Biography of Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw 1172-1240

Around 1172 Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw was born to Iorwerth "Drwyndwn aka Flat Nosed" Aberffraw [aged 42] and Marared ferch Madog Mathrafal. Coefficient of inbreeding 6.40%.

In 1174 Iorwerth "Drwyndwn aka Flat Nosed" Aberffraw [aged 44] was killed in battle at Pennant Melangell, in Powys, during the wars deciding the succession following the death of his father.

On 5th December 1194 [his daughter] Gwladus verch Llewelyn "Dark Eyed" Aberffraw was born to Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw [aged 22] and [his future wife] Joan Plantagenet [aged 3]. She a granddaughter of King John of England. She married (1) 1215 her half fifth cousin once removed Reginald de Braose 8th Baron Abergavenny 6th Baron Bramber, son of William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber and Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber (2) 1230 her half fifth cousin once removed Ralph Mortimer and had issue.

Around 1198 [his son] Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw was born to Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw [aged 26] and [his future wife] Joan Plantagenet [aged 7]. He a grandson of King John of England. He married his second cousin once removed Senana ferch Caradog and had issue.

Around 1202 [his daughter] Margred verch Llewellyn Baroness Clifford was born to Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw [aged 30] and [his future wife] Joan Plantagenet [aged 11]. She a granddaughter of King John of England. She married (1) 1219 her half fourth cousin John "Tadody aka Fatherless" Braose 8th Baron Bramber and had issue (2) before 1220 her half fourth cousin twice removed Walter Clifford 3rd Baron Clifford, son of Walter Clifford 2nd Baron Clifford and Agnes Cundy Baroness Clifford, and had issue.

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

Around 1210 [his son] Tegwared ap Llywelyn "y Baiswen aka White Mantle" Aberffraw was born to Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw [aged 38]. He married his second cousin Gwenllian ferch Ednyfed Fychan Tudor and had issue.

Around March 1212 [his son] Dafydd ap Llewellyn Prince of Wales was born to Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw [aged 40] and [his wife] Joan Plantagenet [aged 21] at Castell Hen Blas Coleshill Bagillt. He a grandson of King John of England. He married 1230 his half fourth cousin Isabella "Lady of Snowdon" Braose Princess Wales.

In 1215 Bishop Giles de Braose 7th Baron Braose 5th Baron Bramber died. His brother [his son-in-law] 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.

Around 1215 [his son-in-law] Reginald de Braose 8th Baron Abergavenny 6th Baron Bramber and [his daughter] Gwladus verch Llewelyn "Dark Eyed" Aberffraw [aged 20] were married. They were half fifth cousin once removed. She a granddaughter of King John of England.

Around 1218 [his daughter] Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar was born to Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw [aged 46] and [his wife] Joan Plantagenet [aged 27]. She a granddaughter of King John of England. She married (1) Donald Mar 7th Earl of Mar, son of Donald Mar 6th Earl of Mar, and had issue (2) 1222 her second cousin twice removed John Dunkeld 9th Earl Huntingdon 7th Earl Chester 8th Earl Northampton, son of David Dunkeld 8th Earl Huntingdon and Matilda Gernon Countess Huntingdon (3) before August 1257 her half third cousin once removed Robert Quincy, son of Saer Quincy 1st Earl Winchester and Margaret Beaumont Countess Winchester, and had issue.

In 1219 [his son-in-law] John "Tadody aka Fatherless" Braose 8th Baron Bramber [aged 22] and [his daughter] 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.

Before 1220 [his son-in-law] Walter Clifford 3rd Baron Clifford and [his daughter] 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 22nd November 1220 Frederick I King Jerusalem II Holy Roman Emperor [aged 25] was crowned II Holy Roman Emperor. [his sister-in-law] Isabella Plantagenet Holy Roman Empress [aged 6] by marriage Holy Roman Empress.

On 21st June 1221 King Alexander II of Scotland [aged 22] and [his sister-in-law] Joan Plantagenet Queen of Scotland [aged 10] were married at York Minster [Map]. 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 [aged 33]. He the son of King William I of Scotland and Ermengarde Beaumont Sarthe Queen Consort Scotland [aged 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 8th Earl Northampton [aged 15] and [his daughter] 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.

On 23rd April 1224 William "The Younger" Marshal 2nd Earl Pembroke [aged 34] and [his sister-in-law] Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Pembroke and Leicester [aged 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 [aged 36]. He the son of William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke and Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke. They were fifth cousins.

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

Around 1230 [his son-in-law] Ralph Mortimer [aged 39] and [his daughter] Gwladus verch Llewelyn "Dark Eyed" Aberffraw [aged 35] were married. They were half fifth cousin once removed. She a granddaughter of King John of England.

In 1230 [his son] Dafydd ap Llewellyn Prince of Wales [aged 17] and [his daughter-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.

Sometime before 2nd May 1230 William de Braose 9th Baron Abergavenny 7th Baron Bramber [aged 26] was captured by Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw [aged 58] in the bedchamber of his wife Joan Plantagenet [aged 39].

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

On 2nd May 1230 William de Braose 9th Baron Abergavenny 7th Baron Bramber [aged 26] was hanged by Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw [aged 58] for having been found in the bedchamber of his wife 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 John [aged 33] succeeded 8th Baron Bramber Feudal.

On 30th March 1231 [his brother-in-law] Richard of Cornwall 1st Earl Cornwall [aged 22] and Isabel Marshal Countess Cornwall, Gloucester and Hertford [aged 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 [aged 43]. They were fifth cousins.

In April 1231 Hawise Gernon 2nd Countess Lincoln [aged 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 [aged 61] by agreement with [his brother-in-law] King Henry III of England [aged 23].

In 1232 Ednyfed "Fychan aka Younger" Tudor [aged 62] represented Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw [aged 60] at a meeting with [his brother-in-law] King Henry III of England [aged 24].

On 20th July 1235 Frederick I King Jerusalem II Holy Roman Emperor [aged 40] and [his sister-in-law] Isabella Plantagenet Holy Roman Empress [aged 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 [aged 47]. He the son of Henry Hohenstaufen VI Holy Roman Emperor. They were fourth cousin once removed.

Chronica Majora by Matthew Paris. After 13th January 1237. In this year 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 wife] Joan Plantagenet [aged 46] died at Abergwyngregyn Bangor.

On 11th April 1240 Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw [aged 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 Owain "Great" King Gwynedd and Gwladus Unknown Queen Consort Gwynedd. They were first cousins.

[his daughter] Susanna ferch Llewellyn was born to Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw and Joan Plantagenet. She a granddaughter of King John of England. She married before 1266 Máel Coluim II Earl of Fife and had issue.

Chronica Majora by Matthew Paris. During all this time Griffin, the son of 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.