Welsh Royalty. Born Owain ab Gruffydd, son of Gruffydd Vychan, and his wife Helen, who claimed descent from the princes of Powys, he inherited the manors of Sycharth and Glyndyvrdwy in the north, and smaller estates in south Wales. He studied law in London, was squire to the earl of Arundel, and then served with the forces of Henry Bolingbroke the future Henry IV. In September 1400 his feud with a neighbor, Reynold, Lord Grey of Ruthin, touched off an uprising in northern Wales. He formed an alliance with King Henry's most powerful opponents, and by 1404 he had control of most of Wales and had driven off Henry's attacks on three separate occasions. He styled himself prince of Wales, and established an independent Welsh Parliament and began to formulate his own policies. He was recognized by Charles VI of France, with whom he made an alliance. In 1405, however, the tide of the rebellion turned and the Welsh endured a trio of defeats through the spring, culminating in the capture of Glendower's son, Gruffydd. The English continued to gain ground and the town of Aberystwith was retaken in the autumn of 1408. In February 1409 Harlech was recaptured, with the loss of Glendower's wife, daughter, and grandchildren who were taken prisoner. Glendower remained at large, however, and continued to try and rally support, and was active in a guerrilla war as late as 1412. He never regained his power or position, and disappeared into the mountains. He refused to take advantage of the general amnesty offered by Henry V. Not surprisingly, the English and Welsh legends differ as to his ultimate fate, the former alleges that he died of starvation in the mountains; the latter describes him as living into old age in the households of his sons-in-law at Ewyas and Monington in Herefordshire. An independent, united Wales was never closer to realization than it was under Glendower's leadership and he is today recognized as a Welsh national hero. His name is also recorded as Owain Glyndwr.