Biography of Llywelyn "Last" Aberffraw 1233-1282

Paternal Family Tree: Aberffraw

Around 1233 Llywelyn "Last" Aberffraw was born to Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw (age 35). He a great grandson of King John of England.

On 1st March 1244 [his father] Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw (age 46) died at Tower of London [Map].

Battle of Bryn Derwin

In June 1255 Llywelyn "Last" Aberffraw (age 22) defeated his brothers [his brother] Owain "The Red" Aberffraw (age 23) and [his half-brother] Dafydd ap Gruffudd Aberffraw Prince of Wales (age 16) during the Battle of Bryn Derwin. Owain "The Red" Aberffraw and Dafydd ap Gruffudd Aberffraw Prince of Wales were both imprisoned.

Dolforwyn Castle [Map] was established in the late 13th Century by Llywelyn "Last" Aberffraw (age 37).

Around March 1275 the marriage of Llywelyn "Last" Aberffraw (age 42) and Eleanor Montfort Princess of Wales (age 23) by proxy married.

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough. In the year of our Lord 1276, Llywelyn, Prince of Wales (age 43), sent envoys to France and betrothed to himself in marriage the daughter [Eleanor] of the late Lord Simon de Montfort. While the young woman was being brought to him by her brother Emeric, who had been treasurer of York Minster, they were captured at sea by the men of the Cinque Ports and brought to King Edward. Upon hearing of this, Llywelyn immediately launched war in Wales, devastating and burning with sword and fire whatever his forces could reach. In response, the king marched there with a great army and pressed him so hard that Llywelyn was compelled to seek peace. He came to terms by paying a large sum of money¹ and agreed to a treaty whereby he was to come once a year to the king's parliament in London.² Thus, having received his wife, the king withdrew. But the said wife died the following year. In that same following year, on the feast of the Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas), Llywelyn came to London, performed homage, and returned to Wales. But when summoned again to parliament within three years, he refused to come and once more made war. When the king heard of this, he again marched against him and once more forced him to make peace. After receiving another payment of money, the king released him and departed.

Anno Domini MCCLXXVI misit Leulinus, princeps Walliæ, nuncios in Franciam, desponsavitque sibi in uxorem filiam quondam domini Edward I Symonis de Monteforti, cumque duceretur puella per Emericum fratrem suum, qui thesaurarius fuerat Eborum ecclesiæ, capti sunt in mari a quinque portubus et ad regem Edwardum adducti. Quo audito, statim guerram movit in Wallia ipse Leulinus, devastans gladio et igne succendens quæcunque manus ipsius contingere potuerunt: divertitque rex ibidem cum exercitu copioso, et in tantum arctavit eum quod pacem quærere compulsus est; composuitque cum eo magna pecunia, et foedus pepigit quod semel singulis annis ad parliamentum suum veniret Londoniis; et sic, accepta uxore sua, recessit ab eo rex; quæ quidem uxor in anno sequenti mortua est ipse vero Leulinus in eodem anno sequenti, in festo Nativitatis Dominicæ, Londonias venit, homagium fecit, et reversus est. Iterato infra tertium annum ad parliamentum vocatus ut veniret, venire contempsit et guerram movit: quod audiens rex divertit ibidem et iterato eum constrinxit ut componeret; dataque pecunia dimisit eum, et abiit.

Note 1. Viz. fifty thousand pounds sterling. See the Ratification of the Articles of Peace by King Edward, dated 10th November 1277, who, however, on the following day quitted his claim to the payment of the debt. Rymer, Fœdera, 1.546 and Rymer, Fœdera, 1.547.

Note 2. This is not corroborated by any article of the treaty.

