Posted by Hovite
on 17/9/2009, 7:26:34, in reply to "On This Day"
81.96.188.195
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: 1400: Owain Glyndwr proclaims himself prince
: of Wales, launching the last Welsh rebellion
: against the English.
You are projecting Welsh nationalism back into a period centuries before it was invented.
Owen rebelled because Henry IV had deposed and murdered Richard II. Henry had originally claimed that he just wanted to reclaim his father's dukedom of Lancaster, a plan that other lords were happy to support. But once the rebellion had commenced, and it was far too late for his allies to back out, Henry either changed his plan, or disclosed his true intention, and stole the crown itself. His success showed that anyone with an army could be king.
Owen also gave different reasons for his rebellion. One justification was to depose the usurper and install the rightful heir. The truth of the matter is that Owen was just another opportunistic adventurer, out to grab as much as he could. His tripartite treaty with Mortimer and Percy would in theory have resulted in the division of England into three parts had the rebellion succeeded.
The series of wars sparked off by the overthrow of Richard II continued until another Welsh prince slew Richard III.
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