Battle of Mynydd Carn

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Battle of Mynydd Carn
Date 1081 Location north of St David's Result Victory for Gruffydd and Rhys
Combatants
Gruffydd ap Cynan, Rhys ap Tewdwr	Trahaearn ap Caradog†, Caradog ap Gruffydd†
Casualties
Unknown, said to be light	Unknown, Trahaearn, Caradog and other notables killed

The Battle of Mynydd Carn took place in 1081, as part of a dynastic struggle for control of the Welsh kingdoms of Gwynedd and Deheubarth.

The battle is recorded in the near contemporary biography of one of the participants, The Life of Gruffydd ap Cynan. Gruffydd ap Cynan was a descendant of the traditional ruling house of Gwynedd, and had previously made an attempt to claim the kingdom in 1075, but had been defeated by Trahaearn ap Caradog and forced to take refuge in Ireland.

In 1081, Gruffydd launched an invasion from Waterford in Ireland, having gathered a force of Danes and Irishmen to support his claim. He landed not in Gwynedd but in south Wales, near St David's. At the church of St David's he met with Rhys ap Tewdwr, king of Deheubarth who had shortly before been driven from power by Caradog ap Gruffydd of Glamorgan helped by Meilir ap Rhiwallon of Powys and Gruffydd's old nemesis Trahaearn ap Caradog of Gwynedd. Gruffydd and Rhys made a pact and set forth to give battle.

[edit] The battle

The battle took place about a day's march north of St David's. In the evening Gruffydd and Rhys came up with the forces led by Trahaearn and Caradog ap Gruffydd, who are reported to have had Norman arbalisters in their army. According to his biography Gruffydd ap Cynan insisted on an immediate attack, overruling Rhys who wished to wait until the following morning.

The result was a complete victory for Gruffydd ap Cynan and Rhys ap Tewdwr, with Trahaearn ap Caradog, Caradog ap Gruffydd and Meilir ap Rhiwallon all being killed.

[edit] Aftermath

Gruffydd ap Cynan gained control of Gwynedd, and despite later being captured and imprisoned by the Normans for some years, escaped and reigned until 1137. Rhys ap Tewdwr regained Deheubarth and reigned until 1093. These two played a prominent part in Welsh resistance to the Normans.