Edward II was hunted down and assassinated in quite an un-kingly way. But how did it all go so terribly wrong for him? And why did it all unfold in Glamorgan?

Edward II also known as Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 to 1327 and it must be said that his rule was a liturgy of disasters and poor decisions. It culminated in his own wife; Isabella (the she wolf of France) forcing him to abdicate in favour of his son. And Edward's rather brutal assassination – according to some sources, from having a red-hot poker inserted rectally Berkley Castle. Although we have others to compare with as well.

We have a pretty spectacular legend published in the South Wales Daily News on 29th August 1899 by a man from the hilltop village of Llangynwyd near Maesetg who called himself Ap Cadrawd. He claimed that he had uncovered a genuine historical account written by a bard called Morien which told the full story of Edwards flight across South Wales. How he and Hugh Le Despenser (his lover) fled London and sought refuge in Neath Abbey. There they persuaded the Abbot of Neath to plea on their behalf but in doing so, he inadvertently gave away where they were hiding. So, they fled again and attempted to find their way to Despenser’s Castle in Caerphilly but knowing there were soldiers looking for them everywhere they hid at a farm in Llangynwyd. Eventually being captured at Pant-Y-Brad near Tonyrefael in the Rhondda Valley on the pilgrimage route from Llantrisant to Penrhys.

We also have stone plinths and markers commemorating the events of this story. But are they all fake? With the help of some experts in their field I investigate the story of this game of hide and seek across Glamorgan and how we believe he met his end at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire.

This video is written, presented, and published by Welsh author and historian; Graham Loveluck-Edwards. Author of books such as 'Historic Pubs of Wales' and the Legends and Folklore of Glamorgan series, published by Candy Jar Books LTD (Cardiff). In these videos, I examine an often over looked but significant moment in Welsh history.

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For more information about the author visit https://grahamloveluckedwards.com.