It’s time again when I browse through Welsh history memes for a good laugh.

#1.

I am yet to figure it out. It makes absolutely no sense.

Readers’ comments:

”I’ve been told this, or that our history is not real being thats it’s surprisingly not in any English books.”

”Occupation and plunder are part of England’s DNA. So much so that they don’t realise they’re living and breathing it. They see themselves as benevolent no matter how much harm they do, and when they can no longer plunder any more from a place they leave and tell themselves they enriched that place just by being there.

They have no understanding of the harm they do. Their history is full of it but if you point it out to them they say “That’s all in the past, that is not who we are now”, but it is exactly who they are now. It’s not their fault, they can’t help it any more than a tiger can help being carnivorous.

They honestly think that being ruled by them is in OUR best interests, and that any suggestion that we would be able to cope without them is an insult to them.

Now and again you will speak to one of them that understands this and agrees that independence would be better for Cymru, that is the Briton DNA over-ruling the Anglo-Saxon.”

”It’s because most of my fellow Sais can’t handle the fact that maybe, historically, the English haven’t been the good guys after all, despite what we’ve been told since birth. Learning about Welsh history means they have to confront that, and they don’t want to.”

#2.

I am sorry but whilst I do proudly celebrate our rich rygbi history on here, I am a pêl-droed man through and through! 

Readers’ comments:

“Time we plucked the feathers and find a new emblem.”

”Welsh football team called cymru and with a real Welsh badge , unlike the rugby.”

”I’m a rugby girl through and through but the footie’s got the name (Cymru), the songs and the fantastic bucket hats. The sense of Welshness is so much more in evidence in football.”

”Sadly very few people really understand what those horrible feathers represent. I bet your dad was a legend, a true Welshman. Sadly like so many others he was duped by this.”

”I found out about the origins of the feathers relatively recently and I just can’t look at the emblem the same way anymore. I find it insulting and embarrassing to be perfectly honest. We definitely should change it and ban fans from wearing those stupid daffodil hat things too ”

#3.

Before Christopher Columbus (and after Leif Eriksen), there was (possibly) Madoc ab Owain Gwynedd – the potentially fictional son of the very much real Welsh King of Gwynedd, Owain Gwynedd.

Not much is known of Madoc and his entire story may have been (and very likely was) a fabricated reason for Elizabeth I to justify colonising the Americas, but according to tale, he had set sail to America over three hundred years before Columbus’ voyage.

He returned to Wales; spoke of his successful travels and encouraged men to follow him on a second voyage to the “new” continent. However, he and those same men were never heard from again.

Readers’ comments:

“There were words found on rocks and in caves in America that were very similar to cymraeg , and dated well before the vikings . That was mentioned on tv in a documentary about previous unknown American history some years ago.”

”I believe there is Linguistic evidence from native American people’s that suggest Welsh did get there.. Vikings probably knew of the American continent shortly after they reached Greenland. The issue woukd gave been safe bsys. Mafic is supposed to have landed in Chesaprake Bay. It hard for us to understand the issues navigation from our technology.”

”And Columbus never even got to America anyway.”

#4.

We really don’t! Those perpetuating the myth that Welsh history is anti-English need to take a breather.

Readers’ comments:

One said: ”The Welsh were being oppressed by the same people as the English. The government. But the government oppressed the Welsh at the core, the culture and language.”

Someone replied: “The welsh are not being oppressed i should know i am welsh and live in Wales not America.”

Another reader said, “Cardiffian here. Lived and worked in London for 23 years, not one single working day passed without some sort or racism directed at me for being Welsh.”

#5.

This is pretty fun. We are waving at Ireland

Readers’ comments:

One said, “Last time I checked Scotland wasn’t in space ”

Others replied, “Shouldn’t you be saying that dragons don’t exist, before being concerned about where Scotland is?”

#6.

Some memes speak for themselves.

Many of you will be aware that Cymru is not represented on the Union Flag for reasons usually attributed to its lack of being an existing country (separate from England) at the time of the flag’s inception. 

Many in the country are divided on the issue, with many wanting Welsh representation and many happy to not be affiliated with the flag!

Readers’ comments:

One said, “The welsh dragon is a relatively new flag, they should integrate the cross of St David into the Union flag.”

Others replied, “The dragon itself has been used since the fifth century.. the same time St David was aroundEngland will find any reason to exclude wales, always have always will.”

