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Article from the WESTERN MAIL 18 December 1999 This article invited readers to vote by telephone on who they considered to be the most influential Welsh person of the millennium. TIMES OF STRUGGLE, FAITH AND CULTURE In the last of our series marking millennium greats we look at who among the figures in Welsh history can be called the person of the millennium. Earlier this year we looked at the contenders for the title. Today reporter RHODRI JONES presents a top 10 for readers to decide the Welsh Person of the Millennium. Welsh history is dominated by three main themes: struggle, religion and culture. It seems that when the great people of Welsh history are listed they too fall into one of these three categories. The Welsh, characterised by a fiery, brooding, passionate, self-destructive nature, have a chequered history. Division, self-doubt, oppression and toil are all paints on the easel of the portrait of Welsh life over the past 1,000 years but that contrasts with the unique cultural heritage and spirit found in our little country. But who were the driving forces behind the past 1,000 years and can anyone lay claim to be the most influential Welsh person over the millennium?
WILLIAM MORGAN saved the Welsh language. That may be a bold claim but without his Welsh Bible perhaps the faith would have long since disappeared and would not be enjoying its current resurgence and popularity. His 1588 translation of the Bible from Hebrew into Welsh was dubbed by the bard T H Parry-Williams in 1954 as the greatest gift the Welsh people had ever received. Morgan's Bible - which readers of The Western Mail readers voted last month as the Book of the Millennium - is widely regarded as being one of the saviours of the Welsh language and allowed Welsh people to understand and take part in worship where before they had to listen to lessons they did not understand. Produced in 1588, it has been praised for its classically elegant style and the effect it had in preventing further anglicisation after the Act of Union of 1536. Cambridge-educated Bishop Morgan's translation, made while he was vicar at Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, marks the real beginning of literature and Protestantism in modern Wales. Eminent historian Professor Glanmor Williams said Bishop Morgan's Bible ensured the future of the Welsh language and culture and, along with the work of William Salesbury and Bishop Richard Davies, gave Welsh literature and identity a brighter future.
OWAIN GLYNDWR had no need to rebel. He was a wealthy landowner married into a noble family and led a comfortable existence. But something stirred him into rebellion and he is one of Wales's most romantic and famous icons nearly 600 years after the start of his campaign. The rebel Prince was recently voted the seventh most influential figure of the millennium in a worldwide poll of politicians and academics, such is his legacy and impact on Wales today. But he was much more than just a rebel who decided that he had had enough of Wales being ruled by English princes and torn apart by fractious divisions that prevented Wales from being a united country. He was a man ahead of his time and advocated many social reforms for Wales that would make our nation one of the most enlightened in Europe. He advocated a Welsh university so scholars would not have to go to England or abroad to study and he set up the first Welsh parliament at Machynlleth. He is believed to have been born at Sycharth, near Oswestry, between 1357 and 1359. He was crowned Prince of Wales by his supporters in September 1400 after a dispute with his arch-foe, Lord Henry Grey. Glyndwr's victory at Pilleth, ably assisted by his lieutenant Rhys Gethin, was one of his major triumphs. More than 10,000 English soldiers were slain by Glyndwr' s men in the border marshes. In 1404 his parliament at Machynlleth was established, but his fortunes did not last long as the English recaptured lands he had taken from them. His movements after 1415 are shrouded in mystery after he went into hiding. His final resting place was revealed to be a farm on the Welsh borders where the family had kept it a well-guarded secret for six centuries. 
  If ANEURIN BEVAN had lived he could have been Prime Minister. That is opinion of many politicians, observers and many Welsh people who were proud of their man from the Valleys who rose from the shadows of the pits to sit in the Cabinet. He was without peer as a public speaker and debater. Many MPs would sit in the chamber just to listen to one of his passionate oratories that never failed to make the listener think hard about the matter in hand. He was born in 1897 in the mining town of Tredegar, a hard, wind-swept place that was typical of Welsh towns at the end of the 19th Century. Like so many others, he started down the pits as a boy but soon worked his way up through the pit hierarchy. He was responsible for engineering the greatest piece of modern social reform, the National Health Service. His staunchly socialist views and hatred of all things Tory made him a figure of adulation in South Wales. He once described the Tories as "lower than vermin" and was a charming, dedicated man whose political convictions were founded on the social injustices he had witnessed as a young man in he industrial valleys of South Wales. His loathing for the establishment and sympathy for the masses made him one of the most loved and respected politicians of the 20th Century. He may not have had the statesmanship nor the desire to be a Prime Minister but this gifted and brilliant man from humble beginnings remains one of Britain's most revered political personalities, despite Churchill's spiteful reference to him as a "squalid nuisance". Thousands of people all over Wales owe Nye Bevan a debt of gratitude every day for his legacy. The numbers who have benefited over the decades from his contribution to British politics are immeasurable.
