Episode Six: A Sticky End…
Acting quickly, Edward again appointed three Marcher lords to command forces on the border while he fielded an even bigger army than for the previous war. Setting out again from Chester in early July, he headed for his damaged castle at Rhuddlan which would function as his operations base. But this time he wasn’t interested in submission or homage from Llywelyn. He was past caring about that. Instead he had bigger ideas. Now he intended to conquer the whole of Wales.
As before, a division of Edward’s army secured the vital crops on Anglesey, but this time the king went a step further. Shipping in hundreds of carpenters and materials including timber, rope and nails from Chester, he ordered a unique bridge of boats to be constructed that would link the island to the mainland and give his men access to Snowdonia from the rear. The rebels took refuge in the mountains they knew so well, but Edward was not about to give up.
The mountains gave the rebels cover… for a while
The conflict went on for months. Even the archbishop of Canterbury’s intervention failed to bring about a negotiated settlement. Talks between Edward and Llywelyn conducted through his mediation were a resounding flop, and a reconciliation was now clearly beyond hope. The people of Snowdonia, Llywelyn said defiantly, “do not wish to do homage to a stranger, of whose language, manners and laws they are entirely ignorant”.
So amid more Welsh resistance and uprisings, Llywelyn left his brother in the North to strike out with his army southwards towards Builth to seek help. But either by chance or betrayal, the English were there, waiting for him, and on 11th December at a nearby place named Cilmeri, the ensuing battle saw Llywelyn meet his end. At first, no-one realised who he was, but when the bodies were checked in the aftermath of the fighting Llywelyn’s identity was finally revealed. The commander of the division sent a letter to Edward with the news of the prince’s death, along with his head, which was sent on to London to be displayed as a warning to any other would-be rebels.
Now after Dafydd for his treachery, Edward invaded Gwynedd in March 1283. Dafydd fled to the mountains and then hid out at his dead brother’s castle at Llanberis near Mount Snowdon. But it was all to no avail; he was captured and carted away to captivity to await his sentence. Edward felt that Dafydd’s level of betrayal warranted a new punishment, one befitting a turncoat who had committed high treason, the most heinous crime of all. After some creative thinking it was, therefore, Dafydd ap Gruffud who was the first person to be executed by hanging, drawing and quartering, the ultimate traitor’s death that was to be the go-to sentence for centuries to come.
Dolbadarn Castle, in Llanberis, Llywelyn’s heartland castle, where Dafydd hid out until he was captured
After the defeat of the last of this troublesome dynasty, Edward ordered his master mason, Master James of St George, to build three new castles all at once. To be positioned 20 miles apart, the new fortresses would stamp the king’s permanent badge of ownership on the late prince’s northern territory. The locations chosen were Conwy, Caernarfon and Harlech, and these were all begun in 1283. The first two were not only to be castles, Edward instructed, but more ‘bastides’, this time surrounded by formidable defensive walls. The intention now was not only to subdue, but also to colonise the conquered Wales. The Welsh were cut out, allowed access inside the walls only to trade. The work began apace on the new castles, and the shape of North Wales, along with its population, began to be remodelled to a grand English design.
Finally Edward could rest assured that the Welsh had come under his full control. What he couldn’t have seen coming was that the people of Wales had one last trick up their sleeve…
Quest Update: A Bay of Mists
After the searing heat of Thursday, it had been raining when we set out today, making for much cooler and fresher conditions for a walk. After exploring the beautiful, misty landscape of Great Orme, we set off from Llandudno and headed along the coast to Conwy, passing the site of Deganwy, Henry III’s castle that Llywelyn had captured and destroyed prior to the Treaty of Montgomery. There’s nothing left now save a few rocks on the craggy hills the castle occupied, but these dramatic bumps in the land still cut a commanding presence over the surrounding area.
The natural grandeur of Great Orme
The path to Conwy with the hills of Deganwy looming ahead
A haunting mist hung over the scenery, making the mouth of the Menai Straits look like a setting for Camelot, and as we rounded the headland and approached Conwy Bay, I caught sight of the next castle on the Quest: the magnificent edifice that is Conwy.
A glimpse of Conwy Castle between the hazy hills
I can’t wait to delve into its stories and wander round it’s many walls and towers in what promises to be a wonderful castle questing day. But before I report on my findings, one more chapter of the story needs to be told…
The bay of mists…
medievalwanderings.com 
Really interesting my Love – I enjoyed that. It does make me wonder about Edward, what a imagination for punishments he had!!!
Great photos! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
He set the bar for a traitor’s death.
