When I began writing the Battles of Wales in earnest I soon realised that its scope would have to spread! This single book has now become five volumes. The first book in the series now commences with a general account of Medieval warfare and finishes with ten thirteenth century campaigns which emphasise the importance of logistics in warfare. The book deliberately stops short of the Scottish campaigns of King Edward I which would require a series of books on their own.
In reality the first book, Medieval Battles, 1047 to 1295 is no more than an introduction to the battles themselves which appear in the subsequent volumes. To whet the appetite the first half of the first book consists of the following chapter headings:
The Sources The Mentality of Soldiering in the Middle Ages Description of Cavalry, Crossbowmen, Archers and Foot The Accoutrements of Armour Changing Fashion Cavalry, Knights and Serjeants Knightly Effigies Crossbowmen Archers and Foot Siege Engines and Engineers Mercenaries Trade Tactics and Pay Raising Troops Numbers Naval Transport Casualties Supply Movement, Speed and Distance Income WoundsThe ten campaigns considered are:
The Ceri Campaign of 1228 The Painscastle Campaign of 1231 The Welsh Campaign of 1233 The Wars of Prince Dafydd, 1240 to 1246 Degannwy, 26 August to 26 October 1245 The Perfeddwlad Campaign of 1257 Cefnllys, December 1262 The Welsh Campaign of 1276 to 1277 The Welsh War of 1282 The Welsh War of 1287
The second book in the series is now entitled Welsh Battles, 1055 to 1295 and covers the 69 battles mentioned in historical sources between those dates. The piece I wrote two years ago for this book still stands.
Since I began studying history I realised that no true account of the many battles of the Welsh has ever been published. The nearest to a full list of actions occurs in J.E. Lloyd's seminal work of 1911, but even here many entries are brief as such a monumental history of Wales would demand. Two years ago I decided to undertake a full study of all the Welsh battles in the period between 1055 and 1295. The choice of dates was really simple. It begins with the arrival of Norman knights in Wales and ends with the defeat of the last Welsh army at the end of the turbulent thirteenth century. The battles of Owain Glyndwr belong to another period entirely when chain mail had given way to plate armour.
The book now consists of a series of chapters covering the sixty-nine battles with full descriptions with plans and photographs where available. These battles are listed below. It is hoped that such a work will fill a much needed gap in historical research and lead to a greater discussion and understanding of our military heritage.
** Glasbury, 16 June 1057 **
** Mechain, 1069 **
*** Rhymni, 1072 ***
** Dyffryn Glyncul, 1075 **
** Bron-yr-erw, 1075 **
** Camddwr, 1075 **
** Gweunytwl, 1077 **
** Pwllgwdig, 1078 **
*** Mynydd Carn, 1081 ***
** Llech-y-crau, 1090 **
** St Dogmaels, 1091 **
** Brecon, Between 17 and 23 April 1093 **
** Coedysbys, 1094 **
** Celli Tarfawg/Carnant and Aber Llech 1096 **
*** Aberlleiniog, Anglesey, May 1098 ***
** Aberystwyth, Early March 1116 **
* Ystrad Rwnws, Between May and September 1116 *
*** Maes Maen Cymro, 1118 ***
*** Wadiece, 1132 ***
** Lougher, 1 January 1136 **
** Cedweli, March 1136 **
*** Cardigan, 10 October 1136 ***
** Central Wales, 1145 **
** Coleshill, 1150 **
** Castell Hywel, 1153 **
** Hawarden, August 1157 **
** Tal Moelfre, August 1157 **
** Llanidloes, 1162 **
** Rhos y Gad near Pentraeth, 1170 **
* 'Baldert’ Bridge, 1170 *
* Elfael, 22 September 1179
* Dingestow, 1182 *
** Aber Conway, Porthaethwy and Coedaneu, 1194 **
*** Radnor, 1196 ***
*** Painscastle, 13 August 1198 ***
** Aberduhonw, Summer 1208 **
** Builth Wells, June/July 1210 **
* Cilcennin, About 30 November 1210 *
*** Llandeilo, 30 January 1213 ***
** Carmarthen Bridge, 29 August 1220 **
** Carmarthen, 26 April 1223 **
** Montgomery, May/June 1231 **
** Hay-on-Wye, July 1231 **
* Carmarthen, 1 August 1233 *
* Grosmont, 17 November 1233 *
** Monmouth, 25 November 1233 **
** Monmouth, 26 December 1233 **
*** Carmarthen, End of March 1234 ***
* Baglan, 3 or 5 February 1245 *
** Montgomery, Late February 1245 **
** Bryn Derwyn, between 24 June and 25 September 1255 **
** Berriew, Mid to Late January 1257 **
** Gwernesgof, End of May (Trinity) 1257 **
*** Cymerau, 2 June 1257 ***
* Dyfed, Monday after Easter [24 March] 1258
** Carmarthen Bridge, Mid April 1258 **
** Cilgerran, 4 or 7 September 1258 **
*** Abergavenny, 3 March 1263 ***
** Abermule, March/April 1263 **
** Brecon, 15 May 1266 **
** Glamorgan, after 13 March 1267 **
*** Llandeilo, 17 June 1282 ***
** Meol y Don, 11 November 1282 **
*** Builth Wells, 12 December 1282 ***
* Denbigh, 11 November 1294 *
*** Maes Moydog, 5 March 1295 ***
The third volume is entitled English Battles, 1055 to 1266 and contains the following actions.
The fourth volume will be entitled Norman Battles, 1047 to 1214 and contain the chapters:
Val es Dunes, 1047
Arques, 1053
Mortemer, 1054
Varaville, 1057
Cassel, February 1071
Gerberoi, 1079
Tinchebrai, 1106
Alencon, 1118
Bremule, 1119
Bourtheroulde, 1124
Saint Leufroi near Evreux, 3 October 1136
Chaumont-sur-Loire, 1160
Chaumont-sur-Epte, After Apr 1167
Verneuil, 9 Aug 1173
Mirabeau, 1202
Bouvines, 20 July 1214
A final book is intended to deal with Scottish and Irish battles during this period.
For clarity these are marked as actions on a specific scale. Skirmishes or routs are marked with a star (*), battles with two stars (**), major battles with three (***) and campaigns with an X.
Since the publishing the list below I have been asked which battles are already covered in my series of booklets on castles. Links have now been established from the list below to my booklet pages and these pages have been amended to include reference to the various battles.
Paul Martin Remfry
Copyright©1994-2004 Paul Martin Remfry