“I was taught that it is the oldest flag first reported by the Romans but will have to look for the evidence for this.”

”No, Im fine thanks. You cannot improve on perfection..”

”Y Draig Goch is too cool to be associated with that circus flag.”

An angry commenter said, “Not this again, how many times do you want to stir the pot? You actually did a good piece, I read it yesterday on the Kings. It was interesting, unlike this repetitively posted article.

The consensus of the people of Cymru seems they didn’t want to be on that flag anyway, and they want the Ddraig Goch as the flag of Cymru. So can’t you put it to bed for a year at least,

There’s so much more to Cymru than that.”

To which people replied, “You don’t understand humour!”

#7.

I am just preparing for Owain Glyndŵr Day on Monday, don’t mind me!

#8.

Before Owain Glyndŵr, there was Owain ap Thomas ap Rhodri (1330 – July 1378). 

Owain, better known today as Owain Lawgoch, was a Welsh soldier who fought for the French, whilst leading a free company (a mercenary army), against the English in the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453). 

Most interestingly, he was a senior descendant of Llywelyn Fawr of House Aberffraw – giving Lawgoch a strong claim on the titles “Prince of Gwynedd” and “Prince of Wales”. 

It was in Paris in May of 1372 when Owain would announce his intention on claiming the throne of Cymru and, with the financial support of French King Charles V (21 January 1338 – 16 September 1380), he set out to reclaim his family’s traditional Kingdom.

He would prove to be a formidable thorn in the side of the English, who began to fear the potential ramifications of his claim. So much so, in fact, that the English establishment sought the aid of an assassin, John Lamb of Scotland, to take down Owain. He succeeded in killing Owain in July of 1378 and was rewarded a large sum of £20. 

Lawgoch is today buried at the Church of St. Leger, near Cognac, France and a memorial at Lawgoch’s death location was unveiled Mortagne-sur-Gironde in 2003. He is a hero of Cymru whose name should never be forgotten.

Readers’ comments:

”This is OUR history, not the English centric, colonial, royalist claptrap taught in my day. Has it improved????”

”The history of the Cymru has been ignored by the establishment, King Arthur king of Glamorgan was taught in schools in Glamorgan before the 20s it was in the school books , before the English establishment decided to erase it.”

#9.

Tom Jones was launched into global superstardom with his megahit “It’s Not Unusual” in 1965. It reached number 1 in the UK Singles Charts (despite the BBC deciding not to air it because of Jones’ sexual image) and later number 10 in the United States. 

Once Jones performed the song on the hugely popular Ed Sullivan Show for the first time on 2 May 1965, his superstardom was cemented.

Readers’ comments:

”He’s from my hometown and always was a womanizer and a horrible man.”

”Sang at my mother’s wedding reception back in the 60’s under the name Tom Scott.”

#10.

By the time of Henry Tudor (28 January 1457-21 April 1509), a Welsh-born noble, little pride remained in the family’s Welshness – it had become a propagandic tool to mobilise Welsh support in Henry’s quest for the throne at the conclusion of the War of the Roses (1455-1487).

As mentioned in June issue of Welsh Histories Magazine: ‘Henry made land fall in South Wales and marched to meet the then English king Richard at Bosworth. During this march, he mustered a great number of Welsh troops along with his uncle, Jasper Tudor, who was brother to his father, Owain Tudor. The Welsh connection to Henry goes beyond his birth place; the Welsh bards called him “Y Mab Darogan” or “Prophesised Son” of Wales.

They sang that he was the Prince that would unite the Kingdoms of England and Wales and put a Welsh son on the throne of England. It could have been this propaganda that lent so many Welsh swords to his cause but it has been said that Henry VII never again put his foot on Welsh soil after he had sat on the English Throne.’

Though the Tudors are often celebrated as a Welsh dynasty by Welsh royalists, they were anything but. The prophecy regarding Henry putting a Welsh son on the throne also turned out to be rather nightmarish – Henry VIII, of course, being the one to annex Cymru into England through the Laws in Wales Act (1535–1542).

For me, personally, there is little Welsh about either Henry VII and/or Henry VIII. Elizabeth I, though, did play a role in saving the Welsh language.

Readers’ comments:

“I think people forget nationalism didn’t exist then. 1st rule of history… don’t project modern concepts on historic peoples.”

“Of course they weren’t Welsh. Wales has no connection whatsoever to the English monarchy and needs independence from this dreadful and unequal so called union.”

