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Biography
Biography
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Gruffydd, Llywelyn ap

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 Borncirca 1223   Born At
 Died11 December 1282  Buried At
 Borncirca 1223 / 
 Died11 December 1282 / 
In 1255 Llywelyn ap Gruffydd became the most powerful Welsh leader in the north west of Wales. It was not long before he had the support of the other Welsh lords and in 1258 became the 'Prince of Wales'.

Related Episodes

Edward I and Wales (click here)

Edward I and Wales (click here)

Event Location Map (click image to explore)

 

Family Tree Details

 Gruffydd, Llywelyn ap (b.1223? - d.1282)
 Gruffydd, Llywelyn ap (b.1223? - d.1282)

See Also

    People

    • Edward (I, King of England 1272-1307)
    • Gruffydd, Dafydd ap (Welsh Prince)
    • Mortimer, Roger (1st Baron Mortimer)
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    Places

    • Caerphilly Castle
    • Hawarden Castle
    • Ewloe Castle
    • Aberedw Castle
    • Tenby Castle
    • A .. Z List of Medieval Buildings

    Timeline

    1255(Age: 32yrs)
    ...
    Llywelyn rules North Wales

    Llywelyn ap Gruffudd declared himself ruler of North Wales and had given himself the title of Prince of Wales. King Henry III told Prince Edward that he would not help remove Llywelyn from power and Edward would have to do that himself if he wanted his inheritance.

    1256(Age: 33yrs)
    Sep
    The Welsh invade the coastal plains

    Under their leader, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, the Welsh invaded the northern coastal areas that had agreed to English rule. Prince Edward, who had been given the areas to administer himself by his father King Henry III asked his father for help but Henry refused.

    1257(Age: 34yrs)
    ...
    Henry and Edward reclaim the Lost Territories

    King Henry III relented to his son's demands for assistance to fight the Welsh, and joined him on a campaign to retake the territories lost to the Welsh under Llywelyn.

    1258(Age: 35yrs)
    Mar
    Llywelyn becomes 'Prince of Wales'

    Llywelyn received the support of the native lords in Wales and declared himself the 'Prince of Wales'. Under him, a united Welsh nation was ready to defend itself from the English.

    1259(Age: 36yrs)
    Jun
    Truce sought in Wales

    Roger Mortimer was appointed commissioner to agree terms of a truce with Llywelyn ap Gruffydd.

    Aug 1
    Truce agreed

    A truce of a year was agreed bewteen Roger Mortimer on behalf of King Henry III and Llywelyn ap Gruffydd the Welsh prince.

    1260(Age: 37yrs)
    Jan
    Tenby Castle attacked

    Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, the 'Prince of Wales' rose up against the English and attacked the castle at Tenby. He also laid siege to Builth Wells Castle with siege engines.

    Jul 17
    Llywelyn captures Builth Castle

    The castle at Builth Wells was captured by the Welsh. ¹

    1267(Age: 44yrs)
    ...
    Treaty of Shrewsbury

    The Treaty of Shrewsbury was an agreement between King Henry III of England and Llywelyn the Prince of Wales. Henry recognised Llywelyn's position as Prince of Wales in return for a regular payment. Also known as the Treaty of Montgomery.

    1275(Age: 52yrs)
    ...
    Revolt of Llywelyn of Wales

    Llywelyn ap Gruffydd of Wales had consistently failed to do homage to King Edward I. He had been paying sums of money to the English crown as agreed in the Treaty of Shrewsbury drawn up in 1267 but after the death of King Henry III the payments had stopped. Edward's repeated demands for a meeting with Llywelyn were ignored. In an attempt to stir up internal problems in England Llywelyn sent to France for Eleanor de Montfort who had been promised to him as a bride for his support of King Henry III in the Baronial revolt against the English King. Eleanor was captured by the English on the journey and was then held prisoner by Edward. Edward finally had to accept Llywelyn as a rebel and so began his war on the Welsh. Feudal levies were called for in June 1277 allowing an army to be raised via the feudal system to supports the King's war with the Welsh. ¹

