Were the Welsh their own Worst Enemies in the Middle Ages?
In the annals of history, the Middle Ages stand as an era of turmoil, intrigue, and shifting allegiances. While the British Isles bore witness to countless battles and tales of power, one region often stands out for its tumultuous relationship with itself: Wales. As the tendrils of power and ambition wove through the hills and valleys, the Welsh people, driven by their own desires and internal divisions, unwittingly played a significant role in their own struggles: the Welsh were their own worst enemies during these challenging times.
The Welsh, like any other society, were divided among themselves by affiliations of kin, and regional loyalties, inadvertently weakening their collective strength. The struggles for supremacy between the northern and southern realms, coupled with the rivalry between various noble families, created a tapestry of internal conflict that allowed outside forces to exploit their divisions. Much like the fissures in a castle wall, these internal divisions left them vulnerable to external pressures.
Ambition, a driving force for progress, can also sow the seeds of discord. The Welsh nobility, consumed by their personal aspirations for power and dominance, engaged in bitter feuds that destabilized the region. As lords vied for control over territories and castles, they left their people vulnerable to external threats. The struggle for personal glory often came at the cost of collective security, allowing outsiders to exploit the Welsh penchant for internal strife. The kin strife in Powys in the late eleventh and early twelfth centuries is testimony to this.
Welsh obsession with their internal conflicts often blinded them to the looming shadow of a common enemy: the English Crown. As England expanded its influence and territory, the Welsh focused on their own squabbles instead of uniting against the larger threat. The English, ever the opportunists, capitalized on this disunity to further their own interests.
How different it might have been if Gruffydd ap Llewellyn had not been murdered by his own countrymen or Rhys ap Tewdwr had allied with Gwynedd and Powys against the Normans. Perhaps, however, the tragic story of Owain Glyndŵr's rebellion serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of failing to unite against a common destiny. Nevertheless, history reminds us that there were many Welsh kings whose exceptional achievements were worthy of any great ruler and those stories are worth telling.