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Chronicle of William Rishanger. [1277].Furthermore, besides these things, the Prince [Llywelyn "Last" Aberffraw (age 44)] will reconcile with his brothers, whom he had wronged. For he had three brothers, two of whom, [his brother] Owen (age 45) and [his brother] Rhodri (age 47), he had imprisoned; the third, David, having fled, stayed for many years with the King of England. By the King, and against the custom of his people, he was made a knight. In that war, due to his bravery and loyalty, he became highly esteemed by the King. As a result, the King granted him the castle of Denbigh in Wales, along with lands worth one thousand pounds in annual revenue; moreover, he gave him a wife [Elizabeth Ferrers (age 37)], the daughter of the Earl of Derby, who had recently been widowed by another man [William Marshal]. Owen, then, through royal favor, was freed from the prison which he had recently broken. Rhodri, however, fled from his brother and resided in England. The King, moreover, built a significant castle at Aberystwyth [Map]¹ in Western Wales, to suppress the raids of the Welsh.

Item, præter hæc, Princeps fratres suos, quos læsit, placabit. Habuit enim tres fratres, quorum duos, Owenum et Rodericum, posuerat in carcere; tertius vero, David, fuga dilapsus, multis annis cum Rege Angliæ stetit; a quo, contra morem gentis suæ, miles factus, in ista guerra, ob probitatem et fidelitatem suam, plurimum erat Regi acceptus: unde et eidem castrum de Dimby contulit in Wallia, cum terris ad valorem mille librarum annui redditus; insuper et uxorem dedit, filiam Comitis Derbeyæ, quæ nuper alio viro fuerat viduata. Owenus ergo favore regio liberatur a carcere, quem fregerat paulo ante. Rodericus vero, fratrem fugiens, in Anglia morabatur. Rex autem in Occidentali Wallia apud Lampader Vaur, ad cohibendum irruptiones Wallensium, castrum construxit insigne.

Note 1. "Lampader Vaur" i.e. "Llanbadarn Fawr" from which Aberystwyth took its name.

Treaty of Aberconwy

In 1277 King Edward I of England (age 37) and Llywelyn "Last" Aberffraw (age 44) signed the Treaty of Aberconwy by which Llywelyn "Last" Aberffraw agreed that Welsh self-rule would end with the death of Llywelyn "Last" Aberffraw. As part of the Treaty [his brother] Owain "The Red" Aberffraw (age 45) was released from Dolbadarn Castle [Map].

On 13th October 1278 Llywelyn "Last" Aberffraw (age 45) and Eleanor Montfort Princess of Wales (age 26) were married at Worcester Cathedral [Map]. She the daughter of Simon de Montfort 6th Earl of Leicester 1st Earl Chester and Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Pembroke and Leicester. They were first cousin once removed. He a great grandson of King John of England. She a granddaughter of King John of England.

In June 1282 [his daughter] Gwenllian "Lady of Wales" Aberffraw was born to Llywelyn "Last" Aberffraw (age 49) and [his wife] Eleanor Montfort Princess of Wales (age 30) at Abergwyngregyn Bangor. She a great granddaughter of King John of England. Coefficient of inbreeding 1.74%.

On 19th June 1282 [his wife] Eleanor Montfort Princess of Wales (age 30) died in childbirth.

Battle of Orewin Bridge

On 11th December 1282 an English force including John Giffard 1st Baron Giffard Brimpsfield (age 50), Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn Mathrafal Prince Powys Wenwynwyn (age 71) and Owen de la Pole Mathrafal 1st Lord Powis (age 25) defeated a Welsh force at Builth Wells [Map] during the Battle of Orewin Bridge. The Welsh leader Llywelyn "Last" Aberffraw (age 49) was killed effectively bringing to an end the independence of Wales. His brother [his half-brother] Dafydd (age 44) succeeded Prince of Wales.

Before 30th September 1283 Simon Montagu 1st Baron Montagu (age 33) was summoned to the parliament which met on 30 September 1283 at Shrewsbury for the trial of [his half-brother] Dafydd ap Gruffudd Aberffraw Prince of Wales (age 45), brother of Llywelyn "Last" Aberffraw.

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