Last modified: 2005-10-22 by rob raeside
Keywords: wales | dragon: golden | lions: 4 | lion rampant | glyndŵr | owain glyndŵr |
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The Lion on Gold and Red, is the Banner of Owain Glyndwr, as born on his
shield.
Philip R. Williams, 19 September 2002
The flag which is referred to as the 'Owen Glyndwr flag' is actually the the
Prince of Wales flag and was used by Glyndwr as he claimed to be the true prince
of Wales. This armorial bearing is now used by the modern 'prince of Wales' [sic] as
his emblem in Wales.
Muiris Mag Ualghairg, 18 April 2003
Owain Glyndwr had a claim to the throne of all Wales because through his
father he inherited the throne of Powys Fadog (north Powys) and through his
mother the throne of Dehuebarth. The arms of Powys are a red lion rampant on a
gold background, and the arms of Dehuebarth are the reverse. Together they are
Glyndwr's arms and his alone. The Arms of Gwynedd which are not included are
three red lions passant on a white background.
James Frankcom, 16 September 2005
The quartered and counterchanged flag was not Glyndwr's personal blazon
(Glyndwr had been Arundel's squire in the Scottish campaigns and refused to pay
the money demanded of him to furnish his knighthood - so I presume him to not be
possessed of a personal coat of arms). These arms are the badge of office of the
"twysog cymru" - the elective office of "chief judge of Wales", usually selected
from somebody descended from noble parentage who must be qualified to interpret
the complex legal system created by Hwyel Dda in the 9th century whose system of
inheritance prevented the accumulation of undue wealth and influence and which
essentially condemned the rule of the English feudal lords and rejected the idea
that noblemen stood outside of the law - the issue with Lord Grey that triggered
the war, when Glyndwr found that the king chose to back wealth and privilege
instead of upholding Glyndwr's legal rights. It deeply annoys a fair number of
people to see Prince Charles being styled "Twysog" as if the office could be
bestowed by the crown (or inherited - people claiming to be the "true" twysog
cymru are equally annoying). It offended 13th century Welshmen when the
Llewelyns tried to "modernise" Wales by feudalising the office to keep it in
their family. Prior to Glyndwr, the previous elective twysog was Owain Llawgoch
who was assassinated in France as he tried to assemble an invasion to attack
England on the British mainland as an ally of the French king, and he was
bearing this coat of arms in the wars there whilst Glyndwr fought in Scotland.
The banner that Glyndwr is reported to have carried into battle was the Golden
Dragon (on a white field I think) i.e. Glyndwr was filling both the role of
twysog and "dwg"(war-leader) - the dragons were battle flags in Wales, being
derived from the Roman Cavalry's standards (not the infantry cohorts) which had
originally been foreign mercenaries from somewhere in what is now Turkic Asia,
peoples who lived in the saddle and are reputed to have worshipped swords that
they stuck point first into the ground and prayed before, as Christians later
prayed on the hilts of their swords. Their banners were as described by another
contributor, a sort of windsock attached to a mask on a pole that depicted a
dragon's head (see pictures of Ishtar Gate from Babylon to see what their
dragons looked like). Emrys is the dwg who reputedly made this the emblem of the
Brythonic armies in the 5th century - long before "king" Arthur / Arddhir?="long-bear",
pendragon / penddraig = "head of the dragon". In the absence of any monolithic
Welsh states due to the triple-codex legal system, it is unlikely that anybody
conceived of there being any kind of national flag or emblem involving the
golden dragon - it was only unfurled in a time of war, and was probably regarded
with deep apprehension as a magical talisman - possessed of the power to start
wars if openly displayed, and closely guarded for everyone's safety. It may well
have been feared as demonic by Christianised Brythons. There is mention in early
sources of the Brythons' use of crosses in battles, but nobody is sure what the
sources mean. As the last remnant of Christian civilisation in the north west of
Europe, attacked by pagan Gaels, Saxons and Picts, the most probable unifying
symbol that could create a sense of national identity on a flag would be a cross
- but they might have carried holy relics into battle in reliquaries, i.e. bits
of martyrs' crosses.
David Barry Lawrence, 7 March 2004
This flag (4 lions rampant on red and gold) has become extremely popular in
Wales recently, particularly in North Wales. Last summer it was widely flown in
Harlech and in Pwllheli, both towns in the Gwynedd heartland of Welsh-speaking
Wales. Currently a number are being flown together with Red Dragon flags in Mold
in Flintshire to celebrate the forthcoming town carnival. This is interesting
since Mold is only 10 miles from the English border and is predominantly
English- speaking. Last year the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff tried to ban
football supporters from displaying this flag and the St. David's Cross at
Wales' international matches on the grounds they were political. They relented
after a angry deluge of letters to the Western Mail.
