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

1220 Westminster Coronation of Henry III

1236 Marriage of Henry III and Eleanor of Provence

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 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 of England.

Around 1202 [his daughter] Margred verch Llewellyn Baroness Clifford was born to Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw (age 30) and [his future wife] Joan Plantagenet (age 11). She a granddaughter of King John of England.

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

In 1215 Bishop Giles de Braose 7th Baron Braose 5th Baron Bramber died. His brother [his son-in-law] Reginald succeeded 8th Baron Bergavenny 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 (age 43) whose men attacked de Braose lands in Brecon and Abergavenny and Gower. Abergavenny Castle had to be rebuilt as a result.

Around 1215 [his son-in-law] Reginald de Braose 8th Baron Abergavenny 6th Baron Bramber and [his daughter] Gwladus verch Llewelyn "Dark Eyed" Aberffraw (age 20) were married. She a granddaughter of King John of England.

Death of King John

                    On 19 Oct 1216 [his father-in-law] King John of England (age 49) died at Newark Castle, Nottinghamshire [Map]. His son [his brother-in-law] Henry (age 9) succeeded III King of England.
                
                    John Monmouth (age 34) was present.
                
                    On his deathbed, John appointed a council of thirteen executors to help Henry reclaim the kingdom and requested that his son be placed into the guardianship of William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke (age 70).
                
                    King John's will is the earliest English royal will to survive in its original form. The document is quite small, roughly the size of a postcard and the seals of those who were present at the time would have been attached to it. Translation of the will taken from an article by Professor S.D. Church in the English Historical Review, June 2010:
                
                    I, John, by the grace of God king of England, lord of Ireland, duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, count of Anjou, hindered by grave infirmity and not being able at this time of my infirmity to itemize all my things so that I may make a testament, commit the arbitration and administration of my testament to the trust and to the legitimate administration of my faithful men whose names are written below, without whose counsel, even in good health, I would have by no means arranged my testament in their presence, so that what they will faithfully arrange and determine concerning my things as much as in making satisfaction to God and to holy Church for damages and injuries done to them as in sending succour to the land of Jerusalem and in providing support to my sons towards obtaining and defending their inheritance and in making reward to those who have served us faithfully and in making distribution to the poor and to religious houses for the salvation of my soul, be right and sure. I ask, furthermore, that whoever shall give them counsel and assistance in the arranging of my testament shall receive the grace and favour of God. Whoever shall infringe their arrangement and disposition, may he incur the curse and indignation of almighty God and the blessed Mary and all the saints.
                
                    In the first place, therefore, I desire that my body be buried in the church of St Mary and St Wulfstan at Worcester. I appoint, moreover, the following arbiters and administrators: the lord Guala, by the grace of God, cardinal-priest of the title of St Martin and legate of the apostolic see; the lord Peter bishop of Winchester; the lord Richard bishop of Chichester; the lord Silvester bishop of Worcester; Brother Aimery de St-Maur; William Marshal earl of Pembroke; Ranulf earl of Chester; William earl Ferrers; William Brewer; Walter de Lacy and John of Monmouth; Savaric de Mauléon; Falkes de Bréauté.
                
                    The signatories were:
                
                    Guala Bicchieri (ca 1150 - 1227) Papal Legate.
                
                    Bishop Peter de Roches, Bishop of Winchester.
                
                    Richard le Poer (? - 1237), Bishop of Chichester.
                
                    Sylvester of Worcester, Bishop of Worcester.
                
                    Aimery de St-Maur (? -?1219), Master of the English Templars.
                
                    William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke.
                
                    Ranulf de Blondeville Gernon 6th Earl Chester 1st Earl Lincoln (age 46).
                
                    William Ferrers 4th Earl of Derby (age 48).
                
                    William Brewer (? - 1226), 1st Baron Brewer.
                
                    Walter de Lacy (ca 1172-1241) Lord of Meath.
                
                    John: (1182 - 1248) Lord of Monmouth.
                
                    Savaric de Mauléon (? - 1236) Seneschal of Poitou from 1205.
                
                    Falkes de Bréauté (? - 1226) Seneschal of Cardiff Castle.