”I have read somewhere, but don’t remember when or where, that in fact he didn’t pick up a huge amount of support while travelling through Wales. The Welsh by then were tired of war and risking their lives. They wished him luck and preferred to stay at home and await the outcome, which was obviously the sensible thing to do.”

”That’s an eye-opener. At least his granddaughter Elizabeth the first tried to keep the Welsh flame alive by speaking the language with servants to keep secrets amongst gossips.”

#11.

Me too, Harry. Me too.

Readers’ comments:

Someone asked, “How prevalent is the desire for Welsh independence among the people? Is it meaningful in any way?”

Others replied: “It is very much in Ceredigion. I think the benefits of independence are mainly emotive and practically it would be a bad idea. I think the number of welsh speakers would drop in an independent Wales.”

”Unfortunately your post reflects the mindset of a person living under colonial rule, displaying a lack of confidence in self-determination in the same way the ‘Stockholm syndrome’ can takes hold.

The existence of colonialism anywhere, prevents the development of international economic co-operation, impedes the social, cultural and economic development of ‘colonial dependent peoples’ and militates against the United Nations ideal of universal peace. 

It is globally accepted that the peoples of the world ardently desire the end of colonialism in all its manifestations.

It’s globally accepted that peoples should be allowed for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice.

If Wales and Scotland had nothing to offer, Westminster would let them go.”

#12.

Here’s a homemade meme related to the Welsh homemade dish of ‘caws pobi’ (‘Welsh rarebit’).

The 16th century origins of caws pobi are connected to the The Fyrst Boke of the Introduction of Knowledge (1542), in which the writer wrote: 

“I am a Welshman, I do love cause boby, good roasted cheese.” 

‘Cause boby’, of course, very likely refers to the Welsh ‘caws pobi’, which translates to ‘roasted cheese’ and is now the Welsh for ‘Welsh rarebit’. It is unclear, though, of the writer was referring to caws pobi as we know it today or simply some roasted cheese.

Though a very simple dish, it must be said that whoever invented it should have a statue erected in their honour outside of the Senedd.

Readers’ comments:

”No he wasn’t it was the Celts. They showed the Romans but they couldn’t make bread and that is how Pizza was invented!”

#13.

We will never surrender!

Readers’ comments:

”I think he would be pleased that his enemies still complain about him, nearly a millennium after his death.”

”Doubt it, but more importantly, what would ‘Eddie Longsh*t’ think of all the Ddraig Goch’s flying from all the towers in his old castles in Wales? ”

”It baffles me as to why people take the time to read something they don’t want to read. Do they buy something from a shop and then complain to that shop for having the item for sale?! Just scroll on.”

#14.

When two Welsh lads see each other abroad.

I am yet to find one here in India 

Readers’ comments:

”Then they start having a sticky sword fight in the toilet.”

”I was in Malaysia a long time ago and went to a bar to watch the rugby 6 nations game. Prior to arriving in the bar, there was no evidence of any other Welsh people in the town.

Within 15 minutes of arriving 5 Welsh people entered the pub, 3 of whom were wearing Welsh rugby jerseys. It’s possible that the Welsh people in the town are blending in well and may only be truly uncovered by the phenomenon of rugby.”

”I’m Irish, my name being an obvious indicator. When I lived in The Netherlands most english speakers gravitated to the same social hubs. We used to call them bars and pubs. There were Irish, Scots and English but no sign of the Welsh. 

If you put the time in you would eventually hear that lovely accent and identify one after further questioning. 

I just presumed that not many Welsh people wanted to leave Wales.”

”And is one of the first questions, “Do you know Rhys Jones from Cardiff?”

#15.

Grab your weapons and rev up the time machine. It is time to go back!

Readers’ comments:

“If the dev diaries about the next Europa Universalis game are accurate (in that it begins in the 1300s not 1444 per the last) then there MIGHT be a preset start that lets you play as the Glyndwr rebellion, or at least someone could mod it in.”

”No, it’s time to move forward!”

I personally enjoy a blend of Welsh history and memes to educate and get a good laugh. Do you too? Let us know on [email protected]

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Sally George

Sally is a proud wife of a Welshman, editor & writer of Welsh Histories. She’s all about stories—that shout ‘anything Welsh.’ Drop her an email if you have an advice, insight, experience, or a story to share.