History of North Wales - Llywelyn ap Gruffydd
Llywelyn was the second son of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn and the grandson of Llywelyn Fawr.
Following his father's death in 1244, Llywelyn formed an alliance with his uncle Dafydd, who was by then Prince Of Gwynedd. When Dafydd died in 1246, Llywelyn, at the age of 18, succeeded him as Prince of Gwynedd. His elder brother, Owain Goch, returned to Gwynedd from Cheshire - where he had been living since his release from the Tower of London two years earlier - and tried to seize power.
Soon though, with the English threatening to invade, Llywelyn and Owain agreed to share power - at least until the war with England was over. The power of the English army was too much for the brothers and in April 1247 Llywelyn and Owain were forced to seek terms from the English and met with King Henry at Woodstock. They were compelled to give up all of Gwynedd east of the Conwy (the Perfeddwlad) and to provide the king with 1000 foot soldiers and 24 knights, should he demand it.
Now that there was peace with England, Owain Goch again decided that he wanted his own share of Gwynedd. In 1255, with the help with his younger brother Dafydd, he invaded Llywelyn's lands. Llywelyn's support was vast, he defeated his brothers after a short battle at Bryn Derwin and imprisoned them. Dafydd was released after a few months and restored to favour, but Owain remained Llywelyn's prisoner for 22 years.
In 1254 King Henry had given his lands in the Perfeddwlad (the part of Gwynedd east of the river Conwy) to his eldest son, Edward. But in 1256, driven by the anger their countrymen felt over their treatment at the hands of the English, Llywelyn and his brother Dafydd invaded and retook the land, prompting King Henry and Prince Edward to lead an army into Gwynedd the following year. They reached Deganwy but, as was so often the case with invading English armies, they could not cross the river Conwy, their supplies ran low and they were forced to retreat.
King Henry had bigger problems than the Welsh though. In 1258 his barons, led by Simon de Montfort, went to Westminster and demanded that Henry and Edward swear that they would accept a council of 24 'Good Men Of England' (12 kings men and 12 barons) and abide by the Magna Carta. In July both sides met at Oxford and the 'Oxford Provisions' were drawn up. The barons also demanded that castles held by foreigners (mainly Henry's de Lusigan half brothers) be returned to English hands. This was a strange request as the barons leader, Simon de Montfort, was French. He had stated that he was willing to hand over his castles if requested, but this was never asked of him).
In 1259 Henry agreed a peace with King Louis of France and renounced all his claims to Aquitaine (his grandmother's lands). Henry was supposed to meet with his barons (in accordance with the Oxford Provisions) in 1260, but he remained in France and was outraged when parliament met in his absence. Henry finally succeeded in getting the Pope to annul the Oxford Provisions in 1261. Once the Provisions were annulled he was more able to deal with Llywelyn.
In 1262 Llywelyn laid siege to Deganwy and Disserth castles to try and reclaim them from the English. In April 1263 Llywelyn's brother Dafydd, who was still unhappy at not being given a part of Gwynedd, joined Prince Edward and offered his support in invading Gwynedd. Edward's plans were thwarted though when Simon de Montfort returned to England and Henry summoned him back from Wales. Dafydd fled with Edward into English Exile.
After a year of fighting, Simon de Montfort captured King Henry and Edward in May 1264 after the battle of Lewes. In July, Llywelyn helped Simon (who was now acting as regent on behalf of Henry) in quelling troubles in the Marches. They captured Hereford, Hay and Wells. Simon then took the Earldom of Chester from Edward and once again Gwynedd and Chester were allies. The alliance between Llywelyn and Simon was sealed in May 1265 when Llywelyn plight trothed with Simon's young daughter, Eleanor. In the same month though Edward escaped from Simon's son's custody. Llywelyn had agreed to support Simon in return for crown recognition of his title "Prince Of Wales" and his assistance in retaking Dafydd lands. However in August 1265 Simon de Montfort and his eldest son were killed in a battle at Evesham. His wife, daughter and younger sons fled to France and Llywelyn called off the plight troth.
By 1267 Llywelyn was in open rebellion against the English Crown. Edward had taken the cross and was eager to go on a crusade, the Crown was also heavily in debt and in September Llywelyn and Henry signed The Treat of Montgomery. Henry agreed to recognise Llywelyn's title of "Prince Of Wales", no other Welsh prince had ever held the power that he now held. Edward agreed to relinquish the Perfeddwlad and de Mortimer would hand over to Ceri, Cydewain and Gwerthrynion, if Llywelyn could prove his right to them. Llywelyn already held most of this land anyway, but the treaty made it legal. By now Llywelyn and Dafydd had reconciled and Llywelyn named Dafydd as his heir, should he have no son.
In 1272 King Henry died and was succeeded by his son Edward. Edward did not have any interest in the lost Angevin lands in France - his main interest lay in uniting the island of Britain and his attentions were focused on Wales. In 1274 Dafydd betrayed Llywelyn again, this time by plotting his assassination with Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn, Prince of Powys. Luckily for Llywelyn severe rain washed away the roads and the assassination party couldn't get through. Llywelyn discovered the plot and Dafydd's role in it in October. Dafydd once again fled to England where he was welcomed at King Edward's court. Llywelyn refused to attend Edward's coronation, since Edward was habouring his enemy.
In 1275, with tensions mounting between Gwynedd and England, Llywelyn honoured the plight troth of 1265 and married Eleanor de Montfort. As the bride was still in France, the marriage took place by proxy, Eleanor sailed for Wales shortly afterwards. King Edward had now found out about the marriage, Eleanor was captured while at sea and handed over to England's King.
