Battle of Moel-y-don facts for kids

The Battle of Moel-y-don was a big fight in 1282. It was part of King Edward I's plan to take over Wales. People sometimes call it the Battle of the Bridge of Boats. The exact spot of the battle might not be near Moel-y-don as once thought, but a bit further north.

Why the Battle Happened

After a war in 1277, King Edward I took a lot of land from Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the Welsh prince. King Edward made strict rules for the lands he had won. Many Welsh people, even some who had helped Edward before, were unhappy. They didn't like the new English laws or Edward's officials.

This unhappiness led to a new rebellion. The war started when Dafydd ap Gruffydd, Llywelyn's own brother, turned against the English. He attacked and killed the soldiers at Hawarden Castle.

King Edward gathered several armies to fight back. He sent them into Wales from different directions. His goal was to surround and defeat Llywelyn's forces. One important group of soldiers was led by Luke de Tany. He had 2,000 foot soldiers and 200 horsemen. Their mission was to capture Anglesey, an island off the coast of Wales. Taking Anglesey would cut off a lot of grain for the Welsh. It would also help the English attack the Welsh who were defending the Conwy River.

The Battle of the Bridge of Boats

Building the Bridge

Luke de Tany's soldiers successfully captured Anglesey. After that, they started building a special bridge. It was a bridge made of boats across the Menai Strait. This strait is the water that separates Anglesey from the mainland of Wales.

King Edward's original plan was to cross the Conwy River himself. At the same time, Tany would cross the Menai Strait and attack from the north. However, Tany decided to ignore this plan. He thought he could beat the Welsh without King Edward's help. He had even talked to some church leaders in Bangor. They had promised to give him a signal when it was the right time to attack.

The Crossing and the Fight

The bridge was finished in September of that year. On November 6, Tany and his men got the signal to attack. They began to cross the bridge. But Llywelyn ap Gruffudd had found out about their crossing. He quickly brought a large Welsh army to meet the English as they came over.

As the English soldiers crossed, the tide began to rise quickly. This rising water cut off Tany's men from their bridge. They were trapped. When they tried to run away, many of them drowned. Their heavy armor pulled them under the water.

What Happened to the English Soldiers

A writer named Walter of Guisborough wrote about the battle. He said that the English soldiers reached the foot of a mountain. After a while, they were far from the bridge. Then, the tide came in very fast. They could not get back to the bridge because of the deep water.

The Welsh soldiers came down from the mountains and attacked them. The English were scared because there were so many Welsh fighters. They chose to face the sea rather than the enemy. They went into the water, but their heavy armor made them sink right away.

Luke de Tany himself died in the battle. Other important English nobles also died, including Roger de Clifford. Phillip and William Burnell, who were brothers of a powerful English official, also died. Sixteen English knights and their helpers were killed. More than 400 of Tany's men lost their lives. The Welsh, however, had very few casualties. The English soldiers who survived managed to get back to Anglesey. But their losses were too great to try another attack.

What Happened Next

This victory at Moel-y-don was a big boost for the Welsh. Another English army was also defeated in South Wales at the Battle of Llandeilo Fawr. These wins made the Welsh feel stronger. They also slowed down King Edward's plans to conquer Wales.