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
Birth nameDafydd ap Llewelyn ap Hywel
Bornc. 1380
Died25 October 1415 (aged 34–35)
Azincourt, France
AllegianceHenry V, King of England
Battles/warsGlyndŵr rebellion
Battle of Agincourt
ChildrenGwladys Gam
RelationsWilliam Herbert (grandson)

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".[1] Regarded by Welsh nationalists as a traitor, Gam is regarded as a hero by others; his reputation has waxed and waned with those of his enemy Owain Glyndŵr and his ally King Henry V.

  1. ^ Translated from Welsh in Geiriadur Prifysgol CYmru - the University of Wales Dictionary "cam". Retrieved 10 March 2021. (yn ôl traddodiad, unllygeidiog neu lygatraws oedd Syr Dafydd Gam (Dafydd ap Llewelyn ap Hywel Fychan))