Huw Llywelyn Rees


 

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28th November

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By: Huw Llywelyn Rees
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Owain ap Gruffydd c. 1100 – 28 November 1170) was King of Gwynedd from 1137 until his death. He was a key figure in Welsh resistance to Norman rule and the first native prince to adopt the title Prince of the Welsh. He is known as Owain Gwynedd to distinguish him from the king of  Powys of the same name, who was known as "Owain Cyfeiliog". 

1132 - His elder brother Cadwallon was killed, leaving Owain as his father's heir.

1136 - Owain and his brother Cadwaladr won a major victory over the Normans near Cardigan and annexed Ceredigion into their father's territory.

1137 - Gruffydd, his father, died and Owain inherited the well-established kingdom but had to share it with Cadwaladr.

1143 - Cadwaladr was implicated in a murder and Owain stripped him of his lands in north Ceredigion. Owain now ruled alone over most of north Wales. 

1150 - Owain captured Rhuddlan and was victorious in battle at Coleshill against Madog ap Maredudd, Prince of Powys and Earl Ranulf of Chester.

1154 - Henry II became King of England.

1155 - A further quarrel with his brother led to Cadwaladr being driven into exile, King Henry II giving him lands in Shropshire.

1157 - Henry invaded Gwynedd  with the support of Madog ap Maredudd of Powys and Cadwaladr. Henry's forces ravaged eastern Gwynedd and destroyed many churches, whilst  Owain's men ambushed the royal army at Ewloe in a narrow, wooded valley, routing it completely with King Henry himself narrowly avoiding capture. However, Owain was eventually forced to come to terms with Henry, being obliged to surrender Rhuddlan.

1160 - Madog ap Maredudd died, enabling Owain to regain territory in Powys.

1165 - King Henry again invaded Gwynedd in 1165, and was met by an alliance of all the Welsh princes, with Owain as the undisputed leader. The Welsh weather forced Henry to retreat. In fury, Henry mutilated Welsh hostages, including two of Owain's sons.

1167 - Owain regained his eastern conquests, recapturing Rhuddlan and Prestatyn Castles.

Owain died in 1170 and was buried in Bangor Cathedral.


  Asset

Carry on up the Khyber, released on this day 1968 was partially filmed in Wales. 

Scenes  were filmed below the summit of Snowdon, with the Watkin Path representing the Khyber Pass. In September 2005, a plaque was unveiled in Snowdonia to mark the spot where the film was shot.  


  Sian_Williams,_May_2010_crop

Born on this day 1964 in London to Welsh parents,

Sian Williams - journalist and current affairs presenter. She is best known as a co-presenter of BBC Breakfast and the BBC News at Six.  Williams spent over a decade reporting and editing news programmes with BBC Radio, before moving into television news. 

During BBC Cymru Wales TV series Coming Home, Williams discovered that she was the first member of her family to have been born outside Wales in the 350 years of her known family history. She said, "I think it's not about where you're born, it's about where generations of your family come from. I can now proudly say I'm Welsh, it doesn't matter that I was born in Paddington, I'm Welsh, yes I am, and very proud of it too."  


  1024px-Portmeirion_view_of_central_plaza

Portmeirion is a popular tourist village  on the estuary of the River Dwyryd in Gwynedd.  It was designed and built between 1925 and 1975 by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between in the style of an Italian village.

Sir Clough Williams-Ellis wanted to evoke the atmosphere of the Mediterranean and particularly that of the village of Portofino.

Portmeirion has served as the location for many films and television dramas, most famously as The Village in the 1960s television series The Prisoner, which became a cult classic. Fans continue to visit Portmeirion, which hosts annual Prisoner conventions.