1 January 1136 - The Battle of Llwchwr.

The Norman invasion of Wales following their conquest of England was a much more prolonged process taking 30 years before the Welsh Princes accepted the Norman King of England as Overlord whilst retaining a measure of local independence. Nevertheless Norman control was patchy with the Welsh taking every opportunity to rebel against the Norman-English.

One such opportunity came with the death of Henry I in December 1135 and the disputed succession. With the English distracted the Welsh under the Lord of Brycheiniog, Hywel ap Maredudd set about raiding Norman settlements in south Wales. The Normans sent a small army to tackle what they expected to be a band of lawless raiders. The two forces met at Llwchwr west of Swansea. 

Details are scarce, even the name of the Norman commander is unknown, but the Welsh were victorious killing around 500 Normans. The victory emboldened the Welsh into further rebellion which paused Norman expansion into Wales for 30 years. 

A stone marks the battlefield today.