From the personal writings of Madoc, official representative of the Welsh King
It seemed like English spearmen were a common sight only yesterday, though it was indeed a few years ago. It also seemed like the English word was law yesterday, yet that too was some time in the past now. The declaration of Welsh independence changed all that. In the blink of an eye, the red coats of English authority vanished, and Llywelyn found himself elected King by the nationalist Welsh lords.
There were other lords, of course, that were opposed to the independence. Lord Tiernan of Pembroke was violently opposed to throwing out the English. How ironic, then, that his own people deposed him, and literally cast him into the sea. For a time, Lord Maredudd was opposed. Still, the man saw the world change, and he cast his lot in with Llywelyn and his brother, Dafydd.
Llywelyn was already a strong lord in the province, but after the death of his father, Lord Gruffudd, it was intended that he would receive Montgomery and Dafydd would receive Caernarvon. Such an arrangement was appealing to the English - the old lord was troublesome enough, and while the sons were also troublesome, they were also not good friends.
At least, the English thought, until a string of incidents resulted in the two meeting and reconciling their childhood differences, and the subsequent event where the Governor of Wales was eliminated in open combat against Llywelyn when the governor made the mistake of challenging Lywelyn to a duel. A shock to the English Crown, no doubt, when the governor's office was suddenly empty, and when English officers fled Wales in a hurry. Even more of a shock was the ease with which Lywelyn united the Welsh lords that weren't deposed that very month.
Now, four men rule the little dominion of Wales, and stand in open opposition against the English Crown. Five men declare themselves traitors, though in their eyes, they are entirely justified, and have no obligation to the English Crown anyways. I suppose that I too am a traitor. While I was tutored by an Englishman, and have learned history through English lenses, I cannot say that my heart nor my fate lies with England. At the end of an English blade in the night, perhaps, but that time is not today. Of course not, I am able to write this down.
To connect these points, six men - myself included - are now the public enemies of England. There is myself, who authored the statement last year that more or less told the English to bugger off. I have only lifted a pen against England, but I, and certainly the English, would argue that it is a very potent and treacherous pen. I will not be spared, in the end. I suppose that means we should win. Hopefully I live past the age of twenty-five, but I'm no oracle, seer or priest.
There is of course Lord - or, now King - Llywelyn, centerpiece of the rebellion. His father was known as a man of honor, and the reputation carried on to his father's first son. Some are even taking to the name "Llywelyn the Honorable". We will see if the title is deserved. From what I know of him, he seems to be a fair and just man. He has expressed regret for the unfortunate events before the revolution, even if he had no hand in them. He expressed regret for the way some of the English were removed, which is to say, some Englishmen were flat out murdered. Nobody of national importance, but Llywelyn tells me that distinction does not matter. I'm not sure if I agree, but that is his prerogative. It is up to the English to appease or remove Llywelyn first. I don't know how conflict could possibly be averted. An English lord challenged Llywelyn, and the man intends to take up the challenge.
Then there is Dafydd, a man five years junior to his brother. His father's reputation did not carry on to him, largely because it is in Dafydd's nature to remain outside of the spotlight, and because of Dafydd's... somewhat grizzly ways in regards to war. I cannot confirm this, but I suspect he was behind the death of at least one Englishman who fled the country. His descriptions of what he would do to an English knight are frankly terrifying, and I shall not write them down. Nonetheless, he is a smart fellow and has a fair grasp on command, and is an important part of the new Welsh administration. It is he who has recently convinced Llywelyn to make further developments to infrastructure around Wales. I believe he manages other things as well, but those things are of a nature that one should not write about in these preliminary writings.
Lord Maredudd is an unremarkable sort of man - I do not wish for this to be taken poorly. He is smart, a fair fighter, and a decent lord. He supported the English until unfortunate events that turned most of the Welsh nation against the Crown. After that, he was an early supporter of Llywelyn, and now one of the people to swear by the new Welsh King.
Finally, for our list of lords, we have Lord Rhodri, a young man pushed into a position of power with the death of his father. He lead a small force to decisive victory against an English garrison to the west of Montgomery, and that distinction makes him a potent ally. I confess, however, that while I have my reservations about the prince, Lord Rhodri is not an example of what Welsh independence should be. He is a dark man with harsh justice that feels distinctly English. Yet when I say that, I mean the stereotype of English oppression, which may or may not be true depending on region. Rhodri is the face of oppression, and I suspect he is followed out of fear more than anything else. He is an outlier, and I would be happy to see him go. For now, I can simply avoid him.
The fifth man is comparatively minor, and serves as a financial advisor to the Welsh King's brother. A merchant by trade, wandering Wales and getting the best of deals. He is also a nationalist and a verbose supporter of the revolutionary movement, though that is probably because of his opposition to English taxation more than anything else. Ironic, too, as the new administration is similarly seeking coin from its citizens, but I digress.
The time has come to write letters to various lords. Llywelyn tells me what point he wants to get across, and I write. It's a cozy arrangement. Hopefully it stands as the one outlet for diplomacy in the nation, and that Dafydd won't try and do his own thing. Or anyone else, for that matter.
These are new and dark times. The Irish have made their declarations. The Welsh (obviously), and even a contingent of English lords are dissatisfied. Perhaps this is the time when England will lose its choke-hold over the Isles. English law is being deposed, bit by bit.
Yet, I fear of what might take its place...
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