Dafydd Gam
Dafydd Gam | |
|---|---|
 Sir Dafydd Gam's coat of arms; from an extra-illustrated set of A tour in Wales by Thomas Pennant in the National Library of Wales | |
| Born | Dafydd ap Llewelyn ap Hywel c. 1380 |
| Died | 25 October 1415 (aged 34–35) Azincourt, France |
| Children | Gwladys Gam |
| Relatives | William Herbert (grandson) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Henry V, King of England |
Conflicts | Glyndŵr rebellion Battle of Agincourt |
Dafydd ap Llewelyn ap Hywel (c. 1380 – 25 October 1415), better known as Dafydd Gam, anglicized to David or Davy Gam, was a Welsh warrior, a prominent opponent of Owain Glyndŵr. He died at the Battle of Agincourt fighting for Henry V, King of England in that victory against the French.
The epithet "Gam" is a soft-mutated form of the Welsh word "cam" (one-eyed, cross-eyed). As the University of Wales Dictionary notes, "according to tradition, Syr Dafydd Gam (Dafydd ap Llewelyn ap Hywel Fychan) was one-eyed or cross-eyed". Regarded as a traitor to Wales by some and as a hero by others; his reputation has waxed and waned with those of his enemy Owain Glyndŵr and his ally King Henry V.