    1276(Age: 53yrs)
    ...
    Edward's war with the Welsh begins

    Before the main army could be assembled Edward ordered that the Marchers and the smaller permanent forces attached to the royal household were to be sent out in three detachments. Although not much headway was made in the north the south and central districts abandoned their allegiance to Llywelyn. Roger Mortimer was able to force Llywelyn to retreat from Powys northwards. It was soon clear that the only area the Llywelyn had any control over was the north of Wales. ¹

    1277(Age: 54yrs)
    ...
    Aberystwyth Castle rebuilt

    Reconstruction of the castle at Aberystwyth was begun by the English during King Edward I's conflict with Llywelyn ap Gruffydd. ¹

    ...
    Dafydd granted Ruthin Castle

    King Edward I of England granted Ruthin to Dafydd, the brother of Prince Llewelyn ap Gruffudd in return for his help against his brother who have been attacking English interests in the north of Wales. Construction of Ruthin Castle may have begun under the direction of Edward or Dafydd himself.

    Jun
    Feudal levies

    King Edward I called for feudal levies to be collected to pay for his war against the Welsh prince who had repeatedly refused to pay him homage.

    Nov 10
    Edward defeats Llywelyn

    Llywelyn was cut off from supplies and an escape route so had to accept defeat. Edward demanded payment of £50,000 and all of Llywelyn's territories. Llywelyn was left only with the Isle of Anglesey which he had to pay rent of £1,000 a year. Edward also demanded that Anglesey should be handed over if Llywelyn died without a male heir. Llywelyn swore fealty to Edward at Rhuddlan on November 10th and again at a ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day.

    1278(Age: 55yrs)
    Oct 13
    Llywelyn marries Eleanor

    With peace between Edward and Llywelyn, the marriage between Llywelyn and Eleanor de Montfort was allowed to continue. The marriage took place at Worcester and was attended by Edward. ¹

    1282(Age: 59yrs)
    Easter
    Another Welsh Uprising

    David, Llywelyn's brother, rose up in revolt. Llywelyn, even though he had sworn fealty to Edward, joined his brother in the fight against the English.

    Nov 6
    English defeated

    Luke de Tany, on the side of the English, had taken control of Anglesey. The plan was attack the Welsh rebels from the north and so a bridge of boats was constructed across the Menai Straits that separate Anglesey from Wales. The Welsh were waiting for the English in force and the English plan failed. Many of the English knights drowned when the boat bridge was destroyed. ¹

    Dec 11
    Llywelyn killed

    Whilst fighting in the south of Wales Llywelyn was killed. He had moved to the rear of his army feeling secure with the way the war was progressing. A detachment of English found a way across the river Wye which Llywelyn was using for protection and moved around the rear of the Welsh army where the Prince was. Before Llywelyn could rejoin his army he was cut down and killed. His head was cut off and taken to the King Edward. Llywelyn's brother David carried on the fight against the English for another six months.

    1283
    Jan
    Dolwyddelan Castle captured

    After the death of Lleweyln Edward was free to occupy all the previous strongholds of the Welsh Princes. In 1283 Edward attacked and captured the Welsh castle at Dolyyddlan.

    On this day in history:

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    Selection of references used:

    • 1. John Corbet Anderson, Shropshire: Its Early History and Antiquities
    • 2. Kenneth H.Vickers, England in the Later Middle Ages, 1921
    • 3. Mike Salter, Castles of South-West Wales

      See Also

        People

        • Edward (I, King of England 1272-1307)
        • Gruffydd, Dafydd ap (Welsh Prince)
        • Mortimer, Roger (1st Baron Mortimer)
        • A .. Z List of Medieval People

        Places

        • Caerphilly Castle
        • Hawarden Castle
        • Ewloe Castle
        • Aberedw Castle
        • Tenby Castle
        • A .. Z List of Medieval Buildings
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