Not a single acre of land

Today is the anniversary of the battle of Llandeilo in 1213. Fought in West Wales, it was a proper set-piece battle, but is almost completely forgotten. Perhaps this is due to it being an internal conflict between the rival princes of Dinefwr, rather than a 'patriotic' struggle against foreign invaders.

The battle is also an example of the complex dynastic politics of medieval Wales. One army was led by Rhys and Owain ap Gruffudd, sons of King Gruffudd ap Rhys of South Wales and grandsons of William de Braose. They were opposed to their uncle Rhys Gryg – Rhys 'the Hoarse' – who had occupied their ancestral lands inside Ystrad Tywi in south Wales.

Rhys and Owain sought help from King John, who commanded the sheriffs of Hereford and Cardiff to assist them with Norman troops. John ordered his captains to drive Rhys Gryg from Ystrad Tywi, unless he agreed to hand over the castle of Llandovery to his nephews. Rhys Gryg answered defiantly that he would not share with them a single acre of land.

His nephew Rhys, 'full of rage and indignation', led his troops from Brycheiniog into Ystrad Tywi and on 28 January encamped at a place called Trallwng Elgan. On the following day he was joined by his brother, Owain, and the sheriff of Cardiff. The next day the combined host marched to encounter Rhys Gryg in battle.

The Welsh annals give a precise account of the battle. Rhys ap Gruffudd divided his army into three lines or divisions, one behind the other. He was in command of the first troop, the sheriff of Cardiff the second, Owain the third. Once the lines were drawn up, Rhys Gryg launched an attack:

'And Rhys Gryg encountered the first troop. And after they had fought hard, Rhys Gryg was there and then driven to flight, and many of his men had been slain and others had been captured.'

From this it appears the fight was brief, and Rhys Gryg was driven off after a failed assault on the first troop. The victorious allies then pushed on to lay siege to the castle of Dinefwr. After burning the town of Llandeilo Fawr, Rhys Gryg chose to retreat instead of defending the castle. On the following day (31 January) his enemies took Dinefwr by storm:

'And from without archers and crossbowmen were shooting missiles, and sappers digging, and armed knights making unbearable assaults, till they were forced before the afternoon to surrender the tower'.

The defeated Rhys Gryg took his wife and sons and sought refuge at Llandovery with his brother, Maelgwn. However, the great victory of King John and his Welsh allies was only temporary. The defeat of the king's allies at Bouvines the next summer created a power vacuum in Wales, where John was no longer able to intervene. This in turn enabled Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth of Gwynedd – Llywelyn the Great – to seize control.