The Revolt of Llywelyn Bren
Literacy Activity
This resource was initially created as a pre-visit activity for your class to
carry out before taking part in our medieval workshop ‘Local Lords: An Age
of the Princes Enquiry’.
However, it also functions as a classroom resource to help you embed
the Numeracy and Literacy framework (especially in relation to Literacy
Strand 2 – Reading across the curriculum, Element 2 – Responding to what has
been read) into your Age of the Princes topic.
The activity is relevant to the curricula for History, English, Art & design and ICT.
We suggest that the class read the story of Llyewlyn Bren before discussing
and listing the key events in the story.
They can then work individually or in groups to storyboard those key
events. Writing a narration as part of each story square will encourage them
to comprehend the text and to write concisely.
There is an example storyboard attached to the end of the story for
pupil reference. These images have been created to assist the creative
process and may provide the pupils with a good idea of where to begin.
If your school has the facilities, you might like to create an animated version of
the story.
The following story is an abridged version of Llywelyn Bren’s rebellion in
the marcher lordship of Glamorgan in the year 1316.
Some artistic license has been used to help tell the story in a more imaginative
way and some details have been omitted in effort to convey a
more straightforward series of events for children to storyboard. An in
depth, academic version of events is detailed in
‘Conquerors and Conquered in Medieval Wales’
Griffiths, Ralph. A (1994)
The Revolt of Llywelyn Bren
Lord of Senghenydd
The year was 1314 and the most powerful man in the land was Gilbert de
Clare. He was the Marcher Lord of Glamorgan and was very wealthy. From
his mighty castle at Caerphilly he was able to rule for as far as his eyes
could see.
Gilbert’s lands were so vast that he needed the Welsh Lords to help him
keep control of the county. His favourite and most trusted Lord was
Llywelyn
Bren, the Lord of Senghenydd. Between them they were able to bring
peace and prosperity to the land, but this was not to last…
One day in July, Gilbert and Llywelyn were enjoying a delicious feast at
Caerphilly castle when a letter arrived from King Edward II. Gilbert
opened it and looked steely faced.
He read the letter and said to Llywelyn “My friend, the King has asked me to
help lead an army against the Scottish. I must leave immediately. I ask you
to hold my lands and keep them safe until I return.”
Llywelyn looked at him and nodded, his mouth was too full of
food to speak.
Later that month Llywelyn was deep in prayer at his chapel. Was he asking
God for the safe return of his friend? Was he asking that the crops in the
fields grow tall enough for a good harvest?
He was kneeling in silent thought when the priest gently
tapped him on the shoulder. “My Lord” the priest said with his
smooth voice, “I bring terrible news. Our Marcher Lord,
Gilbert de Clare has been slain on the battlefield. We have lost a
brave and powerful man. I fear what
might happen to our land without him.”
Llywelyn rose up and faced the priest. Fear not Father, I shall do my best
to work with our new lord to keep the peace.・ He turned and strode
out of the chapel; the clinking of his chain mail was the only sound to be
heard.
The news of Gilbert’s death soon spread to the
other Marcher Lords and they started to look at his
land and wanted it for themselves. To keep the peace, King Edward
said that he would send a royal officer to look after the county until
the rightful owner could be decided and power passed on
without bloodshed.
It took a long time, but in 1316 the lordship of Glamorgan was finally
given to the royal officer, Payn de Turberville, but he was not a
nice man. His job was to serve the King and he did not like the Welsh
people at all. He caused problems and upset people by sending his
officers to snoop about his new land, trying to find out how much people
owned, what they earned and
how much he could take from them in taxes.
To make matters worse, the weather turned very sour and it
Stopped the crops from growing. A terrible famine struck the
country and rich and poor people were all becoming very hungry
and very irritable.
Llywelyn knew that more taxes would upset the peasants on his land, so
he went to the castle to see Payn de Turberville.
“My Lord,・Llywelyn said loudly “Glamorgan was once an honest, peaceful
and prosperous land. Do you seek to cause a revolt? You
are causing many problems here, you do not understand this place
or my people!”
“Your people?” Turberville spoke like a slippery snake. “You might
have been friends with the last Marcher Lord, but these are MY
people now! How dare you speak of revolt in MY land! You are exactly
the kind of horrible Welshman that I despise. I believe you want this
land for yourself, but you will never have it, you’re FIRED,
Llywelyn Bren! You can no longer call yourself a Lord! Now get out of
my castle before I tell the King about you!”
Llywelyn used all his willpower not to draw his sword and charge
Turberville, but as a noble man he controlled himself and said
“As you wish my Lord” and quickly left the castle.
Llywelyn knew that this was bad news. He was about to
lose his land, his money and his power. He climbed upon
his sturdy horse and rode straight for London to ask King Edward
for help.
Llywelyn found the King pacing in front of his throne. King Edward was
at war with Scotland and was in no mood to be disturbed. When
Llywelyn told him what was happening in Glamorgan, the King became very
annoyed.
