Biography of Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar 1218-1253

Paternal Family Tree: Aberffraw

Maternal Family Tree: Ettiennette Countess Burgundy

In 1205 [her father] Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw (age 33) and [her mother] Joan Plantagenet (age 14) were married. She the illegitmate daughter of [her grandfather] King John of England (age 38) and [her grandmother] Adela Plantagenet.

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

On 17 Jun 1219 David Dunkeld 8th Earl Huntingdon (age 67) died. His son [her future husband] John (age 12) succeeded 9th Earl Huntingdon, 8th Earl of Northampton. Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar (age 1) by marriage Countess Huntingdon.

Around 1222 John Dunkeld 9th Earl Huntingdon 7th Earl Chester (age 15) and 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 of England.

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

On 06 Jun 1237 [her husband] John Dunkeld 9th Earl Huntingdon 7th Earl Chester (age 30) died. Matthew Paris suggests he was poisoned by his wife Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar (age 19). Earl Huntingdon, Earl of Northampton extinct. Earl Chester merged with the Crown.

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 [her uncle] 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, [her uncle] 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, [her former husband] John Scott (deceased), earl of Chester, closed his life about Whitsuntide, having been poisoned by the agency of his wife (age 19), the daughter of [her father] 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 [her father] Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw (age 68) died.

Before 1253 [her daughter] Isabella Mar was born to Donald Mar 7th Earl of Mar and Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar (age 34). She a great granddaughter of King John of England.

In 1253 Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar (age 35) died.

Before Aug 1257 Robert Quincy and Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar were married. He the son of Saer Quincy 1st Earl Winchester and Margaret Beaumont Countess Winchester. They were half third cousin once removed. She a granddaughter of King John of England.

In Aug 1257 [her former husband] Robert Quincy died.

[her son] Gartnait Mar 8th Earl Mar was born to Donald Mar 7th Earl of Mar and Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar. He a great grandson of King John of England.

[her daughter] Mary or Marjorie Mar Countess Sutherland was born to Donald Mar 7th Earl of Mar and Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar. She a great granddaughter of King John of England.

[her daughter] Hawise Quincy was born to Robert Quincy and Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar. She a great granddaughter of King John of England.

[her daughter] Joan Quincy was born to Robert Quincy and Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar. She a great granddaughter of King John of England.

Donald Mar 7th Earl of Mar and Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar were married. She by marriage Countess Mar. He the son of Donald Mar 6th Earl of Mar. She a granddaughter of King John of England.