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Gloucester Coronation of Henry III

On 28 Oct 1216 [his brother-in-law] King Henry III of England (age 9) was crowned III King of England at Gloucester Cathedral [Map] during the Gloucester Coronation of Henry III at which Cardinal Guala Bicchieri (age 66) presided, Bishop Sylvester and Bishop Simon Apulia anointed the King. The coronation took place in Gloucester since London was at the time held by rebels. John Monmouth (age 34) was present.

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 of England.

In 1219 [his son-in-law] John "Tadody aka Fatherless" Braose 8th Baron Bramber (age 22) and [his daughter] Margred verch Llewellyn Baroness Clifford (age 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.

Before 1220 [his son-in-law] Walter Clifford 3rd Baron Clifford and [his daughter] Margred verch Llewellyn Baroness Clifford (age 17) were married. She a granddaughter of King John of England.

Westminster Coronation of Henry III

On 17 May 1220 [his brother-in-law] King Henry III of England (age 12) was crowned III King of England at Westminster Abbey [Map] since the Pope didn't consider the earlier Gloucester Coronation of Henry III to have been performed correctly. Archbishop Stephen Langton (age 70) presided.

On 22 Nov 1220 Frederick I King Jerusalem II Holy Roman Emperor (age 25) was crowned II Holy Roman Emperor. [his sister-in-law] Isabella Plantagenet Holy Roman Empress (age 6) by marriage Holy Roman Empress.

On 21 Jun 1221 King Alexander II of Scotland (age 22) and [his sister-in-law] Joan Plantagenet Queen of Scotland (age 10) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Scotland. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] King John of England and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 33). He the son of King William I of Scotland and Ermengarde Beaumont Sarthe Queen Consort Scotland (age 51). They were half third cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" 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 of England.

On 23 Apr 1224 William "The Younger" Marshal 2nd Earl Pembroke (age 34) and [his sister-in-law] Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Pembroke and Leicester (age 9) were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke. The difference in their ages was 25 years. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] King John of England and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 36). He the son of William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke and Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke.

In 1225 [his brother-in-law] Richard of Cornwall 1st Earl Cornwall (age 15) was created 1st Earl Cornwall.

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. She the daughter of William de Braose 9th Baron Bergaveny 7th Baron Bramber (age 26) and Eva Marshal (age 27). They were half fourth cousins. He a grandson of King John 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 of England.

Sometime before 02 May 1230 William de Braose 9th Baron Bergaveny 7th Baron Bramber (age 26) was captured by Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw (age 58) in the bedchamber of his wife [his wife] Joan Plantagenet (age 39).

On 02 May 1230 William de Braose 9th Baron Bergaveny 7th Baron Bramber (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 (age 3) succeeded 10th Baroness Bergavenny Feudal Creation. William Cantilupe by marriage Baron Bergavenny Feudal Creation. His first cousin [his son-in-law] John (age 33) succeeded 8th Baron Bramber Feudal.

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

On 30 Mar 1231 [his brother-in-law] Richard of Cornwall 1st Earl Cornwall (age 22) and Isabel Marshal Countess Cornwall, Gloucester and Hertford (age 30) were married at Fawley, Lambourn. She by marriage Countess Cornwall. She the daughter of William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke and Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke. He the son of [his father-in-law] King John of England and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 43).

In Apr 1231 Hawise Gernon 2nd Countess Lincoln (age 51) succeeded 2nd Countess Lincoln. Robert Quincy Earl Lincoln by marriage Earl Lincoln. She was gifted the title by her childless brother Ranulf de Blondeville Gernon 6th Earl Chester 1st Earl Lincoln (age 61) by agreement with [his brother-in-law] King Henry III of England (age 23).

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).

On 20 Jul 1235 Frederick I King Jerusalem II Holy Roman Emperor (age 40) and [his sister-in-law] Isabella Plantagenet Holy Roman Empress (age 21) were married at Worms Cathedral [Map]. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] King John of England and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 47). He the son of Henry Hohenstaufen VI Holy Roman Emperor.

Marriage of Henry III and Eleanor of Provence

On 14 Jan 1236 [his brother-in-law] King Henry III of England (age 28) and Eleanor of Provence Queen Consort England (age 13) were married at Canterbury Cathedral [Map] by Archbishop Edmund Rich (age 61). She the daughter of Raymond Berenguer Provence IV Count Provence (age 38) and Beatrice Savoy Countess Provence (age 38). He the son of [his father-in-law] King John of England and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 48). They were fourth cousins.

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

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.