David Griffiths, 16 July 2004
Glyndŵr's four lions banner: Glyndŵr to show his royal descent from the
''high kings of Wales'' (Princes of Gwynedd) adopted their 13th century ''Royal
Flag of Wales'' but which were 4 lions passive, this latter flag was also used
by the famous Welsh Mercenary of the 14th Century Owain Lawgoch to show his
royal descent from the aforementioned princes of Gwynedd. There are coloured
pictures of Owain Lawgoch and his flag (one making common mistake of getting
colours in wrong arrangement) in medieval manuscripts. There is in National
Museum of Wales a 'boss' from a horse's bridle showing Glyndwr's four rampant
lions. Below you will note the successful recent contemporary use of 'Baneri
Glyndŵr'. Not so however, the four lions passive of the ''high kings'' native
royal princes of Gwynedd. Although there are hand made versions in use and were
revived for use by the patriotic 'Cymric Consciousness'' movement 'Cofiwn' in
1982 to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the assassination of Llywelyn III
at Cilmeri in central Wales. One was in fact flying at Cilmeri last year and
another was raised at site of Llywelyn III court 'Llys Rhosyr' in December 2004
to mark placement of a flag pole there.
NB: The 4 Lions passive above were stolen by the English on conquest of Wales in
1282-83 and are now used by the English pretender ''Princes of Wales'' but with
an ''English Crown'' at center. Probably for such ''tainted'' reason true Welsh
Patriots today prefer Glyndŵr's 4 Lions rampant.
G. Gruffydd, 2 March 2005
Since we launched our 16 September - 'Dydd Dathlu Owain Glyndŵr' campaign in
the year 2000 with the aid of the 'Glyndŵr ribbon' and flag, we have seen the
flag recognised and flown by a growing number of councils namely Caernarfon,
Bala, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Pwllheli, Carmathen, Caerffili, Dolgellau and since 21
June 2004 (Dydd y Senedd) Machynlleth, Corwen and of course, this year,
Aberystwyth and, no doubt, many other Councils will voluntary follow suit upon
request. So far, only Flint council has actually refused and now that Prince
Owain's flag is so widely recognised throughout Cymru, we sincerely hope that
they will reconsider.
Further, this year we presented the National Eisteddfod with a large 'Baner
Glyndŵr' which will, henceforth fly annually at this prestigious event and we
hope that Yr Urdd Annual Eisteddfod and other festivals and shows will follow
suit. This year we have also witnessed the paddle steamer the 'SS Waverly'
proudly fly Glyndŵr's flag from her bow and I have also seen it flying from a
number of canal barges and yachts - meaning that we can now quite correctly
claim that Baneri Glyndŵr flies on land and sea and sooner or later, we are
sure, it will take to the skies. I do not know how long it will take before it
goes into space - but we are working on it?
This year, in recognition of 'Blywyddyn Coffad Coroni Tywysog Owain Glyndŵr', we
have seen 'Baneri and Bunting Glyndŵr' predominate in the following ''Cydmunedau
Glyndŵr'': Harlech, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Dolgellau, Machynlleth, Corwen, Bala,
Aberaeron, Pontardulais, Llanymddyfri, Caerffili and, not least, the small
village of Coety near Bridgend - home to the most impressive and successful
(bi-annual) Gŵyl Glyndŵr held throughout Cymru. Indeed, one can now hardly
travel the whole of Cenedl Glyndŵr (Cymru) without seeing 'Baneri Glyndŵr'
flying from commercial premises, such as hotels and pubs, as well as from
numerous residences. Further, it is increasingly seen flying at major sports
events and, in particular, at rugby and football matches. This colourful Four
Lion Rampant standard of Glyndŵr carries with it the symbolism of radicalism and
justice and is increasingly seen to be a must icon at protest events - such as
those seen recently at Wrecsam, Aberfan and Pembre - and your correspondents
could not have failed to have seen it predominate along with many wearing Baneri
Glyndŵr Shirts at the Somerfields Bala protest recently.
G.Gruffydd, 2 March 2004
Raised by Owain Glyndŵr as his battle flag, on Twt hill overlooking
Caernarfon Castle on 2 November 1401. Possibly Glyndŵr was making an “Heraldic
Challenge” to English rule before the gates of a castle which more than any
other represented the conquest of Wales. Caernarfon Castle with its walls based
on those of Constantinople was Edward I’s monument to the final conquest of
Wales in 1282. At time of building the castle the English faked discovery of
King Arthur’s bones to further disillusion the Welsh and of course Edward had in
this conquest stolen the Royal treasures of Gwynedd which included ‘Coron
Arthur’ (Arthur's crown). Further pertinent to Glyndŵr and the Welsh was fact
that the ‘Golden Dragon’ banner was originally the flag of Uther Pendragon,
Arthur’s father and since this time had become the banner also associated with
‘Meibion Darogan’ (Son’s of Prophecy) which Glyndŵr became recognised as. Last
but not least, Owain Gwynedd a founder prince of Gwynedd was also referred to in
‘Heraldic poetry’ with ‘Golden Dragons’, Glyndŵr no doubt was seeking
association with this fact too.
G.Gruffydd, 2 March 2004