In 2002 we shall know if SAUNDERS LEWIS's prophecy was correct. It was in 1962, during his infamous radio speech Tynged yr Iaith, that the eminent playwright and academic said that the Welsh language would be dead in 40 years. Thankfully, it seems that his prediction is inaccurate, but what cannot be denied is his contribution to Welsh literature and politics. Without his political influence the National Assembly might not have come to exist, there may not even have been the Welsh Language Bills and Welsh literature would be the poorer without his masterful works. Despite being born on the Wirral, he was brought up in the large Welsh community on Merseyside and after fighting alongside Irishmen during World War 1 he was convinced about the importance of the Welsh language and the future of Wales as a nation. He was a poet and novelist and an exceptional dramatist. His literary criticism was admired and he was regarded as one of Wales's intellectual giants. He was twice nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature during his lifetime and after his death in 1985 his talents were compared to W B Yeats and T S Eliot. As well as has literary genius his impact on 20th-century politics in Wales was immense. He was the founder of Plaid Cymru in 1926. He was a man with strong convictions and backed up his words with actions as he was jailed along with two other men for setting fire to sheds at a North Wales RAF bombing school in 1936. Saunders Lewis aroused different emotions from the people of Wales. Adored by nationalists and mistrusted and reviled by those who did not share his views, whatever he did brought out powerful feelings from both sides.
HYWEL DDA reigned over most of Wales in the 10th Century and so his inclusion in this list may not strictly meet the criteria, but his contribution to Welsh life and culture is such that to exclude him on the grounds of a few decades would be a great injustice. His influence on Welsh life was such that he managed to unite a traditionally divided land where rival princes fought with each other over land and codified a number of laws to give Wales a legal system. He ruled over most of Wales from 910 AD to 950 AD, except the counties of Gwent and Glamorgan. He minted his own money and the laws he passed wen among the fairest and most developed it Europe, and for years the lawyers of Wales followed his code. At his court at Hendy Gwyn Ar Daf on the Carmarthenshire-Pembrokeshire border he would meet with people from all parts of Wales. His reign coincided with some of the more peaceful times in Welsh history and his influence and stature brought the divided people of Wales together for a time. He was an admirer of King Alfred the Great and was on fairly friendly terms with many of the English princes.
The followers of Margaret Thatcher may have dubbed her the Iron Lady but she was by no means the first. LADY CHARLOTTE GUEST's contribution to Welsh life, especially in South Wales, was immense. She was married to the ironmaster Sir John Guest and a woman of many talents, although she was born in England. Her devotion and contribution to Welsh life was such that she is deserving of inclusion in this list. She was a remarkable woman who found fame as a writer, linguist, translator, social benefactor, businesswoman and historian. On top of that she found the time and energy to bring up 10 children in 13 years. Her major contribution to Welsh life was the translation of the Mabinogion from Welsh into English. The collection of medieval stories is one of Wales's literary treasures and her work allowed a whole new audience to benefit from the stories. She wrote more than 30 volumes of diaries from the time she was 12 to her death at the age of 83 in 1895. She was a great benefactor of the people of Merthyr. She played a major role in ensuring that there was a decent water supply for the town and sponsored a recreation area for the 7,300 ironworkers at her husband's works at Dowlais.
For a country proud of its hymns and hymn writers, Wales has a special place in its heart for WILLIAM WILLIAMS. One of his works must rank as the most popular of all Welsh hymns that even today is sung with passion and feeling throughout Wales. He wrote the seminal Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah that is usually sung to John Hughes's tune Cwm Rhondda and is still one of the most popular hymns in Wales. Born in 1717 at Pentre-Ty-Gwyn, near Llandovery, and educated at the Dissenting Academy, near Hay, he spent most of his life as an itinerant preacher and travelled the length and breadth of Wales, preaching to the common folk. Williams himself estimated that he travelled more than 150,000 miles on horseback to preach. He published about 90 books and pamphlets in his lifetime and wrote more than 1,000 hymns, and as Methodism swept Wales his works were much in demand. In his day he was known as Y Per Ganiedydd, the Sweet Singer, and his popular hymns conveyed their powerful religious messages in a language the people of Wales could understand and appreciate. He was the finest Welsh poet of the 18th Century and as well as being a successful farmer and businessman he had a thriving tea-selling business.
DR KATE ROBERTS was one of the finest female writers of the 20th Century and one of Wales's greatest literary figures. She obtained a first-class degree from the University of Wales, Bangor, in Latin, history, Welsh and philosophy. Her work spanned 50 years and her illustrations of Welsh life captured the country for those who had never set foot here. She wrote in Welsh but her work was translated into many languages. Her popularity was at its peak when she was in her 70s and 8Os. She continued to work in her 90s, right up to her death at 94 in 1985. Her first work was published in 1925 and had a sad theme tinged with subtle hope and happiness. One of her characters famously once said, "We go through life without living it because we expect something better all the time." Her fiction often reflected resurgence and was based loosely on her own experiences in North Wales, where she was born and brought up. She was passionate about the Welsh language and a fervent nationalist. She insisted on bilingual education for the children of Wales and is one of the most influential writers Wales has produced. She was married to Morris Williams, with whom she produced a weekly newspaper until his death in 1946.
