Comments on: Battle of Brunanburh AD 937

By: Norm

Norm — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 06:14:06 +0000

“how do we explain the reluctance of the Welsh to get involved in a battle so close to Wales?” – it is not yet firmly established where the battle took place. You seem to be suggesting that moderm Bromborough is the location, though this is far from certain, there being several other candidates further east and north.

By: Jac

Jac — Sat, 30 Dec 2017 11:35:19 +0000

In reply to Ged. If you mean Hywel Dda, as an admirer of Athelstan, and the leader living nearest to him, Hywel stayed strictly neutral. The only Welsh leader mentioned at Brunanburh was Owain of Strathclyde.

By: Ged

Ged — Sat, 30 Dec 2017 10:30:32 +0000

Hi, I had not heard of this battle until very recently and was trying to find out which side Hywell had fought on. Can you post a reference please?

By: daffy2012

daffy2012 — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 21:28:39 +0000

It’s no wonder that they’ve found his name quite acceptable for the naming of one of the health boards. I recently spent quite some time in one of it’s hospitals…..OK the one in the north of Ceredigion. I was suprised to see how few of the staff were Welsh let alone Welsh speaking. Quite an achievement in Ceredigion.

By: Jane Hopkins

Jane Hopkins — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 19:40:15 +0000

In reply to Jac.

You are of course correct, memo to self never hit post before checking facts, the rest stands though.. She started it and she didn’t’t abide by the treaty terms after it was finished. Hywel Dda right to be wary, whether appeasement was the best strategy is up for debate, but…
Including (some of) the facts this time 🙂 http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86thelfl%C3%A6d

By: Jac

Jac — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 19:22:58 +0000

In reply to Jane Hopkins. Don't you mean his aunt, AEthelflaeda?

By: Jane Hopkins

Jane Hopkins — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 18:53:25 +0000

You’ve forgotten Matilda, AEthelstan’s sister, married into the Mercian royals (Mercia at least most of it, also survived outside the Danelaw) and when her husband died was asked to rule in his place. It was actually her army that started it (to get the bits of Mercia back that were in the Danelaw) and her influence that backed up AEthelstan in most of the campaigns and her army was a serious threat to Hywel Dda.
Yes he was an Anglophile, no he wasn’t perfect, yes he was a politician, yes he definitely ensured that AEthelstan/Matilda won the battle, but IIRC he did it to ensure that Matilda wasn’t going to send her army in to Wales next.

By: Jac

Jac — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 18:20:20 +0000

In reply to Mab y Mynydd. I've always seen Hywel as a man looking out for Number One; unable, or unwilling, to see the bigger, national, picture.

By: Mab y Mynydd

Mab y Mynydd — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 17:48:10 +0000

Hywel the Good, more like Hywel the Treacherous.