This is the second book in the series about Medieval Battles. It is about the real battles of Wales and its Marches, not
fanciful tales of tragedy and melodrama. The aim is to write
the known history of the battles which were fought within the lands
known as Wales in the Middle Ages. To this end the
history in this volume is based upon sound translations of original
sources where these exist. Consequently a conscious attempt
has been made not to reproduce baseless more modern assertions in this
text, although where necessary these assertions are examined to explain
why they are wrong and what is more likely to have really
happened. More likely are the correct words to use as events
were never clear cut and more than one interpretation of the evidence
is always possible. To better understand the basis for this
work it is necessary to read the first volume in this series which
looks at broader military issues and the sources used to build up these
books.
These works attempt to adhere firmly to facts - facts that can be
verified by comparison with original sources - and the value of this
original evidence will be examined as to its veracity.
Speculation will occur, as it is simply necessary to make sense of many
of the events which have been recorded, but it will be noted as
such. What was obvious to a contemporary might not be so
obvious to us hundreds of years later. Similarly what was
reported and written down as history in a monastery might not have been
an accurate representation of what had actually happened.
The Battles of Wales is divided into chapters which together cover the
struggle for dominance in Wales. These are designed to be
either dipped into separately or read together as a coherent military
history of Wales.
The Contents of Medieval Battles:
Wales, 1055 to 1216
Introduction
The Constituent Parts of Wales
Hereford in Wales, 24 October 1055
Glasbury, 16 June 1056
Mechain, 1069
Rhymni, 1072
Bloody Field, 1075
Camddwr, 1075
Bron-yr-erw, 1075
Gweunytwl, 1077
Pwllgwdig, 1078
Mynydd Carn, 1081
Llech-y-crau, 1088
Llandudoch, St Dogmaels, 1091
Brycheiniog, Between 17 and 23 April 1093
Degannwy, 3 July 1093
Coedysbys, 1094
Celli Carnant and Aberllech, 1096
Aberlleiniog, Anglesey, July 1098
Aberystwyth, Early March 1116
Ystrad Rwnws, Between May and September
1116
Maes Maen Cymro, Spring 1118
Wadiece, 1132
Loughor, 1 January 1136 Cedweli, March
1136
Cardigan, 10 October 1136
Central Wales and Cardigan, 1145
Nantwich, 3 September 1146
Coleshill, 1150
Tal y Foel, Abermenai, 3 May 1157
Hawarden Wood, Early August 1157
Llanidloes, 1162 The Battle of ‘Crogen'
Rhos y Gad, Pentraeth, between December 1170 and
25 March 1171
‘Baldert' Bridge, 1170
Elfael, 22 September 1179
Dingestow, 28 May 1182
Swansea, November or December 1192
Aberconwy, Porthaethwy and Coedana, 1194
Radnor, 1196
Painscastle, 13 August 1198
Aberduhonw, October 1208
Builth Wells, Autumn 1210
Cilcennin, About 30 November 1210
Llandeilo, 30 January 1213