Hello, I introduce to you a story that engages an era of Welsh history that, up to now, has been entirely ignored.

Ironically, it is during the nation’s biggest rebellion ever against England and the first to take place after England and Wales had united into one—over a century before Owain Glyndwr’s revolt.

The story is set shortly after the Statute of Rhuddlan (1284) was enacted, which was to put the Welsh on equal footing as the English…but, clearly, did not.

In England-controlled Wales, Squire Robert of Pembroke is on the verge of receiving an early knighthood, but that changes when he defends a Welsh peasant boy in a fight against two English squires—infuriating the local court.

The outrage prompts Robert to leave Pembroke and soon join the vast Welsh uprisings spreading across the country…until he is captured by the Earl of Hereford and taken to Pleshey Castle in England.

While in service to the earl at Pleshey, Robert meets and greatly impresses the earl’s wife, the enchanting Lady Maud de Fiennes, and the two form an acquaintance that turns passionately intimate.

In the meantime, Robert’s knightly skills elevate him to becoming a trusted advisor to the earl and even a celebrity prisoner at the castle.

However, when the earl discovers Robert’s secret role in a devastating battlefield betrayal against England, Robert must traverse numerous towers and fend off a multitude of knights in order to escape Pleshey with his life.

Before giving his last goodbye to Maud, though, Robert offers her one final surprise.

Knight in the Scarlet Cloak is a mixture of adventure, romance, and revenge that is based heavily on actual people and events and immerses the reader into the world of 13th-century Wales and England—the people, the lifestyle, the pivotal moments, and even the food and drink.

The novel is available for pre-order on Amazon and will be released on Kindle and paperback on October 1st.

Helo … rwy’n eich cyflwyno i stori sy’n ymwneud ag oes o hanes Cymru sydd, hyd yn hyn, wedi’i hanwybyddu’n llwyr.

Yn eironig ddigon, dyma adeg gwrthryfel mwyaf y genedl erioed yn erbyn Lloegr a’r cyntaf i ddigwydd ar ôl i Gymru a Lloegr uno’n un—dros ganrif cyn gwrthryfel Owain Glyndŵr.

Mae’r stori wedi’i gosod yn fuan ar ôl deddfu Statud Rhuddlan (1284), a oedd i fod i roi’r Cymry ar yr un lefel â’r Saeson ond, yn amlwg, ni wnaeth.

Yng Nghymru a reolir gan Loegr, mae Sgweier Robert o Benfro ar fin cael ei urddo’n farchog cynnar, ond mae hynny’n newid pan fydd yn amddiffyn bachgen gwerinol o Gymru mewn brwydr yn erbyn dau sgweier Seisnig—gan gynhyrfu’r llys lleol.

Mae’r dicter yn ysgogi Robert i adael Penfro ac ymuno’n fuan â’r gwrthryfeloedd Cymreig enfawr sy’n ymledu ar draws y wlad…nes iddo gael ei ddal gan Iarll Henffordd a’i gludo i Gastell Pleshey yn Lloegr.

Tra mewn gwasanaeth i’r iarll yn Pleshey, mae Robert yn cyfarfod ac yn creu argraff fawr ar wraig yr iarll, y Fonesig hudolus Maud de Fiennes, ac mae’r ddau yn ffurfio adnabyddiaeth sy’n troi’n angerddol o agos atoch.

Yn y cyfamser, mae sgiliau marchog Robert yn ei ddyrchafu i ddod yn gynghorydd dibynadwy i’r iarll a hyd yn oed yn garcharor enwog yn y castell.

Fodd bynnag, pan fydd yr iarll yn darganfod rôl gyfrinachol Robert mewn brad dinistriol ar faes y gad yn erbyn Lloegr, rhaid i Robert groesi nifer o dyrau a gwarchod llu o farchogion er mwyn dianc o Pleshey â’i fywyd.

Ond cyn ffarwelio â Maud, mae Robert yn cynnig un syrpreis olaf iddi.

Mae Knight in the Scarlet Cloak yn gymysgedd o antur, rhamant, a dial sy’n seiliedig yn helaeth ar bobl a digwyddiadau go iawn ac sy’n trochi’r darllenydd i fyd Cymru a Lloegr yn y 13eg ganrif—y bobl, y ffordd o fyw, yr eiliadau tyngedfennol, a hyd yn oed y bwyd a’r diod.

Mae’r nofel ar gael i’w harchebu ymlaen llaw ar Amazon a bydd yn cael ei rhyddhau ar Kindle a clawr meddal ar Hydref 1af.

More from Welsh Histories

Welsh Histories is a Welsh history celebrating platform which looks to promote all aspects of Welsh history. Though we focus predominantly on native Welsh history, we do also share the non-native aspects from time to time. You can follow us on Facebook; Instagram or Twitter for more. A reader? We also have our very own Welsh Histories Shop where we sell our Welsh Histories  Magazine.  Diolch yn fawr iawn and keep enjoying Welsh Histories.

Dan Rhys

Dan is the author of the book, ‘Knight in the Scarlet Cloak.’