Twelve Knights of Glamorgan
Encyclopedia
Twelve Knights of Glamorgan were the legendary followers of Robert FitzHamon
, the Norman conqueror of Glamorgan
. They are figures in early Welsh history.
The legend of the 12 Knights of Glamorgan was founded by the antiquarian of St. Donat's Castle in Glamorgan, Sir Edward Stradling (d. 1609). He published in 1561 "The Winning of the Lordship of Glamorgan out of Welshmens' Hands", describing the actions of Robert FitzHamon, the first Lord of Glamorgan
, assigning to him twelve Knights who followed him from Gloucestershire to effect the conquest. Most of the knights in his list withstand modern historical scrutiny, but not however the Stradling knight himself, the ancestor of Sir Edward, whom he had believed to have been a follower of FitzHamon. It has been more recently determined that the first Stradling in Glamorgan actually arrived later than FitzHamon, probably originating in Switzerland. http://www.stradling.org.uk/docs/Origins.htm
They are as follows:
Robert Fitzhamon
Robert Fitzhamon , or Robert FitzHamon, Sieur de Creully in the Calvados region and Torigny in the Manche region of Normandy, was Lord of Gloucester and the Norman conqueror of Glamorgan, southern Wales...
, the Norman conqueror of Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
. They are figures in early Welsh history.
The legend of the 12 Knights of Glamorgan was founded by the antiquarian of St. Donat's Castle in Glamorgan, Sir Edward Stradling (d. 1609). He published in 1561 "The Winning of the Lordship of Glamorgan out of Welshmens' Hands", describing the actions of Robert FitzHamon, the first Lord of Glamorgan
Lord of Glamorgan
The Lordship of Glamorgan was one of the most powerful and wealthy of the Welsh Marcher Lordships. Established by the conquest of Glamorgan from its last Welsh ruler the Anglo-Norman lord of Glamorgan like all Marcher lords ruled his lands directly by his own law, thus they could amongst other...
, assigning to him twelve Knights who followed him from Gloucestershire to effect the conquest. Most of the knights in his list withstand modern historical scrutiny, but not however the Stradling knight himself, the ancestor of Sir Edward, whom he had believed to have been a follower of FitzHamon. It has been more recently determined that the first Stradling in Glamorgan actually arrived later than FitzHamon, probably originating in Switzerland. http://www.stradling.org.uk/docs/Origins.htm
List of the Twelve Knights
An account of the Knights and of the lands allotted to each is given in the 1591 work of Sir Edward Mansel of Margam "An Account of the Cause of the Conquest of Glamorgan by Sir Robert FitzHaymon and his Twelve Knights".http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=48294They are as follows:
- Sir William de Londres; OgmoreOgmore CastleOgmore Castle is located near the village of Ogmore-by-Sea, south of the town of Bridgend in Glamorgan, South Wales. It is situated on the south bank of the River Ewenny and the east bank of the River Ogmore. Cowbridge is nearby. Its construction might have begun in 1106...
- Sir Richard Grenville; NeathNeath CastleNeath Castle is a Norman castle located in the town centre of Neath, Wales.-Sources:**...
- Sir Payn de Turberville; CoityCoity CastleCoity Castle in Glamorgan, Wales is a Norman castle built by Sir Payn "the Demon" de Turberville , one of the legendary Twelve Knights of Glamorgan supposed to have conquered Glamorgan under the leadership of Robert FitzHamon, Lord of Gloucester. Now in ruins, it stands in the Community of Coity...
- Sir Robert St.Quintin; Llanblethian
- Sir Richard Siward; Talyfan
- Sir Gilbert Umfraville; Penmark
- Sir Roger Berkerolles; St. Athan
- Sir Reginald Sully; SullySully, Vale of GlamorganSully is a village in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales lying on the northern coast of the Bristol Channel, midway between the towns of Penarth and Barry and 7 miles southwest of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff.-Medieval Sully:...
- Sir Peter le Soare; Llanbedr-ar-Lai
- Sir John Fleming; WenvoeWenvoeWenvoe is a Welsh village between Barry and Cardiff in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. Nearby is the Wenvoe Transmitter near Twyn-yr-Odyn and the HTV Wales Television Centre at Culverhouse Cross in the suburbs of Cardiff.-History:...
- Sir Oliver St.John; FonmonFonmon CastleFonmon Castle is a fortified medieval house near the village of Fonmon in the Vale of Glamorgan. It dates from the 13th century, and is still in use as a private residence. The walled gardens are surrounded by woodlands....
- (Sir William Stradling; St. Donat's)