Gruffydd ap Cynan's defeat at Bron yr Erw forced him into Irish exile and shaped the contest for control of north Wales in the late 11th century.
Key Facts
- Year
- 1075
- Location
- Bron yr Erw, near Clynnog Fawr, Llŷn
- Combatants
- Gruffydd ap Cynan vs Trahaearn ap Caradog
- Outcome for Gruffydd
- Defeat; driven into exile in Ireland
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Gruffydd ap Cynan, claimant to the kingdom of Gwynedd, sought to assert his authority in north Wales against the incumbent ruler Trahaearn ap Caradog. The struggle for dominance in the region brought the two rivals into armed conflict at Bron yr Erw, near Clynnog Fawr in the Llŷn Peninsula, in 1075.
The Battle of Bron yr Erw was fought in 1075 between the forces of Gruffydd ap Cynan and Trahaearn ap Caradog. The engagement proved disastrous for Gruffydd, whose army was defeated by Trahaearn's forces on the Llŷn Peninsula in north-west Wales.
Following his defeat, Gruffydd ap Cynan was compelled to flee Wales and return as an exile to Ireland, the land of his birth. Trahaearn ap Caradog thereby consolidated his hold over Gwynedd, though Gruffydd would later return to continue his bid for the kingship.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Gruffydd ap Cynan.
Side B
1 belligerent
Trahaearn ap Caradog.