The Revolt of Llywelyn BrenThe Revolt of Llywelyn BrenThe Revolt of Llywelyn BrenThe Revolt of Llywelyn Bren

Literacy Activity

This resource was initially created as a pre-visit activity for your class to carry out before taking part in our medieval workshop ‘Local Lords: An Age of the Princes Enquiry’. However, it also functions as a classroom resource to help you embed the Numeracy and Literacy framework (especially in relation to Literacy Strand 2 – Reading across the curriculum, Element 2 – Responding to what has been read) into your Age of the Princes topic. The activity is relevant to the curricula for History, English, Art & design and ICT.

We suggest that the class read the story of Llyewlyn Bren before discussing and listing the key events in the story. They can then work individually or in groups to storyboard those key events. Writing a narration as part of each story square will encourage them to comprehend the text and to write concisely. There is an example storyboard attached to the end of the story for pupil reference. These images have been created to assist the creative process and may provide the pupils with a good idea of where to begin. If your school has the facilities, you might like to create an animated version of the story.

The following story is an abridged version of Llywelyn Bren’s rebellion in the marcher lordship of Glamorgan in the year 1316. Some artistic license has been used to help tell the story in a more imaginative way and some details have been omitted in effort to convey a more straightforward series of events for children to storyboard. An in depth, academic version of events is detailed in ‘Conquerors and Conquered in Medieval Wales’ Griffiths, Ralph. A (1994)

The Revolt of Llywelyn BrenThe Revolt of Llywelyn BrenThe Revolt of Llywelyn BrenThe Revolt of Llywelyn Bren

Lord of SenghenyddLord of SenghenyddLord of SenghenyddLord of Senghenydd

The year was 1314 and the most powerful man in the land was Gilbert de

Clare. He was the Marcher Lord of Glamorgan and was very wealthy. From

his mighty castle at Caerphilly he was able to rule for as far as his eyes

could see.

Gilbert’s lands were so vast that he needed the Welsh Lords to help him

keep control of the county. His favourite and most trusted Lord was

Llywelyn

Bren, the Lord of Senghenydd. Between them they were able to bring

peace and prosperity to the land, but this was not to last…

One day in July, Gilbert and Llywelyn were enjoying a delicious feast at

Caerphilly castle when a letter arrived from King Edward II. Gilbert

opened it and looked steely faced.

He read the letter and said to Llywelyn “My friend, the King has asked me to

help lead an army against the Scottish. I must leave immediately. I ask you

to hold my lands and keep them safe until I return.”

Llywelyn looked at him and nodded, his mouth was too full of

food to speak.

Later that month Llywelyn was deep in prayer at his chapel. Was he asking

God for the safe return of his friend? Was he asking that the crops in the

fields grow tall enough for a good harvest?

He was kneeling in silent thought when the priest gently

tapped him on the shoulder. “My Lord” the priest said with his

smooth voice, “I bring terrible news. Our Marcher Lord,

Gilbert de Clare has been slain on the battlefield. We have lost a

brave and powerful man. I fear what

might happen to our land without him.”

Llywelyn rose up and faced the priest. Fear not Father, I shall do my best

to work with our new lord to keep the peace.・ He turned and strode

out of the chapel; the clinking of his chain mail was the only sound to be

heard.

The news of Gilbert’s death soon spread to the

other Marcher Lords and they started to look at his

land and wanted it for themselves. To keep the peace, King Edward

said that he would send a royal officer to look after the county until

the rightful owner could be decided and power passed on

without bloodshed.

It took a long time, but in 1316 the lordship of Glamorgan was finally

given to the royal officer, Payn de Turberville, but he was not a

nice man. His job was to serve the King and he did not like the Welsh

people at all. He caused problems and upset people by sending his

officers to snoop about his new land, trying to find out how much people

owned, what they earned and

how much he could take from them in taxes.

To make matters worse, the weather turned very sour and it

Stopped the crops from growing. A terrible famine struck the

country and rich and poor people were all becoming very hungry

and very irritable.

Llywelyn knew that more taxes would upset the peasants on his land, so

he went to the castle to see Payn de Turberville.

“My Lord,・Llywelyn said loudly “Glamorgan was once an honest, peaceful

and prosperous land. Do you seek to cause a revolt? You

are causing many problems here, you do not understand this place

or my people!”

“Your people?” Turberville spoke like a slippery snake. “You might

have been friends with the last Marcher Lord, but these are MY

people now! How dare you speak of revolt in MY land! You are exactly

the kind of horrible Welshman that I despise. I believe you want this

land for yourself, but you will never have it, you’re FIRED,

Llywelyn Bren! You can no longer call yourself a Lord! Now get out of

my castle before I tell the King about you!”

Llywelyn used all his willpower not to draw his sword and charge

Turberville, but as a noble man he controlled himself and said

“As you wish my Lord” and quickly left the castle.

Llywelyn knew that this was bad news. He was about to

lose his land, his money and his power. He climbed upon

his sturdy horse and rode straight for London to ask King Edward

for help.

Llywelyn found the King pacing in front of his throne. King Edward was

at war with Scotland and was in no mood to be disturbed. When

Llywelyn told him what was happening in Glamorgan, the King became very

annoyed.

