United Wales

Gruffydd ap Llywelyn had managed to bring all of Wales under his control by 1055, however English attacks led by Harold Godwinson on his territory led to the collapse of his Wales into the traditional Kingdoms. What if he had done better in battle, and managed to hold Wales together? He would have lived longer, though probably not that much longer, though maybe to the Norman Conquest. Would the Kingdom be able to hold together at his death? How would this affect the Norman invasion of England?
 

Thande

Donor
Forgive me for doing the scratched record trick, but perhaps the anti-Norman rebellions in the late 1060s are more successful with Welsh support?

This would of course require that the Welsh decide that the Normans are worse neighbours than the English - perhaps some abortive Norman push into Wales in 1068-ish?
 
Well, an independent Wales and an independent Northern England makes the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland that much less likely, so it's fine...

The Normans will definately make some strikes into Wales despite it's status- after all, they had just invaded and defeated the strongest kingdom on the isles, I don't think the different status of Wales would deter them that much... but the landscape of Wales makes it that much more difficult to take. So it's possible the Welsh won't like the Normans, so they might provide some support to the Northern revolt (even if they hate the English too, better to have divided enemies than a united one)
 
Imajin said:
Gruffydd ap Llywelyn had managed to bring all of Wales under his control by 1055, however English attacks led by Harold Godwinson on his territory led to the collapse of his Wales into the traditional Kingdoms. What if he had done better in battle, and managed to hold Wales together? He would have lived longer, though probably not that much longer, though maybe to the Norman Conquest. Would the Kingdom be able to hold together at his death? How would this affect the Norman invasion of England?

One possible interesting scenario...perhaps Harold Godwinson is killed in battle against Gruffydd. That might help preserve the united Wales, and since Harold would never become King of England, would create major butterflies in England...and the world...a few years later.
 
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