Old Tudor

(Or, how the Tudors conquered Wales...)

Yesterday I promised a link between Harlech castle, Henry VIII and the Savoyard knight, Othon Grandison. So here it is (well, potentially).

Othon and his unit of 560 men left the siege of Castell y Bere about the end of April 1283 (the castle surrendered on 25 April). From there he struck through the mountains to Harlech, about sixteen miles to the north-west.

The evidence is not 100%, but it is likely that Othon found a pre-existing Welsh castle on the site. If correct, the imposing castle we see today was built on top of it.

Othon did not stay long. By 10 May he had joined King Edward at Llanwrst, 29 miles to the north-east. They were together at Dolwyddelan between 14-28 May.

His next movements are interesting. Attached is a wage roll, part of which I recently had translated. The relevant section (circled in red) translates as:

“And to Griffith ab Ereward for the wages of 100 footmen, going with him in the parts of Morrigg with lord Otto de Grandissono, from Sunday 6th day of June to the 21st day following, £19 8s 6d. To Tudor ab Gronnogh for the wages of 100 Welsh footmen throughout the same time £19 8s 6d.”

Unfortunately I have been unable to locate 'the parts of Morrigg'. If any Welsh member could help me with that, I would be much obliged.

The entry shows that Othon left the king on 6 June and was traversing 'Morrigg' until the 21st. For these fifteen days he was accompanied by Gruffudd ab Iorwerth and Tudur ab Gronnogh (Gronw/Goronwy), each at the head of a hundred Welsh footsoldiers.

Now, the surviving royal household accounts show that work on Harlech castle started on 21 June, the last day of Othon's service. On that day ten stonecutters and quarrymen were paid for going to Harlech for the works there. More labourers and building materials were sent in the following days.

If I can figure out where Morrigg was, it would be very helpful. Othon was either patrolling the works at Harlech, or taking part in the man-hunt for Prince Dafydd of Wales.

Gruffudd and Tudur were important men, who deserve posts to themselves. Here I shall just say that Tudur is better-known as Tudur Hen (Tudur the Old), head of the Penmynydd branch of the Tudor lineage, founder of the royal house of Tudor and direct ancestor of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.