Llywelyn Bren, you get back to your lands and clear out your home as

your Marcher Lord tells you. If you don’t, I will have you put to death

for disobeying me. Treason, I say, treason!”

Llywelyn took a big gulp of air, bowed to the King and got back on his horse

to ride home. He was feeling desperate. He now knew that he had to make

a new life being ruled by Turberville and he was worried the King would

have him killed. He knew there was only one plan of action.

Llywelyn would have to fight for his life.

Llywelyn set about raising an army as soon as he returned to Wales.

He and his noble sons asked the villagers for help.

The poor men said You are a rich and powerful man; we are poor and

starving because of this famine. Why should we help you?”

Llywelyn replied I am a rich and powerful man, but the

Marcher Lord has still taken everything from me. I am no longer

able to protect you. If this can happen to me, what will become of you?

Join me and fight. We will tear down his castles and you can take your

rewards; food, riches, you take it.”

An old man stepped forward, cleared his wise and weary throat and said:

This famine is the worst I have ever seen, our women and children

go hungry, yet we are forced to give our tithe crops to the church

and pay heavy taxes to the Marcher Lord. Shame on the young men

who do not go forth and fight. Shame on the men who do not seek to

protect their women and children. Llywelyn Bren was born into a

heroic family. They have fought for Welsh freedom for generations.

You must join him and remove Turberville the Terrible!”

A great cheer went up from the men as they agreed to follow

Llywelyn’s cause.

Llywelyn gathered his men and drew up a plan of attack. They

would strike out against buildings and towns that stood for English

power and revive memories of the brave Welsh heroes that fought

for their freedom a generation ago.

They tore through the land, bringing fire and sword to many places. They

began by attacking the mighty castle at Caerphilly, before raiding the town,

burning houses and shops and slaying the towns people.

They attacked Llantrisant castle and burnt its town. They swooped down

On the monastery in Caerleon and brought destruction there too.

Hearing news of the revolt, King Edward sent a large army

to Wales to put an end to Llywelyn’s rebellion. Five of the King’s Lords

led 150 knights and 2000 soldiers to surround Llywelyn and his army,

force their surrender. The two armies fought a number of brutal

battles, but in the end the King’s

army was victorious.

Llywelyn and the last of his followers ran to the hills for safety, but the

King’s army caught up with them. Knowing all

was lost, Llywelyn showed his bravery when he

walked alone to face the English knights.

He said “I provoked this business and I will hand

myself over for the whole people. It is better that one man should

die, than that the whole race should be exiled or perish

by the sword.”

The knights were so impressed by his speech that they

asked King Edward to spare Llwyelyn’s life.

With the revolt over, the King was now able to punish those that

took part. He raised taxes in Glamorgan to punish the poor people

for their part in the rebellion and to make them pay for the damage

that was done in the county. He also took 1000 men from the area and

sent them to fight for him in Scotland.

It was agreed that Llwyelyn, his wife and sons should remain as

prisoners in the Tower of London until the Glamorgan Welsh

could learn to obey the rules again.

A year later in 1317, Llywelyn was still in the Tower, hoping that he

Would soon be released and could go home again. Many people that had

joined in with his revolt had already been set free, but not Llywelyn.

One day, he heard news that the King had given the lordship of

Glamorgan to a new Marcher Lord, HughDespenser. Llywelyn was

pleased when he heard the news and secretly hoped that with

Payn de Turberville gone, he might now be released.

He waited and waited, but still he sat in the Tower. As

time went by he heard awful things about the new Marcher Lord.

Despenser was bullying the people of Caerphilly, stealing lands

from his fellow Marcher Lords, and was breaking many rules and laws.

He even began to ignore the King’s orders because he thought

he was so powerful.

Hugh Despenser was becoming nastier and nastier and the people of

Glamorgan began to speak of revolt and ways to get rid of him.

Despenser needed a way to remind the people who was in charge.

He needed a way to frighten them into behaving. He needed somebody to

make an example of and unfortunately,

Llywelyn Bren was just the man.

Despenser demanded that Llywelyn was sent from the

Tower of London back to Cardiff Castle to face trial. The

trail was just for show and was very unfair with Despenser

quickly sentencing Llywelyn to death.

“Do you have any last words?・Despenser asked with a smile.

“I do.” replied Llywelyn. “This trial is nonsense. You are trying to

frighten my people, but I am not afraid and as one of them, I will show

you how brave and strong we are. If you must kill me, so be it. I am not

the last rebel, there will be another and I am sure that you will meet

the same fate that I do today.”

In front of a silent but teary-eyed crowd, the execution began.

It was the most gory and disgusting punishment that you could think of.

First Llywelyn was hanged with a rope around his neck, then had his belly

sliced open and his guts pulled out and burned upon a fire, then his head

was cut off and his body hacked into four pieces.

Llyweylyn Bren, hero of our story, was dead.

Finally, his head, arms and legs were sent to different towns to

show the people what would happen to them if they ever upset

Hugh Despenser, the meanest Marcher Lord of all.

The endThe endThe endThe end