As part of these celebrations, a plaque has been unveiled commemorating the Tripartite Indenture of February 1405.
Speaking at the event, Dr Euryn Roberts reflected on the deep historical significance of the document and its context within the Glyndŵr revolt:
"Today’s commemoration takes us back to a period of deepening crisis in Wales, but also to a time of visionary leadership and with it, hopes for a better world. The Tripartite Indenture marks the high point of Owain Glyndŵr’s ambitions – his bold, and arguably unrealistic, vision for a principality Wales and a radical restructuring of the English realm."
The Glyndŵr revolt, which began in 1400, was both a popular uprising and a national movement, fuelled by deep-seated grievances following the Edwardian conquest. By 1405, Glyndŵr had not only secured significant support from within Wales but had also forged alliances with disgruntled noble families in England and with the kings of France and Scotland. The Tripartite Indenture, an agreement between Glyndŵr, Edmund Mortimer, and Henry Percy, proposed a three-way division of England and Wales and the creation of an expanded principality of Wales.
Despite the ultimate failure of the rebellion, its legacy endures. Owain Glyndŵr remains one of Wales’s most celebrated historical figures. However, as Dr Roberts noted in his remarks, the unveiling of this plaque is not just about commemorating a legendary figure, but about recognising the historical documents that shed light on his time:
"Living as we do in an age of global iconoclasm, where statues are often pulled down or defaced, I’d like to applaud Bangor City Council for commemorating not Glyndŵr the fallible man, but one of the key documents that open our eyes to his age and aspirations. Historical storytelling relies on the evidence, and today, we honour that evidence."
Dr Roberts was joined by the Reverend Canon Tracy Jones from St Deiniol’s Cathedral, Bangor, and Dr Martin Hanks, Bangor City Council City Director. Martin is a former History student at the School. Current and former Bangor History students were in attendance and the pictures in this article were taken by Tomos Cahill, a Year 2 BA Medieval & Early Modern History student in the School of History, Law and Social Sciences.