Before becoming the rebel prince, Glyndŵr was a trained lawyer and soldier for the king of England. In the late 1390s a neighboring lord had besieged parts of his land and branded him a coward before the English royal court. The King's Parliament ignored Glyndŵr's appeals for help.

 

Taking matters into his own hands, in 1400 Glyndŵr instigated a Welsh rebellion against the English crown and declared himself ruler of Wales. In response, England instituted anti-Welsh laws, severely restricting the ability of Welsh people to make money, own property, defend themselves, and even marry. This brought even more Welsh to Glyndŵr's side. By 1403 the majority of Wales was fighting for independence, and in 1404 Owain Glyndŵr established his parliament in Manchynlleth.

 

The Welsh Parliament declared that Wales was an independent nation which was to run under the old laws of Hywel Dda. They also planned to establish a national Welsh church and two universities to serve the country. However, despite the passion of the Welsh and the alliances formed with France and Scotland, the tide began to turn.

 

England combined ruthless battle tactics with economic blockades, and Wales's allies refused to continue helping. By 1410 the rebellion was failing, prominent leaders had been imprisoned or executed, and in 1412 Glyndŵr went into hiding.

 

The rebellion had ruined Wales economically, and England had imposed oppressive laws to ensure that a rebellion would never happen again. The Glyndŵr Rebellion was the last large-scale battle for Welsh Independence.