Biography of Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw 1172-1240

Paternal Family Tree: Aberffraw

Maternal Family Tree: Angharad Queen Consort Gwynedd 1065-1162

Descendants Family Tree: Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw 1172-1240

Around 1172 Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw was born to Iorwerth "Drwyndwn aka Flat Nosed" Aberffraw (age 42) and Marared ferch Madog Mathrafal. Coefficient of inbreeding 6.40%.

In 1174 [his father] Iorwerth "Drwyndwn aka Flat Nosed" Aberffraw (age 44) was killed in battle at Pennant Melangell, in Powys, during the wars deciding the succession following the death of his father.

On 05 Dec 1194 [his daughter] Gwladus verch Llewelyn "Dark Eyed" Aberffraw was born to Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw (age 22) and [his future wife] Joan Plantagenet (age 3). She a granddaughter of King John "Lackland" of England.

Around 1198 [his son] Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw was born to Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw (age 26) and [his future wife] Joan Plantagenet (age 7). He a grandson of King John "Lackland" of England.

In 1205 Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw (age 33) and Joan Plantagenet (age 14) were married. She the illegitmate daughter of King John "Lackland" of England (age 38) and Adela Plantagenet.

Around 1210 [his son] Tegwared ap Llywelyn "y Baiswen aka White Mantle" Aberffraw was born to Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw (age 38).

Around Mar 1212 [his son] Dafydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw Prince of Wales was born to Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw (age 40) and [his wife] Joan Plantagenet (age 21) at Castell Hen Blas Coleshill Bagillt. He a grandson of King John "Lackland" of England.

Before 11 May 1214 [his illegitimate brother-in-law] Richard Fitzroy (age 24) and Rohese de Dover (age 28) were married. He the illegitmate son of King John "Lackland" of England (age 47) and Adela Plantagenet.

Around 1215 [his son-in-law] Reginald de Braose 9th Baron Abergavenny and [his daughter] Gwladus verch Llewelyn "Dark Eyed" Aberffraw (age 20) were married. She a granddaughter of King John "Lackland" of England.

Around 1218 [his daughter] Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar was born to Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw (age 46) and [his wife] Joan Plantagenet (age 27). She a granddaughter of King John "Lackland" of England.

In 1219 [his son-in-law] John "Tadody aka Fatherless" Braose (age 22) and [his daughter] Margred verch Llewellyn Aberffraw Baroness Clifford were married. They were half fourth cousins. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England. She a granddaughter of King John "Lackland" of England.

Before 1220 [his son-in-law] Walter Clifford 3rd Baron Clifford and [his daughter] Margred verch Llewellyn Aberffraw Baroness Clifford were married. She a granddaughter of King John "Lackland" of England.

Around 1222 [his son-in-law] John Dunkeld 9th Earl Huntingdon 7th Earl Chester (age 15) and [his daughter] Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar (age 4) were married. He the son of David Dunkeld 8th Earl Huntingdon and Matilda Gernon Countess Huntingdon (age 51). They were second cousin twice removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England. She a granddaughter of King John "Lackland" of England.

Around 1230 [his son-in-law] Ralph Mortimer (age 39) and [his daughter] Gwladus verch Llewelyn "Dark Eyed" Aberffraw (age 35) were married. She a granddaughter of King John "Lackland" of England.

In 1230 [his son] Dafydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw Prince of Wales (age 17) and [his daughter-in-law] Isabella "Lady of Snowdon" Braose Princess Wales (age 8) were married. They were half fourth cousins. He a grandson of King John "Lackland" of England.

Chronicle of the Princes of Wales. 1230. That year, William Bruse (age 26) was hanged by Llywelyn (age 58), son of Iorwerth, having been caught in the chamber of the prince, with the princess [his wife] Jannet (age 39), daughter of king John, and wife of the prince.

On 02 May 1230 William de Braose (age 26) was hanged by Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw (age 58) for having been found in the bedchamber of his wife [his wife] Joan Plantagenet (age 39). His daughter Eva de Braose (age 3) succeeded 10th Baron Bergavenny (Feudal Creation). William Cantilupe by marriage Baron Bergavenny Feudal Creation.

In 1232 Ednyfed "Fychan aka Younger" Tudor (age 62) represented Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw (age 60) at a meeting with [his brother-in-law] King Henry III of England (age 24).

Chronica Majora. After 13 Jan 1237. In this year Llewellyn, prince of Wales (age 65), by special messengers sent word to the king that, as his time of life required that he should thenceforth abandon all strife and the tumult of war, and should for the future enjoy tranquillity and peace, he had determined to place himself and all his possessions under the authority and protection of him, the English king, and would hold his lands from him in all faith and friendship, and enter into an indissoluble treaty; and if the king should be proceeding on any expedition, he would to the best of his power, as his liege subject, promote it, by assisting him with troops, arms, horses, and money. To confirm and ratify this treaty, the bishops of Hereford and Chester [Note. In 1237 Chester wasn't a Bishopric?] were sent as mediators to bring the aforesaid matter to a conclusion. The cause of this message is said to have been that the said Llewellyn, owing to an attack of paralysis, was unable of himself to oppose the grievous attacks of his son [his son] Griffin (age 39), who was making war against him. Many of the nobles of Wales agreed to this treaty, and confirmed it at the same time as Llewellyn; some of them, however, strongly opposed their compacts. The faith of the Welsh is a want of faith, and they show no mercy when they have it in their power; and when fortune befriends them, they persecute those who fall into their power; but when defeated, they either fly or humble themselves: and such persons are never to be trusted, as the poet says, "I fear the Greeks, even when they bring gifts;" the philosopher Seneca also says, "You will never make safe treaty with any enemy."

