Gruffydd ap Cynan, Prince of Gwynedd, marches on Cardigan, 1136

The principalities of Wales in medieval times. By this date the formerly independent Ceredigion had merged with Dyfed to form Deheubarth, though the two states remained wary of each other and some men in both longed for independence.

In 1135 Henry I died, and England was plunged into civil war between his daughter Matilda and his nephew Stephen. The English garrisons and nobles in Wales streamed back to England to take part in the fighting and to claim their share of the loot. The Welsh chiefs and princes sensed the weakness, but in most cases were still too wary of the castles and their garrisons to act.

Then, in January 1136, Hywell ap Maredudd gathered his men of Brycheiniog and raided the English settlements of Gower. He captured a large amount of loot and allowed his men to work off their anger at the English invaders. Hywell’s fellow lords of South Wales responded to his success by repairing their arms and gathering their men for war. Messengers were sent north to the still independent Gruffydd ap Cynan, Prince of Gwynedd to ask for help. While Gruffydd hesitated, the men of South Wales acted.

On 15th April Richard Fitz-Gilbert was ambushed and killed in a dense wood near Coed Grwyne, on the borders of Gwent and Brycheiniog. The death of this mighty baron spurred Gruffydd to action. He mustered the army of Gwynedd and asked all true Welshmen to join him in a great campaign to drive the English from Wales. Too old to take the field himself, Gruffydd gave command of the army to his son Owain, with a second son Cadwaladr as reserve commander.

The Welsh forces rampaged across the south, sacking English towns and burning English castles. Aberystwyth fell, as did Dineirth and Caerwedros. By late summer the only significant English outpost in South Wales left standing was Cardigan Castle. Gathering his forces together for this last effort, Owain Gwynedd mustered the armies of his own Gwynedd and those of various South Wales lords and marched south towards Cardigan.

This was to be no easy campaign, however. Stephen, the Constable of Cardigan, had sent messengers far and wide urging the English knights in Wales to gather for his defence, and he had hired a force of Flemish mercenaries for good measure. It promised to be a tough fight.