Abstract
This thesis reevaluates the Last Welsh Revolt, commonly known as Glyndŵr's Rising (1400-1415), through the lens of radicalization, presenting a comprehensive analysis of the socio-political, economic, and cultural dynamics leading to and resulting from this pivotal event in Welsh history. By integrating a wide array of primary sources, including chronicles, legal documents, and poetry, with a critical review of both historical and modern interpretations, the study challenges traditional narratives centered on nationalism and personal leadership. Instead, it argues that a prolonged period of radicalization, characterized by deep-seated social, economic, and political pressures both within Wales and England, played a crucial role in catalyzing the revolt. These pressures include the impact of the Black Death, the Lollardy movement, economic grievances due to heavy taxation, and political instability following the deposition of Richard II, among others. The thesis also explores the individual transformation of Owain Glyndŵr from an Anglo-Welsh collaborator to a radicalized leader, against the backdrop of these wider regional and national tensions. It concludes that Glyndŵr’s Rising was not an isolated outbreak of Welsh nationalism, but a significant part of a larger pattern of resistance and unrest across Britain, contributing to a lasting Welsh identity distinct from the English. Through this reimagined account, the thesis not only sheds light on Glyndŵr’s Revolt itself but also contributes to a deeper understanding of the processes of radicalization and identity formation in medieval Britain.