Battle of Orewin Bridge, 11 December 1282
Decisive battle of Edward I's conquest of Wales. Llewellyn of Gwynedd was raising rebellion in south and mid Wales, and was thus away from his stronghold in Snowdonia. He and his troops encountered the English, led by John Giffard and Edmund Mortimer, two Marcher lords, at Orewin Bridge near Builth. The Welsh took up position facing the bridge, expecting the English to be forced to attack from that direction. However, Welsh supporters of the English showed them a ford across the river, and the English infantry crossed over and attacked the Welsh flank. The Welsh retreated from the bridge and formed up on a hilltop, allowing the English cavalry to cross over unopposed. The English archers did great damage to the static Welsh spearmen who suffered heavy casualties before breaking. Llewellyn himself was absent when the battle started, and arrived on the scene too late to make any difference. On the edge of the battle he was killed in single combat by Stephen de Frankton, a shropshire Man-at-arms. The death of Llewellyn was the true significance of Orewin Bridge.
How to cite this article:
Rickard, J. (30 September 2000), Battle of Orewin Bridge, 11 December 1282, http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_orewinbridge.html