 where Beornwulf of Mercia invades north Wales and captures Deganwy from Gwynedd and occupies the whole of Powys.

• 825 Battle of Camelford between Wessex and the Cornish Welsh resulting in another West Saxon victory.

• 828 the lands of Powys are liberated from Mercian occupation by Cyngen ap Cadell. The Pillar of Eliseg was probably commissioned at this time.

• 830 where Egbert of Wessex invades Powys and forces Cyngen ap Cadell to submit. Egbert then withdraws his forces.

• 838 Battle of Hingston Down in Devon where a combined force of Cornish Welsh and Vikings were defeated by Wessex. Egbert's Stone is erected to commemorate this victory.

• 853 where Burgred of Mercia overruns Powys. Cyngan ap Cadell abdicates and retires to Rome and his kingdom is annexed by Rhodri Mawr of Gwynedd.

• 865 where Burgred of Mercia leads his forces against Rhodri Mawr and captures Anglesey, briefly, from Gwynedd. Burgred is later forced to withdraw as his realm is invaded by the Vikings.

• 878 the Welsh of Strathclyde in alliance with Kenneth MacAlpin invade northern Northumbria, currently at war with the Vikings, and liberate the Lothian region.

• 925 the Cornish Welsh rebelled once more and were evicted from Exeter by King Athelstan of England who annexes Cornwall to England and defines the border of Cornwall (with England proper) at the River Tamar.

• 940 when Idwal Foel of Gwynedd invaded England and was driven back and later deprived of his lands.

• 985 Hywel ap Ieuaf of Gwynedd is killed fighting Aelfhere of Mercia.

• 1039 Battle of Rhyd y Groes where Gruffudd ap Llywelyn - the recently crowned King of Gwynedd - ambushes a Mercian army led by Leofric of Mercia in Brycheiniog, destroying them.

• 1052 Gruffudd ap Llywelyn invades Herefordshire and sacks Leominster.

• 1055 Gruffudd ap Llywelyn allies with the exiled Earl Aelfgar of Mercia and ravages Herefordshire.

• 1062 Harold Godwinson , the Earl of Wessex and his brother Tostig start a series of campaigns on behalf of the English crown against Gruffudd ap Llywelyn in retaliation for years of border raids. Gruffudd is killed.

• 1067 Bleddyn and Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn, co rulers of Gwynedd, invade Herefordshire in support of Eadric the Wild, an English rebel resisting the Norman Conquest of England.

• 1067 The Normans invade the Kingdom of Gwent and conquer it driving king Caradog ap Gruffudd into exile.

• 1073 The Normans invade Gwynedd and occupy Arfon.

• 1085 The Normans launch a wholesale invasion of Wales ravaging Gwynedd and Powys.

• 1091 The Normans conquer the kingdom of Morgannwg driving Iestyn ap Gwrgan into exile.

• 1093 The Normans occupy Brycheiniog and ravage south Wales killing Rhys ap Tewdwr, the king of Deheubarth.

• 1094 Aber Llech is the culmination of a national uprising across Wales that drives the Normans back into England with the exception of a few castles. Deheubarth makes territorial gains at the expense of other southern realms.

• 1095 The Normans return but fail to draw the Welsh into battle.

• 1098 The Normans occupy Gwynedd and Anglesey. They withdraw within the year.

• 1116 The Welsh of Deheubarth revolt against their Norman overlords.

• 1134 Welsh raids into Shropshire destroying Caus Castle.

• 1136 Welsh Revolt against the Normans driving them from all Wales except the Lordship of Carmarthen.

• 1137 An army from Gwynedd captures Carmarthen from the Normans.

• 1144 The Marcher lord Hugh Mortimer re-takes Maelienydd.

• 1145 Gilbert de Clare rebuilds Carmarthen Castle.

• 1157 Henry II leads a massive invasion of the Perfeddwlad to drive Owain ap Gruffudd, the insurgent king of Gwynedd, away from the border of Cheshire. Following a failed landing on Anglesey, Henry II and Owain come to terms with Owain agreeing to withdraw to the west bank of the River Clwyd.

• 1159 Rhys ap Gruffudd of Deheubarth attacks Anglo-Norman castles and settlements in south Wales, capturing Llandovery in 1162.

• 1163 Henry II launches a military campaign in south Wales invading Deheubarth. He captures Rhys ap Gruffudd at Pencader and takes him to England. Rhys is restored to his lands in 1164 after he agrees to make homage to Henry.

• 1165 Rhys ap Gruffudd leads attacks on Anglo¨Norman strongholds in south and west Wales. Gwynedd, Powys, Deheubarth and the smaller realms form an alliance against England. Henry II declares war and leads an invasion force from Shrewsbury through Powys and into Gwynedd. Henry is forced to withdraw after adverse weather conditions.

• 1166 Rhsy ap Gruffudd captures Cardigan Castle from the English crown.

• 1167 Owain ap Gruffudd captures Rhuddlan Castle and Basingwerk Castle advancing as far east as the River Dee.