On 02 Feb 1237 [his wife] Joan Plantagenet (age 46) died at Abergwyngregyn Bangor.

Chronica Majora. Before 24 Jun 1237. In the same year, the emperor Frederick (age 42), by special messengers and imperial letters, summoned all the great Christian princes of the world to assemble on the day of St. John the Baptist's nativity, at Vaucouleurs, which is on the confines, or near the confines, of the empire and the French kingdom, there to discuss some difficult matters concerning the empire as well as the kingdom. The king of France, as if entertaining suspicion of this conference, proceeded at the time fixed to the place appointed, attended by a large army, which he had assembled for the purpose, and thus set dreadful and pernicious example to others, inasmuch as he went to discuss matters of peace in the same way as he would to attack his enemies. The [his former brother-in-law] king of England (age 29) made reasonable excuses for not coming in person; but sent a peaceful embassy, consisting of some of the chief men of the kingdom; namely, [his former brother-in-law] Richard earl of Cornwall (age 28), his brother, with some other nobles, fit to manage a conference, under the guidance of the venerable archbishop of York (age 57) and the bishop of Ely, and other trustworthy persons selected for the purpose. The bishop of Winchester, although selected before all others, absolutely refused to go, and, not without reason, gave the following as the cause for excusing himself: "My lord king," said he "you lately laid a heavy complaint against me before the emperor, telling him that I, with some other nobles, disturbed your kingdom: whether you did this with justice, or unjustly, God knows; but I trust that I have saved my conscience in every respect. But if your words were now placed with confidence in my mouth and in your letters, and should declare that I was a familar and faithful friend of yours; all this would appear as contrary, and he would accuse both you and me of instability; and this would blacken your fame in a great degree. Therefore, because it would be manifestly to your dishonour, I will not go on any account." And in the opinion of many, this reply gave sufficient excuse for him. When all preparations had been made, and they were all ready to set sail on this journey, they were met by letters from the emperor, to say that he could not go to the conference then, as he had purposed; but that what he could not do then, should, by God's favour, be carried into effect on the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in the following year; and thus each and all of them returned without effecting anything. In this year, on the day of the Supper, the bishop of Hereford consecrated the holy unction in the church of St. Albans [Map]. About this time, too, [his former son-in-law] John Scott (deceased), earl of Chester, closed his life about Whitsuntide, having been poisoned by the agency of his [his daughter] wife (age 19), the daughter of Llewellyn (age 65). The life of the bishop of Lincoln (age 69), too, was also attempted by the same means, and he was with difficulty recalled from the gates of death. In the same year, in the week before Whitsuntide, there fell storms of hail which exceeded the size of apples, killing the sheep; and they were followed by continued rain.

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On 11 Apr 1240 Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw (age 68) died.

[his son] Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw and Senana ferch Caradog were married. They were second cousin once removed. He a grandson of King John "Lackland" of England.

Chronica Majora. During all this time [his son] Griffin, the son of Llewellyn, had been detained in prison by his brother [his son] David, who had treacherously summoned him to a friendly council. Griffin had gone there under the conduct of Richard, bishop of Bangor, and some other Welsh nobles; on account of which crime the said bishop left Wales, after excommunicating the said David. He now went to the king of England, and laid a severe complaint before him of this base crime, and earnestly entreated of the king to release Griffin, who was thus unjustly detained a prisoner by his nephew David, to prevent the taint of such an iniquitous transaction from reaching distant countries and the court of Rome, to the prejudice of his royal honour. The king, therefore, severely reproached his nephew David for his treachery, and both advised and ordered him to liberate his brother, and thus obtain a restoration of his good name, and absolution from the sentence of excommunication. This, however, David, obstinately refused to do, and told the king for certain, that if he were to release Griffin, Wales would never after enjoy security and peace. Griffin, being informed of this, secretly sent word to the king, that if he would release him from prison, he would in future hold his territory from him, the king; that he would faithfully pay him two hundred marks annually for it, with many thanks for his kind services; and he bound himself by oath to fulfil the same, and giving him at the same time a special hostage; besides this, that he would diligently assist him to subdue the Welsh at a distance, who were rebelling against him and were still unsubdued. Another most powerful Welsh chief, named Griffin, the son of Madoch, also promised the king trusty and unwearied assistance, if he would invade Wales, and make war against David, who was a false man, and acted unjustly to many of them.

[his daughter] Margred verch Llewellyn Aberffraw Baroness Clifford was born to Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw and Joan Plantagenet. She a granddaughter of King John "Lackland" of England.

[his father] Iorwerth "Drwyndwn aka Flat Nosed" Aberffraw and [his mother] Marared ferch Madog Mathrafal were married. She the daughter of Madog ap Maredudd Mathrafal Prince Powys and Susanna Aberffraw. He the son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd and Gwladus Unknown Queen Consort Gwynedd. They were first cousins.

William de Braose was captured by Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw in the bedhcamber of his wife Joan Plantagenet.