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AP IORWERTH Llewelyn
Birth: 1173 Aberffraw Castle, Caernarvonshire, Wales
Death: 11 Apr 1240 Aberconwy, Arllechwedd Isaf, Caernarvonshire, Wales
Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llywelyn_the_Great
Llywelyn the Great (Welsh: Llywelyn Fawr, [??'w?l?n va??r]), full name Llywelyn ap
Iorwerth, (c. 1172 11 April 1240) was a Prince of Gwynedd in north Wales and
eventually de facto ruler over most of Wales. By a combination of war and diplomacy
he dominated Wales for 45 years.
During Llywelyn's boyhood, Gwynedd was ruled by two of his uncles, who split the
kingdom between them, following the death of Llywelyn's grandfather, Owain
Gwynedd, in 1170. Llywelyn had a strong claim to be the legitimate ruler and began a
campaign to win power at an early age. He was sole ruler of Gwynedd by 1200 and
made a treaty with King John of England that year. Llywelyn's relations with John
remained good for the next ten years. He married John's natural daughter Joan in
1205, and when John arrested Gwenwynwyn ap Owain of Powys in 1208, Llywelyn
took the opportunity to annex southern Powys. In 1210, relations deteriorated, and
John invaded Gwynedd in 1211. Llywelyn was forced to seek terms and to give up all
lands west of the River Conwy, but was able to recover them the following year in
alliance with the other Welsh princes. He allied himself with the barons who forced
John to sign Magna Carta in 1215. By 1216, he was the dominant power in Wales,
holding a council at Aberdyfi that year to apportion lands to the other princes.
Following King John's death, Llywelyn concluded the Treaty of Worcester with his
successor, Henry III, in 1218. During the next fifteen years, Llywelyn was frequently
involved in fights with Marcher lords and sometimes with the king, but also made
alliances with several major powers in the Marches. The Peace of Middle in 1234
marked the end of Llywelyn's military career, as the agreed truce of two years was
extended year by year for the remainder of his reign. He maintained his position in
Wales until his death in 1240 and was succeeded by his son Dafydd ap Llywelyn.
Llywelyn was born about 1173, the son of Iorwerth ap Owain and the grandson of
Owain Gwynedd, who had been ruler of Gwynedd until his death in 1170. Llywelyn was
a descendant of the senior line of Rhodri Mawr and therefore a member of the princely
house of Gwynedd.[1] He was probably born at Dolwyddelan, though not in the
present Dolwyddelan castle, which was built by Llywelyn himself. He may have been
born in the old castle which occupied a rocky knoll on the valley floor.[2] Little is
known about his father, Iorwerth Drwyndwn, who died when Llywelyn was an infant.
There is no record of Iorwerth having taken part in the power struggle between some
of Owain Gwynedd's other sons following Owain's death, although he was the eldest
surviving son. There is a tradition that he was disabled or disfigured in some way that
excluded him from power.[3]
By 1175, Gwynedd had been divided between two of Llywelyn's uncles. Dafydd ab
Owain held the area east of the River Conwy and Rhodri ab Owain held the west.
Dafydd and Rhodri were the sons of Owain by his second marriage to Cristin verch
Goronwy. This marriage was not considered valid by the church as Cristin was Owain's
first cousin, a degree of relationship which according to Canon law prohibited
marriage. Giraldus Cambrensis refers to Iorwerth Drwyndwn as the only legitimate son
of Owain Gwynedd.[4] Following Iorwerth's death, Llywelyn was, at least in the eyes of
the church, the legitimate claimant to the throne of Gwynedd.[5]
Llywelyn's mother was Marared, occasionally anglicised to Margaret, daughter of
Madog ap Maredudd, prince of Powys. There is evidence that, after her first
husband's death, Marared married in the summer of 1197, Gwion, the nephew of Roger
Powys of Whittington Castle with whom she had a son, David ap Gwion. Therefore,
some maintain that Marared never married into the Corbet family of Caus Castle (near
Westbury, Shropshire) and later, Moreton Corbet Castle.[6] However, there is in
existence a grant of land from Llywelyn ab Iorworth to the monastery of Wigmore, in
which Llywelyn indicates his mother was a member of the house of Corbet, leaving the
issue unresolved.[7]
Children[edit]
Llywelyn married Joan, natural daughter of King John of England, in 1205. Llywelyn
and Joan had three identified children in the records but in all probability had more as
Llywelyn's children were fully recognised during his marriage to Joan whilst his father-
in-law, King John, was alive. The identity of the mother of some of Llywelyn's children
before this union is uncertain, but the following are recorded in contemporary or
near-contemporary records.
