Battle of Cadfan facts for kids

The Battle of Cadfan was a big fight between English and Welsh forces in 1257. It actually involved two main battles. These happened at places called Coed Llathen and Cymerau. The name Cadfan comes from the Welsh language. It means "place of battle."

Why the Battle Happened

In the years before this battle, a powerful Welsh leader named Llywelyn ap Gruffudd was gaining a lot of control. He was the Prince of Gwynedd, a strong Welsh kingdom. Llywelyn got a lot of help from two important Welsh lords. These were Maredudd ap Rhys and Maredudd ap Owain. They were from a region called Deheubarth.

As a thank you for their loyalty, Llywelyn gave them land. This land had belonged to their nephew, Rhys Fychan. Rhys Fychan supported the English king, so Llywelyn took the land from him.

Prince Edward, who was the son of the English King Henry III, noticed Llywelyn's growing power. Edward was worried about this. He decided to gather an army to stop Llywelyn from getting too strong. Edward had support from some English nobles. However, his father, Henry III of England, didn't give him much help.

Edward's army was led by English nobles like Stephen Bauzan and Nicholas FitzMartin. They invaded Wales with many English, Gascon, and even some Welsh soldiers. Their main goals were to put Rhys Fychan back in charge of his lands. They also wanted to stop Llywelyn's growing influence.

English Plans and March

The English army traveled by sea. They landed near a town called Carmarthen. On Tuesday, May 29, 1257, the army was ready. Most of the soldiers were from England. But they also had local English and Gascon settlers. Some Welsh soldiers and hired fighters joined them too.

Two days later, on Thursday, the English army marched. They moved towards Llandeilo through the Towy valley. As they marched, they fought against Welsh groups. They also raided and destroyed Welsh villages. The English planned to make the nearby Dinefwr Castle surrender. They hoped to scare the castle's defenders into giving up.

The Battle Begins

First Day of Fighting

On Friday night, the English army set up camp. They were near a place called Llandeilo Fawr. But Maredudd ap Rhys and Maredudd ap Owain had a plan. Their Welsh armies were hidden in the woods. They had been secretly following the English army.

The Welsh soldiers constantly bothered the English camp. They shot arrows and threw spears. They also made loud, scary noises. The English army suffered some injuries. Their spirits were low. Stephen Bauzan quickly sent Rhys Fychan to talk to the castle's defenders. Rhys Fychan had been guiding the English army.

However, something went wrong. Some say Rhys Fychan was captured by the castle's defenders. Others say he betrayed the English. Either way, the English army had lost its guide.

Second Day: Coed Llathen

Without a guide, the English army decided to go back to Carmarthen. The Welsh armies in the woods attacked them. They used quick, surprise attacks. They mostly used bows and javelins (light spears). These attacks started early on Saturday morning. They continued until midday.

Around noon, there was a direct fight at Coed Llathen. The Welsh soldiers managed to surround the English. They successfully captured the English supply wagons. This meant the English lost most of their food and other important items. Not many soldiers died in this fight. But capturing the supplies gave the Welsh a big advantage.

Second Day: Cymerau

After losing at Coed Llathen, the English army moved west. They headed towards a place called Cymerau. This area was perfect for the Welsh. It had deep ravines and thick woods. These features allowed the Welsh to set up ambushes easily. The ground was also wet and marshy. This made it very hard for the English knights to ride their horses.

The Welsh army then launched a full-scale ambush. A very bloody battle followed. Many English soldiers were pulled from their horses. They were then trampled to death by the Welsh army. Stephen Bauzan, the English commander, was killed. Between 1,000 and 3,000 of his men also died. The exact number changes depending on the historical source. The remaining English soldiers ran away from the battle.

It is said that Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the Prince of Gwynedd, was at the battle. He was there to collect valuable items from the defeated English army.

What Happened Next

The Welsh victory at Cadfan was very important. It allowed them to capture several castles. These included Laugharne, Llansteffan, and Narberth. Rhys Fychan quickly made peace with Llywelyn. Llywelyn gave Rhys his lands back.

However, this created a new problem. Maredudd ap Rhys and Maredudd ap Owain had lost the land Llywelyn gave them earlier. So, they switched sides again. They promised loyalty to King Henry III later that year.

King Henry had thought Llywelyn's rise was just a small problem. He was shocked by the Welsh victory. Henry quickly realized how serious the situation was. He personally organized another attack on Wales that same year. But this attack also failed. Supply ships from Ireland did not reach Henry and Edward's army. Without food and supplies, the English army had to retreat. Welsh guerrilla fighters (small groups using surprise attacks) constantly bothered them on their way back.

Edward tried another invasion of Wales in 1262. This was after Llywelyn raided English border lands. However, Edward had to pull his armies out of Wales. There were problems and conflicts happening inside England.

Llywelyn fought back. He led a very successful campaign against the English lords who controlled the border areas. King Henry was much weaker after a big conflict in England called the Second Barons' War. This led him to talk with Llywelyn. They signed a peace agreement called the Treaty of Montgomery. This treaty gave Llywelyn a lot of land. It was taken from the defeated English border lords.

Images for kids

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  A view of the Towy valley from Dinefwr Castle.