Boomerang in Brycheiniog

 

On 15 May 1266 Roger Mortimer apparently suffered a bad defeat in Brycheiniog. This is reported in the Annals of Waverley, which translates:

“...and in the Vigil of Pentecost Roger de Mortimer's entire army was slain in Brecon, and he was the only one to escape”.

Mortimer's defeat is not referenced anywhere else. We don't even know who he was fighting, but can take a few educated guesses.

The silence in pro-Venedotian chronicles may imply the battle had nothing to do with Gwynedd. Hence, this was not a fight between Mortimer and his cousin Prince Llywelyn. The lordship of Brycheniog was also contested by Gilbert de Clare and Humphrey Bohun. Clare had protested to the king, Henry III, that Mortimer was planning to murder him. However, if it had come to an open fight between the two powerful Marchers, you might expect it to be noticed elsewhere. As for the Bohuns, they were a busted flush at this stage, especially after Lord Edward gave their remaining castles in Brycheiniog to Mortimer. So, we are left in the dark.

There is no reason to think the Waverley annalist invented the battle; he only mentions it in passing, and his very indifference serves as confirmation. Mortimer quickly dusted himself down, and re-appeared a few weeks later in command of part of the royal army at the siege of Kenilworth. Much like a boomerang, the Mortimers always came back.