JOHN FROST was part of a wider 19th century movement which had had enough of living in poverty. Along with the Rebecca Rioters, who have a special place the hearts of the people of West Wales, the Merthyr Riots and the rebellion against the tithe in North Wales, Frost and his Chartists in Newport were influential in their attempts to improve Welsh quality of life. Wales was a hotbed for working-class radicalism - it was in South Wales that the red flag was first flown as a symbol of rebellion - and Frost's desire for social justice gave birth to one of the most radical 19th-century movements. Born in 1784, the Welsh-speaking son a tavern owner, Frost was the magistrate for Newport for 16 years. The sheer poverty and suffering in the industrial heartlands of South Wales compelled him to act and he joined the Chartist movement campaigning for social and economic improvements for the working classes. The movement demanded votes for every man over 21, which meant the abolition of the property qualification for voters, the payment of MPs and calling annual parliaments. Frost and the Chartist movement lost patience with the Government and turned to violence to further their cause in 1839. He led more than 20,000 men at Newport, 600 of them armed. A large contingent of soldiers challenged them and a bloody scene ensued. Twenty of the Chartists were killed and more than 60 were injured. For his part in the uprising, Frost was sentenced to be hanged, but he was sent instead to Australia, the destination for many "rebellious" Welshmen. Frost's efforts for the ordinary man were finally recognised in 1856 when he was given a full pardon. He returned to Newport a hero and died in 1877.
Wales's most colourful political animal must be the man who led Britain as Prime Minister from 1916 to l922. DAVID LLOYD GEORGE was born in Manchester to Welsh parents but returned to Wales after the death of his father and lived at Llanystumdwy, near Criccieth, on the Lleyn Peninsula. He was a solicitor and was elected to Parliament as MP for Caernarfon Boroughs in 1890. As with many Welsh people he was a gifted speaker who commanded attention whenever he spoke. His charisma and flair went before him and he held some of the highest offices in the Government. He was leader of the Welsh Home Rule campaign from 1890 to 1896 and was a stern opponent of the Boer War. He was President of the Board of Trade, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Minister of Munitions and Secretary of State for War before becoming Prime Minister in 1916. He oversaw the end of the Great War and took a great deal of credit for securing a final victory for Britain. His proficiency for knowing people's fathers is the stuff of legend and adds to his reputation. He was a charmer but he was a ruthless and sharp man when the situation required. Along with Churchill, he was considered the greatest Prime Minister since Pitt and one of the greatest characters in political history.
Article from the Western Mail Monday, 29 November 1999POLL: Medieval hero acclaimedGlyndwr's importance recognisedSTEVE DUBEThe leader of the last Welsh War of Independence has been named one of the Makers of the Millennium by some of the world's most powerful and influential people. Owain Glyndwr, who was proclaimed Prince of Wales by his followers in 1400 and resisted the English for eight years, was named the seventh most influential figure in a poll published in a Sunday newspaper. Only printing press inventor Johann Gutenburg, William Shakespeare, William Caxton, who brought printing to Britain, Leonardo da Vinci, Elizabeth I and the discoverer of electricity, Michael Faraday, are thought more significant than one of the heroes of Welsh nationalism. The votes in his favour from world leaders, and top names in the world of science, culture and sport, placed him above Sir Isaac Newton, Abraham Lincoln and Galileo in the top ten. The news was greeted with delight by Frank Lane, chairman of the Owain Glyndwr Society, which believes it has found his grave and is seeking to place a l6ft memorial in Machynlleth on September 16, 2000, the 600th anniversary of the day he was proclaimed Prince of Wales by his followers. Mr Lane said, "At last Owain Glyndwr's has been given his true place among the most influential people of the past 1,000 years. "Most of the people in that list were remarkable for one thing, but Owain was a great soldier, a consum-mate statesman and an educationalist with deep religious beliefs. He called a Parliament of repre-sentatives from every part of Wales at a time when parliaments were hardly democratic and he sought indepen-dence for the Welsh church as well as the state, something that only happened 500 years after his death." Glyndwr's significance has always been recognised among Welsh histo-rians, though he has long been regarded in establishment circles as an outlaw and a rebel. Shakespeare himself, four places above him in the Masters of the Millennium list, revealed something of the awe and admiration with which he was then viewed in England. Writing 200 years after Glyndwr's death, Shakespeare has Owain de-claring in Henry IV, Part One, "At my birth/ The front of heaven was full of fiery shapes. . . I am not in the roll of common men" The English historian G M Trevelyan was equally impressed, describing Glyndwr as, "This wonderful man, an attractive and unique figure in a period of debased and selfish politics." Welsh historian John H Davies says of Glyndwr, "Revolutionaries all over the world have always looked to him as a famous guerrilla leader. His position in this poll shows that the rest of the world appreciates him a lot more than we realise." Mail Link to: jilldavs@owain-glyndwr-soc.org.ukCilmeri.Com, Connections to Waleshttp://www.cilmeri.com/Wales on the Web! - Cymru ar y We!
Mail Link to: jilldavs@owain-glyndwr-soc.org.ukCilmeri.Com, Connections to Waleshttp://www.cilmeri.com/Wales on the Web! - Cymru ar y We!
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