Compare Revisions

11 Overview
22  
3-The Glyndwr Rebellion (also known as the Welsh Revolt or the Last War of Welsh Independence) was a military uprising led by Owain Glyndwr against the Kingdom of England between 1400 and approximately 1415. It was the last major Welsh revolt against English rule and serves as the historical setting for Kingmakers. The game takes this real conflict and reinterprets it through its time-travel premise: in the original, unaltered timeline, the rebellion succeeded and Glyndwr united Britain. The player is sent back to 1400 AD to ensure this outcome.
3+The Glyndwr Rebellion (also known as the Welsh Revolt or the Last War of Welsh Independence) was a military uprising led by Owain Glyndwr against the Kingdom of England between 1400 and approximately 1415. It was the last major Welsh revolt against English rule and is the historical setting for Kingmakers. The game takes this real conflict and reinterprets it through its time-travel premise: in the original, unaltered timeline, the rebellion succeeded and Glyndwr united Britain. The player is sent back to 1400 AD to ensure this outcome.
44  
55 Understanding the real history behind the rebellion adds depth to the game's narrative and helps players appreciate how the alternate history diverges from documented events. The developers at Redemption Road Games have stated that they prioritized historical accuracy for the period's "important key events," using real figures, locations, and conflicts as the foundation for the game's story.
66  
77 Historical Context
88  
99 Edward I's Conquest of Wales (1283)
1010  
1111 The roots of the Glyndwr Rebellion stretch back over a century before Glyndwr's proclamation. In 1283, King Edward I of England completed his conquest of Wales, ending the rule of the native Welsh princes. Edward built a ring of massive castles across Wales (including Harlech, Caernarfon, Conwy, and Beaumaris) to enforce English control. For the next century, Wales was governed under increasingly restrictive English laws, and the Welsh population faced legal discrimination that barred them from holding certain offices or living within town walls.
1212  
1313 The Usurpation of 1399
1414  
1515 In 1399, Henry Bolingbroke (Henry IV) deposed King Richard II and seized the English throne. This was a destabilizing event for all of Britain. Glyndwr had served Richard II loyally in military campaigns during the 1380s, and Richard's overthrow removed whatever allegiance Glyndwr might have felt toward the English crown. Henry IV's government was weak, cash-strapped, and facing threats on multiple fronts, which created conditions favorable for a Welsh uprising.
1616  
1717 Timeline of the Rebellion
1818  
1919 YearEvent1400Owain Glyndwr proclaimed Prince of Wales at Glyndyfrdwy (16 September). Welsh forces attack Ruthin, Denbigh, Flint, and other English-held towns.1401Rebellion spreads across North and Mid-Wales. Conwy Castle briefly captured by Glyndwr's allies. English punitive expeditions launched but fail to crush the revolt.1402Battle of Bryn Glas (22 June): Major Welsh victory. Edmund Mortimer captured. Mortimer later marries Glyndwr's daughter and joins the rebellion.1403The Percy Rebellion: Henry Percy (Hotspur) revolts against Henry IV but is defeated at the Battle of Shrewsbury. The Percys were potential allies for Glyndwr.1404Glyndwr captures Harlech Castle and Aberystwyth Castle. He holds the first Welsh parliament at Machynlleth. Crown of Wales vision outlined.1405Tripartite Indenture signed with Mortimer and Percy's father. French troops land in Wales and march into England with Glyndwr. Standoff at Woodbury Hill; no decisive battle.1406Pennal Letter sent to France requesting continued support. Glyndwr's diplomatic efforts continue but military momentum stalls.1407-1408English forces gradually recapture Welsh territory. Aberystwyth falls to the English in 1408.1409Harlech Castle falls. Edmund Mortimer dies during the siege. Glyndwr's family members are captured.1410-1412Glyndwr continues guerrilla resistance with diminishing support. Last recorded sighting by English forces in 1412.c. 1415Last historical reference to Glyndwr. He was never captured, never surrendered, and never betrayed. His fate remains unknown.
2020 Key Battles and Campaigns
2121  
2222 Battle of Bryn Glas (1402)
2323  
2424 The Battle of Bryn Glas, fought on 22 June 1402 near Pilleth in Powys, was the rebellion's most famous military victory. Glyndwr's force of approximately 1,500 men faced an English army of around 2,000 under Edmund Mortimer. Welsh archers used the terrain to devastating effect, and Welsh soldiers serving in the English ranks reportedly switched sides during the battle. Mortimer was captured, and the English suffered heavy casualties. The victory transformed Glyndwr from a regional rebel into a national leader.
2525  
2626 Siege of Harlech Castle (1404)
2727  
2828 Harlech Castle, one of Edward I's great fortifications, had stood as a symbol of English power in Wales for over a century. Its capture by Glyndwr in 1404 was a moment of enormous symbolic significance. Glyndwr made Harlech his primary residence and headquarters for the rebellion, and it served as the seat of his government until its recapture by the English in 1409.
2929  
3030 The French Campaign (1405)
3131  
3232 In August 1405, a force of approximately 2,500 French soldiers landed in Milford Haven, Wales. Combined with Glyndwr's forces, this joint army marched east into England, reaching Woodbury Hill near Worcester. There, they faced Henry IV's army. The two forces stared at each other across a valley for several days, but the expected battle never materialized. The French eventually withdrew, and the campaign, while impressive in scope, failed to deliver the decisive blow that might have ended the conflict.
3333  
3434 The Rebellion in Kingmakers
3535  
3636 Kingmakers uses the Glyndwr Rebellion as its historical foundation but adds a science fiction layer. In the game's lore, the original course of history saw Glyndwr's rebellion succeed. He and his allies conquered England, united Britain, and set humanity on a path of advancement. A malevolent, otherworldly force altered this timeline, causing the rebellion to fail and leaving humanity divided and vulnerable.
3737  
3838 The player, sent back in time from the future, must support Glyndwr and restore the original outcome. This setup allows the game to use real historical events, locations, and figures while creating gameplay scenarios that diverge from recorded history. Players fight alongside Glyndwr, assault the same castles that featured in the real rebellion, and face the same English opponents, but with the added advantage (and chaos) of modern weapons and vehicles.
3939  
4040 The faction system allows players to deviate from the canonical storyline. Instead of supporting Glyndwr, players can align with England and suppress the rebellion, or pursue Scottish interests. This freedom means the game explores not just the "what if Glyndwr won" question, but also alternative paths that the real rebellion never took.
4141  
4242 Historical Figures in the Game
4343  
4444 FigureHistorical RoleRole in KingmakersOwain GlyndwrWelsh rebel leader; self-proclaimed Prince of WalesAllied commander in the Welsh faction storylineHenry IV (Bolingbroke)King of England (1399-1413); usurped throne from Richard IIPrimary antagonist in the Welsh campaignHenry VPrince of Wales; later King of England (1413-1422)English military commanderEdmund MortimerEnglish nobleman; captured at Bryn Glas, later allied with GlyndwrReferenced in game loreHenry Percy (Hotspur)Earl of Northumberland's son; rebelled against Henry IV in 1403Referenced in factional politics
4545 Tips
4646  
4747 The game's story makes more sense if you understand the real history. The Tripartite Indenture, the French alliance, and the castle sieges all have historical roots.Real-world Welsh castles like Harlech and Aberystwyth appear in the game. Their strategic importance mirrors their historical significance.The game takes place in 1400-1401 initially, corresponding to the early and most volatile phase of the historical rebellion.