Llywelyn ap Gruffydd

From Ffaith

Also known as Llywelyn the last as he was the last true Welsh born Prince of Wales before the subjugation of Wales by Edward I.

Llywelyn was a prince of Gwynedd ruling jointly with his brother Owain. Imprisoning his brother with Dafydd, another brother, Llywelyn seized Gwynedd for himself and swept through Wales taking Perfeddwlad and Powys in his wake. With the majority of Welsh Princes allied to him, Llywelyn joined forces with the rebel English baron, Simon de Montfort and defeated Henry III at the battle of Lewes. De Montfort bestowed recognition on Llywelyn as Prince of Wales in the Pipton agreement. Llywelyn was formally recognised in the role by King Henry III at the Treaty of Montgomery in 1267. Under the Treaty Llewelyn was recognised as prince of all Wales and overlord of all Welsh princes bar Maredudd ap Rhys, ruler of Dryslwyn.

Edward I came to the English throne in 1272. He obviously saw Llywelyn as a serious threat but it wasn't until 1276 that he declared the Prince of Wales a rebel. A year later in 1277 Edward invaded and Llywelyn was eventually forced to pay homage. Unfortunately for Llewelyn and for the future of Welsh independance, Edward did not stop at his first triumph. He claimed northern Ceredigion and began building a string of strong castles at Aberystwyth, Flint, Rhuddlan, and Builth to enforce his presence in Wales.

Several years of comparative peace followed but hatred of English laws and settlers caused the Welsh to rise again in 1282 led by Llywelyn's brother Dafydd. The king assembled a large force of men and crushed the revolt and Llywelyn was killed at Cilmeri, near Builth on October 11th of that year. Llewelyn's body was buried at Cymer Abbey, while his head was sent to London as proof of his death