Biography of Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw 1198-1244

Paternal Family Tree: Aberffraw

Maternal Family Tree: Ettiennette Countess Burgundy

Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw and Senana ferch Caradog were married. They were second cousin once removed. He a grandson of King John of England.

Around 1198 Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw was born to Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw [aged 26] and Joan Plantagenet [aged 7]. He a grandson of King John of England.

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

In 1215 Bishop Giles de Braose 7th Baron Braose 5th Baron Bramber died. His brother Reginald succeeded 8th Baron Abergavenny Feudal Creation, 6th Baron Bramber Feudal. He seized his father's lands by force following the death of his brother Giles rousing the anger of Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw [aged 43] whose men attacked de Braose lands in Brecon and Abergavenny and Gower. Abergavenny Castle had to be rebuilt as a result.

In 1219 [his brother-in-law] John "Tadody aka Fatherless" Braose 8th Baron Bramber [aged 22] and [his sister] Margred verch Llewellyn Baroness Clifford [aged 17] 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 of England.

On 17th June 1219 David Dunkeld 8th Earl Huntingdon [aged 67] died. His son [his future brother-in-law] John [aged 12] succeeded 9th Earl Huntingdon, 8th Earl of Northampton. [his sister] Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar [aged 1] by marriage Countess Huntingdon, Countess of Northampton.

Before 1220 [his brother-in-law] Walter Clifford 3rd Baron Clifford and [his sister] Margred verch Llewellyn Baroness Clifford [aged 17] were married. They were half fourth cousin twice removed. She a granddaughter of King John of England.

On 17th January 1221 Walter Clifford 2nd Baron Clifford [aged 61] died. He was buried at Godstow Abbey [Map]. His son [his brother-in-law] Walter succeeded 3rd Baron Clifford Feudal. [his sister] Margred verch Llewellyn Baroness Clifford [aged 19] by marriage Baroness Clifford Feudal.

Around 1222 [his brother-in-law] John Dunkeld 9th Earl Huntingdon 7th Earl Chester 8th Earl Northampton [aged 15] and [his sister] Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar [aged 4] were married. He the son of David Dunkeld 8th Earl Huntingdon and Matilda Gernon Countess Huntingdon [aged 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.

In 1230 [his brother] Dafydd ap Llewellyn Prince of Wales [aged 17] and [his sister-in-law] Isabella "Lady of Snowdon" Braose Princess Wales [aged 8] were married. She the daughter of William de Braose 9th Baron Abergavenny 7th Baron Bramber [aged 26] and Eva Marshal [aged 27]. They were half fourth cousins. He a grandson of King John of England.

Around 1230 [his son] Rhodri Aberffraw was born to Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw [aged 32]. He a great grandson of King John of England.

Memoires of Jacques du Clercq

This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.

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On 2nd May 1230 William de Braose 9th Baron Abergavenny 7th Baron Bramber [aged 26] was hanged by [his father] Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw [aged 58] for having been found in the bedchamber of his wife [his mother] Joan Plantagenet [aged 39]. His daughter Eva [aged 3] succeeded 10th Baroness Abergavenny Feudal Creation. William Cantilupe by marriage Baron Abergavenny Feudal Creation. His first cousin [his brother-in-law] John [aged 33] succeeded 8th Baron Bramber Feudal.

In or before 1232 [his son] Owain "The Red" Aberffraw was born to Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw [aged 33]. He a great grandson of King John of England.

Around 1233 [his son] Llywelyn "Last" Aberffraw was born to Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw [aged 35]. He a great grandson of King John of England. He married (1) 13th October 1278 his first cousin once removed Eleanor Montfort Princess of Wales, daughter of Simon de Montfort 6th Earl of Leicester 1st Earl Chester and Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Pembroke and Leicester, and had issue.

Chronica Majora by Matthew Paris. After 13th January 1237. In this year [his father] Llewellyn, prince of Wales [aged 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 Griffin [aged 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 2nd February 1237 [his mother] Joan Plantagenet [aged 46] died at Abergwyngregyn Bangor.

On 6th June 1237 [his brother-in-law] John Dunkeld 9th Earl Huntingdon 7th Earl Chester 8th Earl Northampton [aged 30] died. Matthew Paris suggests he was poisoned by his wife [his sister] Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar [aged 19]. Earl Huntingdon, Earl of Northampton extinct. Earl Chester merged with the Crown.

On 11th July 1238 [his son] Dafydd ap Gruffudd Aberffraw Prince of Wales was born to Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw [aged 40] and Senana ferch Caradog [aged 40]. He a great grandson of King John of England. He married after 1265 his half fifth cousin Elizabeth Ferrers, daughter of William Ferrers 5th Earl of Derby and Margaret Quincy Countess Derby.

In 1239 Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw [aged 41] was imprisoned at Criccieth Castle [Map].

In 1240 [his brother] Dafydd ap Llewellyn Prince of Wales [aged 27] was created Prince of Wales. [his sister-in-law] Isabella "Lady of Snowdon" Braose Princess Wales [aged 18] by marriage Princess of Wales.

On 11th April 1240 [his father] Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw [aged 68] died.

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough

A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'

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In 1241 Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw [aged 43] was imprisoned at Tower of London [Map].

On 1st March 1244 Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw [aged 46] died at Tower of London [Map].

In 1248 Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw was buried at Aberconwy Abbey [Map].

[his daughter] Gwladus Aberffraw was born to Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw. She a great granddaughter of King John of England.

[his daughter] Catherine Aberffraw was born to Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw. She a great granddaughter of King John of England.

[his daughter] Margred Aberffraw was born to Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw. She a great granddaughter of King John of England.

Chronica Majora by Matthew Paris. The king of England marches into Wales with his army.

Incited by these promises, the [his uncle] king made arrangements to enter Wales, He therefore issued royal letters, ordering all throughout England who owed him military service to assemble at Gloucester, in the beginning of autumn, equipped with horses and arms, to set out on an expedition which he had determined on. He next held a council at Shrewsbury, on the morrow of the feast of St. Peter "ad vincula," and within a fortnight he raised his standard, and turned his arms against his nephew David, as he had discovered him to be a traitor and rebel in every respect, and as he refused to come at any time to a peaceable conference at his, the king's, summons, even under a promise of safe-conduct; for in a stiff-necked and obstinate way he replaied that he would not, on any account, release his brother Griffin. The king then led his army, which was numerous and of great strength, in good order, towards Chester, as if about to make war immediately. David, however, feared to encounter his violence, both because the heat, which had continued intense for four months, had dried up all the lakes and marshy places of Wales, and because many of the Welsh nobles, especially the powerfid and prudent Griffin, the son of Madoch, who had become a great ally of the king's, loved Griffin more than him, David, and also because he was lying under an anathema, and feared lest he should become still worse off; he therefore sent word to the king that he would set Griffin at liberty, at the same time informing him with many reasonings, that if he did release him, he would excite renewed wars against him. David also imposed on the king the condition that he should receive him peaceably, on his binding himself by oath, and by giving hostages, and that he would not deprive him of his inheritance. This the king kindly conceded, and David thereupon released his brother Griffin, and sent him to the king, who, trusting to prudent advice, sent him, on his arrival, to London, under the protection and conduct of John of Lexington, to be there kept in the Tower [Map], with some other nobles of Wales, the hostages of David and other Welsh princes. All these events occurred between the day of the Nativity of St. Mary and Michaelmas-day.

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Chronica Majora by Matthew Paris. During all this time Griffin, the son of [his father] Llewellyn, had been detained in prison by his brother 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.