The Protestant Uprising (Welsh History Post Glyndwr)

Background
The background to the Uprising occurs during the reign of King Hywel II (1512-45). Hywel ascends to the throne at the tender age of 12 years old after the reign of his father Hywel the Unifier, so called because under him all of the historic country of Wales was unified under his rule in addition to the March and Gwald yr Haf (the Bristol region) being added to the country. During his grandfathers reign (Owain) the tripartite Principality was formed, with the King as Prince of Gwynedd and surviving members of the old princely house being raised to the rank of Prince of Powys and Prince of Glamorgan.

As part of the Regency, Prince Rhys ap Tomos of Powys rises to dominate both the young king and council and begins to accumulate honours for himself and his house. In 1514 he creates and raises himself to the position of Chancellor of the Royal Court and in 1517 creates the Dukedom of Gwent for his brother (though in the process Gruffyd Mortimer is elevated from the Earldom of the March to Duke of the March)

In 1518 the king enters his majority, but he is a deeply religious king and leaves the daily work of kingship to his chancellor. As the 1530's start and England is convulsed by the marriage trials of King Henry, Powys begins to see political advantages both in the English state of confusion and in the rapidly developing Lutheran ideas.

By 1537 Hywel's Catholic sensibilities and Powys' behind the scenes manipulations sees the outbreak of the 1st Anglo-Welsh War. Welsh armies led by Powys break out from the Fortress of Bristol and strike out along the North Somerset coast, eventually capturing Minehead and advancing several miles inland. English pressure and lack of resources prevent Powys from striking deeper and the resultant Treaty of Somerset sees Wales cede Bath back to England (granted to Wales in the Treaty of Bath 1491) but allows Wales to retain what is called the "North Coast" or "Gogledd Hwylio Gyda'r Tir".

By 1545 the king is ill and retires to the Palace of Sycharth Manor where he dies on the 1st of December 1545. The king died with no natural heir of his body and Powys makes a grab for power using his status as Chancellor. The dead kings brother, the Prince Rhodri, outmanoevers Powys however and secures the crown for himself.

One of Rhodri's first acts is to remove Powys from the position of Chief Advisor, though he retains the position of Chancellor, however, in 1547 Rhodri also replaces him in this role.

1547 also sees the start of the 2nd Anglo-Welsh war as Catholic Wales goes to war with Protestant England. The war is mainly a limited affair with neither side prosecuting it with much vigour, but in 1549 Powys attempts to have Rhodri assassinated whilst with the army in Gwald yr Haf. Powys has also by now converted to Lutheranism and is aggitating for religious reform in Wales.

During 1550-51, Powys starts to try and convert his lands to the Lutheran faith, betrayed by his own knights he is turned over to Rhodri in late 1550 and he is tried by Parliament in '51 and found guilty of treason and heresy and is promptly executed. In an act of generosity Powys' eldest son, Morgan ap Rhys ap Tomos is allowed to succeed to the title Prince of Powys.

The Reign of Elen
Elen succeeds her father Rhodri in 1555 aged 17 and at first her reign is settled as Mary is Queen of England and seems set to return to the Catholic faith. Powys however, in secret is still practising the Lutheran faith and there are growing numbers of converts especially in the Marches where contact with England was strongest.

In 1559 popular support for Powys spills over into civil unrest, prompting Powys to try and form an independant Lutheran Principality. The King Consort (Lennox of Kildare) defeats Powys in the Battle of Montgomery and the prince formally declares his alleigance to the Catholic faith in order to retain his titles and privillages.

Allowed to return to court Powys begins grooming the heir, Prince Marc, with the intent of producing a Lutheran king all the while professing his Catholicisity. A period of peace allows Wales the time to grow, with trade increasing both with England and the Continent.

By 1596 however the first waves of Calvinst preachers begin to arrive in Wales and by 1598 have succeeded in converting the Crown Prince.

The Protestant Uprising
The death in November 1598 of the Queen threw the political establishment into chaos. The Nobility were almost entirely Catholic and with the exception of Powys disinclined to swear alleigance to Marc. In response Marc has himself crowned king in St Davids Cathedral within a week of his mothers death by the leading Calvinist minister, Heinrich of Swabia. As the year turns, the Prince Rhys, Duke of Dyfed, calls a meeting of Parliament in Machynlleth to discuss the affair. Riding from St Davids with several hundred soldiers Marc forcibly dismisses the Parliament.

During the spring both sides circle each other cautiously. The Catholic Nobility because Marc is the rightful heir, Marc because he is unsure of both their strength at arms and strength of will. The deadlock is broken in June of 1599 as Dyfed launches an attack on Marc. Powys rallies to the kings side and both armies spend two months sniping, neither willing to engage in pitched battle.

In October '99, Dyfed is leading a column in north east Wales and is ambushed by Marc in the Battle of Sycharth. During the battle the old Manor House of Owain Glyndwr catches fire and burns to the ground, whilst Dyfed dies in the action. The Prince Dafydd succeeds his father to the title of Dyfed, a quite precocious 12 year old. The usual lull in fighting ensues over the winter, but in January Marc is himself ambushed leading a column outside Caernarfon. During the action, where the Catholic Forces are commanded by Dyfed, Marc is killed in combat.

With the death of his protege Powys begins to muster support and moves towards St Davids, confident that with only a 12 year rival claiment his can seize the throne. The Crown Prince (Gruffudd ap Marc) is also marching on St Davids in the same hope. In the Battle of Strata Florida, the Crown Prince is killed in combat by Powys. In an effort to tighten his grip on the south of the country Powys moves to Builth Wells where is killed by bandits leaving the throne open to the 12 year old Duke of Dyfed.

With succession to the Crown the House of Gwynedd falls and the House of Dyfed begins its 150 year rule that would end in conquest by England.