The New Murrey and Blue blog

Henry IV and the Welsh March

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This excellent article by Douglas Biggs suggests that many of the Welsh gentlemen who rose with Glyndwr, or at around the same time, did so, not because of perceived national sentiment but because of patronage, or the lack of it. The usurpation of Henry IV has the side effect of disturbing ‘normal’ patterns of patronage.

Biggs makes clear that the seizure of Conwy Castle by the Tudors was not part of the Owain rebellion, but an attempt by the Tudors to attract royal attention to what they perceived as Henry’s neglect of their supposed just deserts. (What their underlings who were strung up for treason thought of the demonstration, one can but wonder. The Tudors themselves, of course, were pardoned.)

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