Owain Glyndŵr (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈoʊain ɡlɨ̞nˈduːr]), or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower (c. 1349 or 1359 – c. 1416), was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales. He instigated a fierce and long-running but ultimately unsuccessful revolt against the English rule of Wales.
Glyndŵr was a descendant of the Princes of Powys from his father Gruffydd Fychan II, hereditary Tywysog of Powys Fadog and Lord of Glyndyfrdwy, and of those of Deheubarth through his mother Elen ferch Tomas ap Llywelyn. On 16 September 1400, Glyndŵr instigated the Welsh Revolt against the rule of Henry IV of England. Although successful in terms of uniting the Welsh against their oppressors, the uprising eventually ran out of pace due to key home ground lost whilst chasing the English army towards London — Glyndŵr was last seen in 1412 and was never captured nor tempted by royal pardons and never betrayed. His final years are a mystery.
Glyndŵr has remained a notable figure in the popular culture of both Wales and England, portrayed in Shakespeare's play Henry IV, Part 1 (as Owen Glendower) as a wild and exotic man ruled by magic and emotion ("at my nativity, The front of heaven was full of fiery shapes, Of burning cressets, and at my birth The frame and huge foundation of the earth Shaked like a coward." — Henry IV, Part 1, Act 3, scene 1). In the late 19th century the Cymru Fydd movement recreated him as the father of Welsh nationalism, revising the historical image of him and joining him in popular memory as a national hero on par with King Arthur.
"The Man" is a slang phrase that may refer to the government or to some other authority in a position of power. In addition to this derogatory connotation, it may also serve as a term of respect and praise.
The phrase "the Man is keeping me down" is commonly used to describe oppression. The phrase "stick it to the Man" encourages resistance to authority, and essentially means "fight back" or "resist", either openly or via sabotage.
The earliest recorded use[citation needed] of the term "the Man" in the American sense dates back to a letter written by a young Alexander Hamilton in September 1772, when he was 15. In a letter to his father James Hamilton, published in the Royal Dutch-American Gazette, he described the response of the Dutch governor of St. Croix to a hurricane that raked that island on August 31, 1772. "Our General has issued several very salutary and humane regulations and both in his publick and private measures, has shewn himself the Man." [dubious – discuss] In the Southern U.S. states, the phrase came to be applied to any man or any group in a position of authority, or to authority in the abstract. From about the 1950s the phrase was also an underworld code word for police, the warden of a prison or other law enforcement or penal authorities.
I'm a welsh noble, I noblised WLaes against the English.
Fought King Henry four because Wales aboard English fields.
But my uprising, it went a bit wrong and this song tells the surprising tale.
Owain GLyndwr!
Welsh hero, of the hour!
It all began 'cause my neighbour's a vindictive man,
Baron Grey De Ruthen was spreading untrue things 'bout me!
Said I was a rebel who planned to repel England's king,
Not really true but more than a few were convincd.
So, I decided, to take on the mental, was given the handle of Prince.
Of Wales!
You don't have to be Welsh to feel Welsh pride.
Even kingsman Henry Hotspur ended up on my side.
He claimed Welsh ground, then in Hereford rain,
The king nearly drowned, washed away in his tent.
So partly thanks to Welsh weather,
I was crowned, think I'm gunna dance now!
I had great plans for new government, new law and churches.
But Henry the fourth had dried off and revenge was his game.
We were defeated, he blocked supplies to Wales,
Our crops failed and starvation came.
Owain Glyndwr!
My family sent to the tower.
Hell! Welsh towns fell and we all know that never ends well.
So I dissappeared but my name is revered throughout Wales.
Owain Glyndwr!
Father of the fight for Welsh power.
Welsh legend holds that should Wales ever need someone bold.
I'll rise up to help, mind you I'm six hundred years old!
Henffych well i'r arwr mawr Cymru