His relationship with Wales was rather a violent one. Othon, sometimes known as Otto, lived between 1238 and 1328, an immense age, and was sent from Savoy to train in the household of the English King Henry III. He was a close companion of the future Edward I, and when Edward set out to conquer Wales, Othon served his master well. He was at the Siege of Dolforwyn Castle in 1277, and was responsible, at least in part for the terms of the Treaty of Aberconwy the following year. During Edward’s second invasion, Othon de Grandson survived the destruction of Luke de Tany’s army at the battle of Mael Y Don ( 6^th November 1283), and later captured the town of Harlech at the head of Edward’s foot soldiers.

His reward was to be made Chief Justiciar of Wales from 1284-1294, and commanded Caernarvon castle as his base. He was, apparently, literate, unusual for a knight, and pious- he later served as a Papal legate. Othon led a busy life, beside his adventures in Wales, he fought in the Eighth Crusade, and was at Acre in command of a body of English troops when the city fell, in the death throes of the Crusader states. A colour plate of this knight appears in the Osprey History ‘The Crusades’ (1988) by Dr David Nicolle. It’s Plate J1, and shows him armed with a falchion. He has no statue in Wales.

Dr Rob Morgan.

April 2020.