Biography of Dafydd ap Llewellyn Prince of Wales 1212-1246

Paternal Family Tree: Aberffraw

Maternal Family Tree: Ettiennette Countess Burgundy

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

Around March 1212 Dafydd ap Llewellyn Prince of Wales was born to [his father] Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw (age 40) and [his mother] 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 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 [his father] 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.

In 1219 [his brother-in-law] John "Tadody aka Fatherless" Braose 8th Baron Bramber (age 22) and [his sister] 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.

On 17th June 1219 David Dunkeld 8th Earl Huntingdon (age 67) died. His son [his future brother-in-law] John (age 12) succeeded 9th Earl Huntingdon, 8th Earl of Northampton. [his sister] Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar (age 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 (age 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 (age 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 (age 19) by marriage Baroness Clifford Feudal.

Around 1222 [his brother-in-law] John Dunkeld 9th Earl Huntingdon 7th Earl Chester 8th Earl Northampton (age 15) and [his sister] 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.

In 1230 Dafydd ap Llewellyn Prince of Wales (age 17) and Isabella "Lady of Snowdon" Braose Princess Wales (age 8) were married. She the daughter of William de Braose 9th Baron Abergavenny 7th Baron Bramber (age 26) and Eva Marshal (age 27). They were half fourth cousins. He a grandson of King John of England.

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

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On 2nd February 1237 [his mother] Joan Plantagenet (age 46) died at Abergwyngregyn Bangor.

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

In 1240 Dafydd ap Llewellyn Prince of Wales (age 27) was created Prince of Wales. [his wife] Isabella "Lady of Snowdon" Braose Princess Wales (age 18) by marriage Princess of Wales.

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

Chronica Majora by Matthew Paris. David (age 29) had, as before stated, sworn to present himself before the [his uncle] king (age 34), saving his person and honour, and the persons and honour of his subjects, at London or elsewhere, as the king should determine; and had, moreover, given hostages to him for the fulfilment of his promise: he accordingly came to the king, at London, on the eighth day after Michaelmas, and after having sworn fealty and allegiance, and all security and good faith, he was dismissed in peace, as he was so near a relation of the king, and allowed to return home. Henry thus, under God's favour, triumphed over his enemies, and subdued Wales without bloodshed, and without having to tempt the doubtful chances of war. Wales, in this case, discovered that the words of our Lord, mentioned in the Gospel, were not without truth; namely, that "every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation."

Before 1246 Dafydd ap Llewellyn Prince of Wales (age 33) gave St Winefrid's Well, Holywell [Map] to Basingwerk Abbey [Map].

On 25th February 1246 Dafydd ap Llewellyn Prince of Wales (age 33) died at Abergwyngregyn Bangor.

After 25th February 1246 Dafydd ap Llewellyn Prince of Wales (deceased) was buried at Aberconwy Abbey [Map].

Around 1248 [his former wife] Isabella "Lady of Snowdon" Braose Princess Wales (age 26) died. She was buried at Godstow Abbey [Map].

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 [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 [his brother] 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 [his uncle] 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.