Llywelyn Bren, you get back to your lands and clear out your home as
your Marcher Lord tells you. If you don’t, I will have you put to death
for disobeying me. Treason, I say, treason!”
Llywelyn took a big gulp of air, bowed to the King and got back on his horse
to ride home. He was feeling desperate. He now knew that he had to make
a new life being ruled by Turberville and he was worried the King would
have him killed. He knew there was only one plan of action.
Llywelyn would have to fight for his life.
Llywelyn set about raising an army as soon as he returned to Wales.
He and his noble sons asked the villagers for help.
The poor men said You are a rich and powerful man; we are poor and
starving because of this famine. Why should we help you?”
Llywelyn replied I am a rich and powerful man, but the
Marcher Lord has still taken everything from me. I am no longer
able to protect you. If this can happen to me, what will become of you?
Join me and fight. We will tear down his castles and you can take your
rewards; food, riches, you take it.”
An old man stepped forward, cleared his wise and weary throat and said:
This famine is the worst I have ever seen, our women and children
go hungry, yet we are forced to give our tithe crops to the church
and pay heavy taxes to the Marcher Lord. Shame on the young men
who do not go forth and fight. Shame on the men who do not seek to
protect their women and children. Llywelyn Bren was born into a
heroic family. They have fought for Welsh freedom for generations.
You must join him and remove Turberville the Terrible!”
A great cheer went up from the men as they agreed to follow
Llywelyn’s cause.
Llywelyn gathered his men and drew up a plan of attack. They
would strike out against buildings and towns that stood for English
power and revive memories of the brave Welsh heroes that fought
for their freedom a generation ago.
They tore through the land, bringing fire and sword to many places. They
began by attacking the mighty castle at Caerphilly, before raiding the town,
burning houses and shops and slaying the towns people.
They attacked Llantrisant castle and burnt its town. They swooped down
On the monastery in Caerleon and brought destruction there too.
Hearing news of the revolt, King Edward sent a large army
to Wales to put an end to Llywelyn’s rebellion. Five of the King’s Lords
led 150 knights and 2000 soldiers to surround Llywelyn and his army,
force their surrender. The two armies fought a number of brutal
battles, but in the end the King’s
army was victorious.
Llywelyn and the last of his followers ran to the hills for safety, but the
King’s army caught up with them. Knowing all
was lost, Llywelyn showed his bravery when he
walked alone to face the English knights.
He said “I provoked this business and I will hand
myself over for the whole people. It is better that one man should
die, than that the whole race should be exiled or perish
by the sword.”
The knights were so impressed by his speech that they
asked King Edward to spare Llwyelyn’s life.
With the revolt over, the King was now able to punish those that
took part. He raised taxes in Glamorgan to punish the poor people
for their part in the rebellion and to make them pay for the damage
that was done in the county. He also took 1000 men from the area and
sent them to fight for him in Scotland.
It was agreed that Llwyelyn, his wife and sons should remain as
prisoners in the Tower of London until the Glamorgan Welsh
could learn to obey the rules again.
A year later in 1317, Llywelyn was still in the Tower, hoping that he
Would soon be released and could go home again. Many people that had
joined in with his revolt had already been set free, but not Llywelyn.
One day, he heard news that the King had given the lordship of
Glamorgan to a new Marcher Lord, HughDespenser. Llywelyn was
pleased when he heard the news and secretly hoped that with
Payn de Turberville gone, he might now be released.
He waited and waited, but still he sat in the Tower. As
time went by he heard awful things about the new Marcher Lord.
Despenser was bullying the people of Caerphilly, stealing lands
from his fellow Marcher Lords, and was breaking many rules and laws.
He even began to ignore the King’s orders because he thought
he was so powerful.
Hugh Despenser was becoming nastier and nastier and the people of
Glamorgan began to speak of revolt and ways to get rid of him.
Despenser needed a way to remind the people who was in charge.
He needed a way to frighten them into behaving. He needed somebody to
make an example of and unfortunately,
Llywelyn Bren was just the man.
Despenser demanded that Llywelyn was sent from the
Tower of London back to Cardiff Castle to face trial. The
trail was just for show and was very unfair with Despenser
quickly sentencing Llywelyn to death.
“Do you have any last words?・Despenser asked with a smile.
“I do.” replied Llywelyn. “This trial is nonsense. You are trying to
frighten my people, but I am not afraid and as one of them, I will show
you how brave and strong we are. If you must kill me, so be it. I am not
the last rebel, there will be another and I am sure that you will meet
the same fate that I do today.”
In front of a silent but teary-eyed crowd, the execution began.
It was the most gory and disgusting punishment that you could think of.
First Llywelyn was hanged with a rope around his neck, then had his belly
sliced open and his guts pulled out and burned upon a fire, then his head
was cut off and his body hacked into four pieces.
Llyweylyn Bren, hero of our story, was dead.
Finally, his head, arms and legs were sent to different towns to
show the people what would happen to them if they ever upset
Hugh Despenser, the meanest Marcher Lord of all.
The end