Norman invasion of Wales

Part of a series on the
History of Wales
Chronology Timeline British Bibliography Prehistory Archaeology Roman conquest Anglesey In the Roman era Anglo-Welsh wars rebellions In the Middle Ages Early High Late Norman invasion settlement Edwardian conquest Glyndŵr rebellion Settlement in the Americas Early modern period Industrial revolution Modern history World Wars Welsh devolution
Medieval kingdoms Brycheiniog Ceredigion Deheubarth Dyfed Ergyng Gwent Gwynedd Medieval history Cultural history Morgannwg Powys Wenwynwyn Fadog Seisyllwg
Rulers King of the Britons Royal houses List of rulers of Gwynedd Fifteen Tribes List of rulers in Wales Titles in medieval Wales Prince of Wales King of Wales (rarely) Titles of the Welsh Court English monarchs British monarchs list Peers
Law Medieval Welsh law manuscripts Treaties Constitutional laws Penal laws Poor laws Language laws England and Wales English law former march law contemporary Welsh law Wales-only laws Wales-only acts History of the courts
Polities Principality of Wales Welsh Marches Kingdom of England (Council of Wales and the Marches) Kingdom of Great Britain United Kingdom (1801–1922) United Kingdom Council for Wales and Monmouthshire Welsh Office Wales Office Devolved administrations
Local history Cardiff as capital timeline Llanelli Milford Haven Monmouth Newport Swansea Wrexham
Topics Welsh language historic extent Welsh literature medieval in Welsh in English Historical documents Archaeology Local government Historic counties Music history harp Jewish history Christian history 1904–1905 Welsh revival Economic history Slate Woollen industry Education History-specific Health service UK-wide Plaid Cymru Geological history Genetic history Football team 1876–1976 1977–present Rugby union team since 2004 with other teams History of Cardiff City F.C. 1899–1962 1962–present Military British Rent control regulation
History Wales
v t e

The Norman invasion of Wales began shortly after the Norman conquest of England under William the Conqueror, who believed England to be his birthright. Initially (1067–1081), the invasion of Wales was not undertaken with the fervour and purpose of the invasion of England. However, a much stronger Norman invasion began in 1081 and by 1094 most of Wales was under the control of William's son and heir, the later King William II. The Welsh greatly disliked the "gratuitously cruel"^[1] Normans, and by 1101, had regained control of the greater part of their country under the long reign of King Gruffudd ap Cynan, who had been imprisoned by the Normans for twelve years before his escape.

In one incident, Gruffudd had some indirect help from King Magnus III of Norway (Magnus Barefoot) who attacked the Normans briefly off the Isle of Anglesey in northwest Wales near Ynys Seiriol, killing Hugh of Montgomery, 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury.

Under William's fourth son, King Henry I, the Normans, now well established in England, responded by pushing west into Wales. This time, both the Welsh and the Normans were more interested in making peace than fighting bloody battles, and a relatively stable situation developed, although the Normans fared worse in southeast Wales than in the west of the country. The standoff continued from 1135 to 1154 under Stephen, nephew of Henry and a maternal grandson of William, who became locked in a power struggle and civil war with Empress Matilda, Henry's daughter and only surviving legitimate child.

By the 1150s, Matilda's son King Henry II of England had set upon fighting back, leading his first expedition into Wales in 1157. He met defeat, particularly in the Battle of Ewloe at Coleshill / Coed Eulo, where Henry was almost killed in the fighting, but managed to return to friendly lines. He moved against his Adversaries again in 1163, and gained homage from the two most powerful princes of Wales, Rhys ap Gruffydd and Owain Gwynedd, along with the king of Scotland.