Owen Glendower

Also known as: Glindour Dew / Owen Glendouer · Family: Wales · Role: rebel captain · First appears: Henry IV 9

Owen Glendower, also known as Glindour Dew and Owen Glendouer, was the son of Griffith Vichan, an esquire of Wales. He may earlier have served Henry IV as an esquire before the king took the crown. Around 1400, while Henry IV was absent in Scotland, Owen led the Welsh rebellion, first making war against Reginald Grey, Lord Grey of Ruthin over disputed inherited lands and ravaging Grey’s possessions. Henry IV entered Wales to suppress him, but in 1402 Owen defeated Grey, captured him, and later defeated an English force under Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March, taking Mortimer prisoner and killing more than a thousand of his men. That year, Henry IV also failed to bring him to battle and was forced to return from Wales.

In 1403, Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March joined Owen against Henry IV and married Owen’s daughter; after the Percies freed Mortimer, they entered an alliance with Owen. At Bangor, Owen, Mortimer, and Hotspur divided England and Wales between them, assigning Wales and the lands west of the Severn to Owen. In 1404, Owen’s adherents ravaged neighboring countries, seized and fortified castles, and John Trenor joined him against Henry IV. French aid followed in 1405, when Montmerancie landed at Milford Haven with twelve thousand men.

In 1407, after Henry V departed from Abirusewith, Owen entered the castle, expelled its keepers, and replaced them with defenders loyal to him. He died around 1409 after fleeing into solitude and suffering hunger, “made an end of his wretched life.” A later account records Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March, while held captive with Owen in Wales, asserting his title and rightful claim.