Early Life
Owen's father Maredudd ap Tudur (English:Meredith) had been (together with his two brothers Rhys and Gwilym) stalwarts of Owain Glyndŵr's uprising of 1400. When that uprising ebbed away Maredudd lost most of his land to the English Crown. He saw his chance to better his position in society by moving to London and changing his son's name from Owain ap Maredydd to Owain Tudor. This is one of the first instances where a surname is used by Welshmen. Had he taken his father's name (rather than his grandfather) the royal English Dynasty that ruled England for the next hundred years would have been called The Meredith Dynasty.
In London, Owen (or Owain) became the ward of his father's second cousin, Lord Rhys. At the age of seven he was sent to the English court of Henry IV as page to the King's Steward. He went on to fight for the English at Agincourt in 1415, and appears to have been promoted to squire for his efforts. After Agincourt he was granted "English rights" and permitted to use Welsh arms in England. (King Henry IV had deprived Welshmen of many civil rights).
Read more about this topic: Owen Tudor
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