Battle of Llandeilo Fawr
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Llandeilo Fawr was a battle that took place at Llandeilo
between an English
army led by Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford and a south Welsh
army.
and destroy them. Edward sent Gilbert de Clare and his army to subdue and hold down the southern areas of Wales while other armies would invade other parts of the principality.
to stash the spoils. However along the way de Clare and his men were ambushed by Welsh troops, and much of the army was destroyed.
. Following the defeat, Edward relieved de Clare of his command and replaced him with de Valence who was now determined following the death of his son.
Llandeilo
Llandeilo is a town in Carmarthenshire, Wales, situated at the crossing of the River Towy by the A483 on a 19th century stone bridge. Its population is 1,731.The town is served by Llandeilo railway station on the Heart of Wales Line.- Early history :...
between an English
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
army led by Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford and a south Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
army.
Background
During the 1282 Welsh war, Edward I had a plan to strike his armies into Wales on three fronts in order to surround the armies of Llywelyn ap GruffyddLlywelyn ap Gruffydd
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd may refer to:*Llywelyn the Last *Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan...
and destroy them. Edward sent Gilbert de Clare and his army to subdue and hold down the southern areas of Wales while other armies would invade other parts of the principality.
The battle
Gilbert de Clare with an army of around 1600 infantry and 100 cavalrymen had successfully captured Carreg Cennen Castle from the Welsh. Following their victory, the men sacked the castle, and on the 17th of June they headed back to the nearby English settlement- Dinefwr CastleDinefwr Castle
Dinefwr Castle is a Welsh castle overlooking the River Tywi near the town of Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It lies on a ridge on the northern bank of the Tywi, with a steep drop of several hundred feet to the river. Dinefwr was the chief seat of the Principality of Deheubarth...
to stash the spoils. However along the way de Clare and his men were ambushed by Welsh troops, and much of the army was destroyed.
Aftermath
The battle was a great victory for the Welsh. English expansion into south Wales was halted for a few weeks and Edward's plans of an attack on multiple fronts was somewhat spoiled. Among the dead was the son of William de Valence, 1st Earl of PembrokeWilliam de Valence, 1st Earl of Pembroke
William de Valence, 1st Earl of Wexford and 1st Earl of Pembroke , born Guillaume de Lusignan or de Valence, was a French nobleman and Knight, who became important in English politics due to his relationship to Henry III...
. Following the defeat, Edward relieved de Clare of his command and replaced him with de Valence who was now determined following the death of his son.