In November 1276 England declared Llywelyn to be in rebellion and then declared war on Gwynedd. The English army invaded from Chester and Montgomery in 1277. In April Dolforwyn castle was captured by the English and Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn was returned to power in Powys. In May Beullt fell to the English, who built their own castle there. The Pope placed Wales under interdict and Llywelyn was excommunicated. Rhodri ap Gruffydd (Llywelyn's youngest brother) joined the English side. In August, Edward started to build a road from the Dee estuary along the coast towards the river Conwy. He summoned ships from the Cinque ports to the river Clwyd and then started to build a castle at Flynt, soon Rhuddlan had also fallen to the English. In September the English landed on Anglesey and harvested the crops meant to feed the Welsh through the winter. Meanwhile Edward marched on Deganwy. Llywelyn now withdrew into the mountains of Eryri. In October Llywelyn sought terms from the English.
Edward terms were: -
- All land east of the Conwy (the Perfeddwlad) to be handed to the English Crown
- Control of Anglesey was given back to Llywelyn, but as a vassal for which he'd have to pay 1000 marks a year
- A fine of £50000
- 10 hostages
- Llywelyn must free Owain and come to terms with him and Rhodri
- The lords of Upper Powys were to be restored & Deheubarth was returned to Rhys ap Maredudd
- The Marcher Lords were returned to power in Brecon and Mid Wales
- Llywelyn must pay fealty to Edward
- Llywelyn was to hold Dafydd's share of Gwynedd, Edward gave Dafydd two cantrefs in the Perfeddwlad
Edward was now the greatest of the Marcher Lords. In November Llywelyn made a formal surrender to Edward at Rhuddlan castle. In December Llywelyn went to Westminster to swear homage to Edward.In 1278 Edward appointed seven English and seven Welsh Justices to hear lawsuits in the Marches and Wales. Llywelyn was forced to plead before these Justices for land in Arwystli in Powys, ownership of which is in dispute between him and Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn. In spring the English started to build castles at Fflint, Rhuddlan, Buillth and Aberystwyth. In October 1278 Edward released Eleanor de Montfort, she and Llywelyn married a Worcester. Edward demanded that Llywelyn renounces he right to offer sanctuary in Gwynedd to anyone in rebellion against the crown.
The Welsh lived uneasily under the new regime and their resentment of the English grew. In 1281 Llywelyn entered into a pact with a Marcher Lord, oger de Mortimer,, and the Welsh started to plot a new war against the English. Also in 1281, Llywelyn's elder brother Owain died.
On Palm Sunday 1282 Dafydd and his supporters attacked Hawarden, Oswestry and Aberystwyth - it is thought that Llywelyn knew nothing of these plans, he had no choice though but to join his brother's rebellion, the only alternative was to fight with the English. The attacks not only angered the English but the Church as well - the Welsh having broken 'Gods Peace'. Edward responded by assembling a large army of invasion, Roger de Mortimer disavowed his pact with Llywelyn. The Welsh campaign started well, they soon captured the castles at Llandovery and Carreg Cennen. On Good Friday they attacked and burnt Oswestry. Meanwhile Dafydd captured Ruthin and Dinas Bran while Llywelyn laid siege to Fflynt and Rhuddlan. However, Prince Gwenwynwyn, Rhys ap Gruffydd, Rhys ap Maredudd and Rhodri ap Gruffydd pledged their loyalty to the English. Reginald de Grey then led an army into Gywnedd from Chester.
In June 1282 Llywelyn's wife Eleanor died giving birth to their daughter. Llywelyn took his army into South Wales to assist their allies in July of that year. Edward now arrived at Rhuddlan with 40 ships and 2 galleys to patrol the Menai. In August a large force, led by Luke de Tany, landed on Anglesey and started to build a pontoon bridge across the straits to the mainland. In September Dafydd's castle at Ruthin fell to Reginald de Grey, followed by Dinas Bran and Dinbych. Llywelyn returned north to help his brother. The English weren't having the war all their own way, when Roger de Mortimer died later that year his lands were thrown into turmoil, this was a huge blow to the English.
A peace envoy was sent to Wales to meet with Llywelyn, to discuss a visit by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Welsh agreed to the meeting, but the peace mission failed. By November the pontoon bridge from Anglesey was completed and de Tany led a force across, without waiting for Edward's permission. Once they reached the mainland there were no English troops to assist them and they were attacked by the Welsh. The English panicked and fled back over the bridge, which was not built to withstand the pressure they were now putting on it. As the bridge started to break up, the Welsh pulled out the grappling hooks that held it in place and the it snapped sideways, plunging the English into the icy water - hundreds are thought to have drowned.
King Edward then offered terms to Llywelyn and Dafydd
- Llywelyn was offered English lands and an Earldom if he gave Gwynedd to the king
- Dafydd was to go on a crusade and not return to England without King Edward's permission
Unsurprisingly, they refused the offer.
In December 1282 Llywelyn and his army again headed south. On 11th December they were near the castle at Buellt. The Welsh were on one side of the rivers Irfan and Gwy, they held the bridge across the Irfan. Both rivers were swollen by flood water and the English were thought to be trapped in the castle on the other side of the Irfan. Unknown to the Welsh, the English had found a ford across the river, they took the Welsh by surprise and slaughtered their army. Llywelyn had gone off with a small force and was probably unaware that the English had crossed the river. His party was involved in a small skirmish, he was killed by an English soldier who did not even realise who he was at first. When Llywelyn's identity was discovered, he was beheaded and his head was sent to King Edward at Rhuddlan