• 1185 Welsh raiders sack Cardiff.

• 1196 Full scale war breaks out again. Hubert Walter invades Powys from Shrewsbury and places Welshpool under seige.

• 1198 Battle of Painscastle where a Welsh army is destroyed by the English.

• 1211 King John of England launches an invasion of Gwynedd from Chester but has to retreat without making gains. A second invasion later that year, this time from Shrewsbury, leaves the Welsh town of Bangor in ruins. The king of Gwynedd, Llywelyn Fawr, withdraws from the Perfeddwlad.

• 1215 Llywelyn Fawr in alliance with other princes attacks English holdings across Wales capturing Cardigan Castle, Carmarthen Castle, Kidwelly Castle and many other places. At a Welsh assembly Llywelyn is proclaimed "Prince of Wales". In 1218 the fighting finishes following a peace deal with England.

• 1223 Marcher lord Hubert de Burgh starts a series of campaigns during which he retakes Carmarthen, Cardigan and Montgomery.

• 1240 With Llywelyn Fawr dead the English attack. Marcher lords retake the territorial gains made by Llywelyn.

• 1241 Battle of Gwern Eigron where Dafydd ap Llywelyn is defeated in battle with an invading English army. Peace agreements see the English army occupy the Perfeddwlad.

• 1245 Dafydd rebels. Gwynedd and her allies in Deheubarth and Powys Fadog make few gains and the English attack Gwynedd from Chester in a campaign that fails and is forced to retreat. Dafydd dying in 1246 precipitates a new attack on Gwynedd from the south by Marcher lord Nicholas de Molis which compels Deheubarth then Gwynedd to surrender. Gwynedd withdraws from Perfeddwlad.

• 1256 Gwynedd led by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, grandson of Llywelyn Fawr, invades and annexes the Perfeddwlad. Gwynedd annexes Brycheiniog, Maelienydd, Gwrtheyrnion and Builth. Treaty of Montgomery in 1267 allows Llywelyn to keep these gains. Deheubarth makes territorial gains in the south.

• 1277 Llywelyn II is declared a rebel by Edward I and the English invade Wales. English armies from Carmarthen defeat the princes of Deheubarth, armies from Chester overwealm Powys Fadog and armies from Shrewsbury retake Maelienydd, Builth, Brycheiniog and Gwrtheyrnion. In the Treaty of Woodstock Llywelyn is confined to western Gwynedd and Powys Fadog and Deheubarth are broken up.

• 1282 Gwynedd is drawn into a rebellion in the Perfeddwlad and goes to war against England.

• 1282 Battle of Orewin Bridge where the Welsh army is destroyed. Llywelyn II is killed in a chance ambush nearby at Cilmeri. The English invade Gwynedd.

• 1283 The last remaining castles in Gwynedd are captured. The royal court of Wales withdraws to shelter in the mountains. Dafydd ap Gruffudd, the new Prince of Wales, is captured in June in the Bera Mountains and executed in Shrewsbury in October. Gwynedd is conquered and looted. Resulting accords leave no part of Wales other than Powys Wenwynwyn, Edeirnion, Glyndyfrdwy and Dryslwyn Castle under native lordship.

• 1287 Rhys ap Maredudd a prince of Deheubarth leads attacks on English holdings in the south capturing the Deheubarth royal centre at Dinefwr. He loses any castles but remains a guerilla leader until his capture and execution in 1292.

• 1294 a Welsh uprising led by Madog ap Llywelyn of Meirionydd sweeps north and central Wales capturing Bere Castle, Carnarvon Castle, Cardigan Castle and Denbigh Castle. The English devastate the Perfeddwlad but withdraw.

• 1295 Battle of Maes Moydog where Prince Madog is defeated and the Welsh army destroyed. Madog is captured and imprisoned.

• 1316 uprising in Gwent and Morgannwg led by Llywelyn Bren the lord of Senghennydd and a descendant of the kings of Morgannwg. Rebels put Caerphilly Castle under seige for six weeks and burn the town. Bren's forces are defeated, he is captured and executed.

• 1400 The War of Welsh Independence erupts in Powys Fadog led by Owain Glyn Dwr a prince of Powys. It spreads across Gwynedd culminating in the capture of Conway Castle in 1401.

• 1402 Battle of Bryn Glas where Prince Owain defeats the English led by Marcher lord Edmund Mortimer who is captured and later allies with him. The English are driven from Wales.

• 1405 The English launch multiple attacks on Wales retaking many captured castles.

• 1409 Harlech Castle, the defacto Welsh capital, falls to the English. Edmund Mortimer is killed. Owain leads guerilla raids across Wales and is never captured. Maredudd ab Owain Glyn Dwr accepts a royal pardon in 1421.

• Ashley, Mike The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens, Robinson History, 1998
• Albany Major, J. Early Wars of Wessex, Blandford Press, 1913
• Irvinson, Stuart Anglo-Welsh Wars, Bridge Books, 2001