SIX hundred years since his death, new revelations about the fate of Owain Glyndwr have emerged.

Still one of the most important and fascinating figures in Welsh history, the details of the final few years of the man who was crowned the Prince of Wales in Machynlleth in 1404 are unknown, and the site of his resting place, a mystery.

In The Last Days of Owain Glyndwr, published by Y Lolfa, Gruffydd Aled Williams, a leading authority on the subject, has rigorously assessed the evidence in oral tradition, manuscripts and printed sources, as well as on the ground, sorting fact from fiction.

He also investigates Glyndwr family history and, based on new research, brings to light new information available in English for the first time on Wales’ most enduringly inspiring national hero, who led the war of independence in the early 15th century.

A descendant of the Princes of Powys through his father and of the Princes of Deheubarth through his mother, Glyndwr was proclaimed Prince of Wales in 1400, the last native-born leader to boast this title. In the first years of the century, he led a successful campaign against the English rule of Wales under Henry IV, capturing strategically-important castles and winning key battles against the English army.

However, by 1409 the castles had been retaken and the last documented sighting of Glyndwr seems to have been in 1412. What happened to him after that and the locations of his death and subsequent burial remain shrouded in uncertainty.

“There are certain mysteries that can never be finally solved. One such mystery is that of the last days of Owain Glyndwr,” said Gruffydd Aled.

“This volume, therefore, has not been written with the intention of finally revealing where Owain died or where he was buried. Its aim is rather to survey the various traditions that have been recorded about Owain’s last days in detail and to evaluate them as far as is possible in the light of known historical facts and the broader historical context.”

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