LikeLiked by 2 people
imagine what he’s do to somebody he REALLY didn’t like…
LikeLiked by 2 people
He REALLY didn’t like Dafydd…
LikeLiked by 2 people
😀
LikeLike
I have fond memories of the Orme and Conwy. There is a superb prehistoric mine on the Orme… and Conwy was the first castle I ever explored in Wales. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a place to start for castle exploring! 😀
LikeLike
It has to be one of the best 🙂
LikeLike
The mist adds to the story – literally castles looming up out of the mists of time. Wonderful stuff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Suzanne. It was rather special. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a great questing day. The mist, the castles, the remnants. The hiding Welsh in the Snowdonia … ah. magic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Marilyn, glad you enjoyed it. It was a bit special. And oh, those mountains… ❤ 🙂
LikeLike
I’d love to visit Wales again, especially this part. We spent a few lovely days there in the spring of 1990 visiting three steam railways. Ffestiniog, The Welsh Highland Railway and the Tallylyn. I believe the first two have now become one organisation. I recall them being situated at opposite ends of Porthmadog. We saw the outside of Caernarfon Castle and Conwy Castle we saw from the train. I am very much looking forward to reading about your visits to these two as that was as close as I got..
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ll love the castles to come then, Vanda. They’re the biggies and they’re true stunners. This next four make up a World Heritage Site and you’ll see why over the coming week.
I don’t know the railways that well, except the locations of them, so you’re one up on me there! Wales is a beautiful country, and I’m hoping to post some mountain pics too at some point, as they’re also stunning. Thanks for your company on my Quest, Vanda.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m a rail fan from way back as was my husband so steam railways were on the top of the to do list in the UK.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really enjoy them too, and steam is so special and nostalgic. We’ve got quite a few good steam lines in the UK. Next time you’re over, the Severn Valley Railway is fantastic if you haven’t done it before.
On another note, have you managed to catch up with Series 3 of The Detectorists yet? 🙂
LikeLike
Not yet. I’m not sure if has been on free to air TV yet. A friend downloaded it and I’m thinking of asking for a copy. In the meantime I’ve watched the first two series again. It never gets old.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is very true. It’s fantastic. If you can get a copy, you’re in for a reat treat with series 3. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The stall is almost set. It’s been fascinating to learn of the build-up to Edward’s conquest of Wales and those next three castles will take up quite a bit of your time I would imagine.
I see that you’ve had rain for the first time, so I should delete the comment I made on Stuart’s post now. Let’s hope you don’t get too much of the wet stuff, but I don’t think the forecast is too bad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Malc. Glad you’re enjoying it. Yes, the next few are going to be biggies.
The rain was welcome yesterday and really freshened up the air. I don’t think the forecast is bad – I’d rather anything than the punishing heat of last week. Hopefully I’ll get airborne at some point later on to fly over Harlech, but we’ll go with the flow as to when it happens. Hope you’re enjoying the cooler conditions too. 🙂
LikeLike
Let’s hope the weather holds up for your flight over Harlech. That’ll be brilliant.
To be honest the weather’s not been too hot here. We’ve always got a sea breeze to keep the temperatures down. Looking forward to the next instalment 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll get the flight in at some point, even if it’s at the end. I’d really like to get some aerial pics to complete the Quest.
We didn’t have the heat as bad as they did back home, but it was bad enough for me. We were very thankful for the sea breeze during the worst of the heat – and the castle! Not sure I could have done it without them. I’m just glad it’s over. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
what turbulent and bloody times they were! looking forward to your writings on the big three, Happy wandering.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They were indeed. That’s what makes them so interesting! 😊
LikeLike
I would love that walk and maybe living in a place named “Snowdonia.” ❤ What it would be to be the person who "invented" hanging, drawing and quartering. "So, grandad, what was your life's great accomplishment?"
"Well, son, I came up with a new torture, evisceration of the enemy AFTER scaring the shit out of them by hanging them. Awesome. The King was SO pleased."
"Is that why dad ran away from home?"
"If you're going to talk about that…"
"Nevermind."
And behind this drama, people are just trying to live their lives.
LikeLike
I’m really glad I don’t have the kind of imagination which could dream up ‘hanging, drawing and quartering’ – urghh! By the way, minor criticism – Snowdon is never ‘Mount’ Snowdon – that’s kind of European! 😉
LikeLike
Ooops. Noted. I should kmow that, being Welsh. But on the other hand I don’t know a lot about mountains, except they’re stunning. 😊
LikeLike
I didn’t know you were Welsh! My Dad was teaching me Welsh as a kid but, when I got to secondary school, it clashed horribly with compulsory French so I had to give the Welsh up. I’d rather have learnt Welsh than French though…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well you doubtless know more than me! I can’t speak a word, even though my family nanes were Lloyd and Evans… 😊
LikeLike
it’s a really lovely old language
LikeLiked by 1 person
So it seems. 🙂
LikeLike
Conwy castle and the whole enclosed town is magnificent; the castle looks and feels like its own mountain with commanding views of the whole estuary. Enjoy!!
More stories and history please😀😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi David, I thought I might hear from you around now! We’re on a long stretch of the walk from Conwy towards Caernarfon today, but it’ll be Conwy Castle that takes centre stage tonight! The place blew me away, and it was very special to have approached it on foot. See you later… 😊
LikeLike