Dafydd ap Llywelyn (c. 12121246), son by Joan, wife of Llywelyn.
Elen (Helen) ferch Llywelyn (c. 12061253), daughter by Joan. M. John Earl of
Huntington m. 2nd Robert de Quincy 3rd Donald Malcolm Mar Earl of Mar.
Susanna ferch Llywelyn, died after November 1228, daughter by Joan. Henry III King
of England granted the upbringing of "L. princeps Norwallie et Johanna uxor sua et
soror nostra Susannam filiam suam" to "Nicholao de Verdun et Clementie uxori sue" by
order dated 24 Nov 1228[273]. Her birth date is estimated on the assumption that
Susanna was under marriageable age, but older than an infant, at the time.
Gruffydd ap Llywelyn (c. 11961244), a son by Tangwystl Goch (d. c. 1198).
Gwladus Ddu (c. 12061251), probable daughter by Joan.
Angharad ferch Llywelyn (c. 12121256), probable daughter of Joan; married Maelgwn
Fychan.
Marared ferch Llywelyn (died after 1268), married John de Braose and secondly (about
1232) Walter III de Clifford. Marared had issue by both husbands.[64]
Elen the Younger ferch Llywelyn (before 1230-after 16 Feb 1295) who married firstly
Mแel Coluim II, Earl of Fife, son of Duncan Macduff of Fife & his wife Alice Corbet.
She married secondly (after 1266) Domhnall I, Earl of Mar, son of William, Earl of Mar
& his first wife Elizabeth Comyn of Buchan. Elen and Domhall's daughter, Isabella of
Mar, married Robert, the Bruce, King of Scots. Isabella had one child by the King of
Scots, Marjorie Bruce, who was the mother of the first Stewart monarch, Robert II of
Scotland.
Tegwared y Baiswen ap Llywelyn (c. 1215), a son by a woman named as Crysten in
some sources, a possible twin of Angharad[65]
Little is known of Llywelyn's mistress, Tangwystl Goch, except that she was the
daughter of Llywarch "Goch" of Rhos.[66] Gruffydd ap Llywelyn (c. 11961244) was
Llywelyn's eldest son and known to be the son of Tangwystl. He married Senena,
daughter of Caradoc ap Thomas of Anglesey. Their sons included Llywelyn ap
Gruffudd, who for a period occupied a position in Wales comparable to that of his
grandfather, and Dafydd ap Gruffydd who ruled Gwynedd briefly after his brother's
death.
Parents
AP OWAIN Iowerth "Drwyndwn" (1145 - 1174)
VERCH MADOG Margred (ABT 1129 - )
Siblings
AP IORWERTH Llewelyn (1173 - 11 Apr 1240)
Marriage To VERCH LLYWARCH Tangwystl (ABT 1168 - )
m.
Notes
Parents
AP IORWERTH Llywarch "Goda" (ABT 1139 - )
VERCH LLYWARCH Tangwystl (ABT 1141 - )
Children by VERCH LLYWARCH Tangwystl ABT 1168 -
VERCH LLEWELYN Gwladys "Ddu" (ABT 1205 - 1251)
Marriage To ____ Joan (ABT 1188 - 2 Feb 1237)
m.
Notes
Parents
PLANTAGENET John "Lackland" (24 Dec 1166 - 19 Oct 1216)
DE FERRERS Agatha (ABT 1168 - )
Children by ____ Joan ABT 1188 - 2 Feb 1237
VERCH LLYWELYN Margaret (ABT 1210 - AFT 1263)
VERCH LLEWELLYN Elen (Helen) (ABT 1218 - BEF 24 Oct 1253)
VERCH LLEWELYN Helen (ABT 1230 - )
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