Battle of Y Dalar Hir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Y Dalar Hir |
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| Part of the Second English Civil War | |||||||
.jpg) The foreshore near Y Dalar Hir |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Royalists |
 Parliamentarians |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Sir John Owen | Colonel George Twisleton Colonel John Carter |
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| Strength | |||||||
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 30 killed c.60 prisoners |
30-40 killed | ||||||
The Battle of Y Dalar Hir happened on June 5, 1648, in Caernarfonshire, North Wales. It was part of the Second English Civil War. Even though it was a small fight, it was very important for how the war played out in that area.
Sir John Owen was a main leader for the King's side (the Royalists) in Wales. He gathered about 250 to 300 soldiers and horsemen. His goal was to start a rebellion in North Wales against the Parliament. On June 3, he won a small fight near Caernarfon and then surrounded Caernarfon Castle.
But Colonel George Twisleton, a Parliamentarian leader from Denbigh, met Owen at Y Dalar Hir. This place was by the Menai Straits near Llandegai. Owen's Royalist forces were defeated and scattered. Sir John Owen was captured, which stopped the rebellion from spreading in North Wales.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
The English Civil War Continues
The First English Civil War ended in 1646. King Charles I's army was defeated. But by 1648, there were new problems. People in Parliament and the army disagreed. King Charles thought he was key to any peace. He refused to make deals.
In December 1647, King Charles made a secret deal with Scottish leaders. He promised to make England follow the Presbyterian church for three years. In return, they would help him get his throne back. He hoped some English Parliament members would support him. Even some unhappy soldiers joined this plan.
Rebellion in Wales
The new rebellion started in Pembrokeshire, a part of Wales controlled by Parliament. Soldiers there had not been paid for months. They worried they would be sent home without their wages. In March, John Poyer, the leader of Pembroke Castle, refused to give up his command. Rowland Laugharne, another important commander, joined him.
What began as a fight over pay quickly became a political rebellion. The Welsh rebels contacted King Charles. Most Royalists had promised not to fight Parliament again. So, many did not join. But Sir Nicholas Kemeys did. He held Chepstow Castle for the King. By the end of April, Laugharne had about 8,000 soldiers. He was marching towards Cardiff.
Trouble in North Wales
Royalist supporters tried to spread the rebellion to North Wales. People in the north also had problems with unpaid soldiers. High taxes and a bad harvest in 1647 made people angry. In early May, Sir John Owen, a landowner from Caernarfonshire, started gathering men. He had been a Royalist leader in the first war.
John Byron, 1st Baron Byron, another Royalist leader, heard about Owen. He left France for Anglesey. He had been given permission by the Prince of Wales to raise an army. Byron thought a small, quick fight in the north could help the Pembrokeshire rebels. It would make Parliament send its soldiers away from the south.
When Byron arrived, most local landowners were not keen to join. But he and Owen kept trying to recruit soldiers in May. They made "threatening speeches against the Parliament." In the south, Laugharne was defeated on May 8. But the Royalists still held some castles, which gave them hope. The soldiers at Beaumaris joined the revolt. Parts of the Anglesey local army, called the Trained Bands, also joined.
In mid-May, Owen was reported near Dolgellau with about 100 "reformados" (former Royalist officers). Colonel George Twisleton sent patrols to find Owen. But the Royalists managed to avoid them. The counties of Flintshire, Denbighshire, and Montgomeryshire declared they would fight the rebels. They wanted to keep the peace.
The Fight at Caernarfon
By early June, Owen had about 300 men. Thomas Mytton, the Parliamentarian leader in Caernarfon, wanted to stop the rebellion quickly. He sent an urgent message to Twisleton in Denbigh, asking for help. Twisleton and John Carter, another leader, gathered a small force. They had less than 200 men from Chester and their own garrisons. They also brought two small cannons.
On June 3, Owen fought local soldiers near Llandwrog. These soldiers were led by Mytton and William Lloyd, the Sheriff of Caernarvonshire. Lloyd was badly hurt and captured. Owen then briefly surrounded Mytton inside Caernarfon Castle. Mytton worried that more people might join the Royalists after Owen's success.
Owen heard that Twisleton and Carter were marching towards the coast. They were using an old Roman road. Owen decided to stop them. He left a few men to block Mytton at the castle. Then he marched north-east through Bangor. The captured Lloyd died during this journey. Two days after the fight at Caernarfon, Owen met Twisleton. This meeting happened on the shore of the Menai Straits at Y Dalar Hir.
The Battle of Y Dalar Hir
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The battle was a bit confusing. Both sides had chosen similar "field-words" (secret passwords). Owen's was "Resolution," and Twisleton's was "Religion." They also used the same "field-sign," meaning neither side wore special scarves or sashes.
The fight began with both sides sending their cavalry forward. The Royalists had the better start. Owen then attacked the Parliamentarian horsemen. They were pushed back in a messy retreat.
After his first success, Owen ordered all his Royalist soldiers to charge the Parliamentarian reserve. But Twisleton's men stood firm. They held their ground against the charge. After about 30 minutes of fierce fighting, the Parliamentarian cavalry defeated the Royalists.
A Parliamentarian soldier, Captain Edward Taylor, spotted Owen as he was retreating. Taylor fought Owen hand-to-hand. Taylor's sword broke over Owen's head, injuring him. Taylor pulled Owen from his horse and took him prisoner.
With Owen captured, the remaining Royalists scattered. Parliamentarian reports later said that 30 Royalists were killed. About 60 "private Soldiers" were taken prisoner, along with Owen and other officers. Some reports said only four Parliamentarian soldiers were hurt. But others suggested 30 to 40 people died on both sides.
What Happened Next
Owen's Fate
Owen was first held at Denbigh Castle. There were several tries to rescue him. On July 3, up to 60 Royalists climbed the outer walls. They used ladders. But they were seen before they could get through the inner gate. Most of them were captured. Later that month, two of Owen's officers tried again. They rode up to the castle, fired their pistols, and left.
Owen was later taken to London. He faced serious charges for fighting against the government. At his trial in February 1649, he was sentenced to death. But he asked for a pardon, and it was granted. People said Oliver Cromwell or Henry Ireton helped him. Some said foreign ambassadors or even a hostage situation played a part.
End of the Rebellion
Even though some Royalists in North Wales kept fighting, Owen's defeat at Y Dalar Hir was a big blow. The rebellion mostly stayed on Anglesey. The Scottish invasion was defeated in August. In September, Byron, another Royalist leader, left Anglesey.
At the end of September, Mytton and about 1,500 soldiers crossed to Anglesey to bring order. He defeated Royalist leader Richard Bulkeley on October 1. Bulkeley retreated to Beaumaris Castle but surrendered soon after.
Images for kids
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The foreshore near Y Dalar Hir
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Sir John Owen of Clenannau. He started gathering forces in North Wales to help a bigger Royalist uprising.
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The inside of Caernarfon Castle. Owen briefly surrounded it in early June.
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Looking from the shoreline near Y Dalar Hir towards Beaumaris, which was held by the rebels during the battle.
