Gruffudd ap Llywelyn (abt. 1198 - 1244)

Born about 1198 in Gwynedd, Wales

Ancestors

Husband of Rhanullt Rognvaldatter — married 1216 in Caernarvonshire, Wales

Husband of Senena ferch Caradog — married 1222 in Gwynedd, Wales

Descendants

Died 1 Mar 1244 at about age 46 in Tower of London, Middlesex, England

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Biography

Estimated dates are derived from a "date estimation scheme" based on the agreement between King Henry III and Gruffudd's wife Senena on 12 August 1241. ^[1]

1198 Name, Birth, Parents

• Gruffudd ap Llywelyn ab Iorwerth. ^[2]
• Gruffydd ap Llywelyn (c. 1196 – 1 March 1244) was the Welsh first-born son of Llywelyn the Great ("Llywelyn Fawr"). ^[3]

Wikipedia says Gruffudd was born about 1198 ^[3] which is consistent with date estimation based on the 1241 agreement. ^[1] Cawley says he was born before 1205 ^[4] and the Dictionary of Welsh Biography says the birth occurred prior to his father's marriage to Joan in 1206. ^[5] These estimates are satisfied by an 1198 birth.

Gruffydd ab Llywelyn, Welsh prince, was the eldest son of Llewelyn ab Iorwerth ^[6] known as Llywelyn the Great ("Llywelyn Fawr"). ^[3]

Gruffydd's mother was Tangwstyl, daughter of Llywarch Goch <(Williams, History of Wales, p. 303). ^[6] of Rhos. ^[5]

Cawley states that Gruffydd ap Llywelyn was the illegitimate son of Llywelyn ap Iorwerth Fawr ("the Great") Prince of Wales and his mistress Tangwystl of Rhos. ^[4]

Tangwystl probably died in childbirth. ^[3]

Gruffudd was called the "first born brother" (frater primogenitus) of David by Matthew of Paris, when he records that Gruffydd consented to his brother's succession on the death of their father.^[4]

1211 Hostage as Child

As a boy, Gruffydd was one of the hostages taken by King John of England as a pledge for his father's continued good faith. ^[3] He was still a prisoner in Aug. 1213. He was released as part of the general settlement of 1215 ^[5] in which a clause in the Magna Carta (1215) compelled his release. ^[3]

Loss of Status as Father's Heir in the Kingdom

Under Welsh law which regarded illegitimate and legitimate sons both as entitled to inherit, Gruffydd would have been entitled to consideration as his father's successor when his father died.

However, Llywelyn had excluded him from the succession and had declared Dafydd, his son by his wife Joan, to be heir to the kingdom. Llywelyn went to great lengths to strengthen Dafydd's position, probably aware that there would be considerable Welsh support for Gruffydd against the half-English Dafydd. ^[7]

Irresponsible and headstrong, Gruffydd openly resented the fact that his half-brother ( Dafydd ap Llywelyn , q.v. ), was intended to be Llywelyn 's sole successor, an injustice which, in mediaeval Wales, an acknowledged son, though illegitimate by normal standards, could challenge with reasonable hope of public support. It was not Llywelyn 's intention, however, to exclude Gruffydd entirely, if he proved co-operative, from some share of power. ^[5]

1216 Rhanault, First Wife

A review of dates suggests that any relationships Gruffydd had needed to occur prior to his marriage to Senena in about 1222. ^[1]

Rhanult ferch Rheinallt. Boyer states that Gruffudd married second Rhanullt ferch Rheinallt, King of Man. ^[2] Stewart Baldwin notes that it would appear that Rhanullt is the wife of Gruffudd who was known to the medieval Welsh genealogists. One puzzling fact about Bartrum's citations is that there is no overlap in the citations for Rhanullt and her supposed two daughters, making one wonder which of those sources state that she was their mother.^[8] Unfortunately, Baldwin continues, the manuscript sources cited by Bartrum for these relationships seems to be unpublished (except for the very late secondary sources which give Senena), so it is difficult to do the checking in the primary sources that clearly needs to be done in that case. ^[8] According to several non-contemporary Welsh genealogical tracts, Rhanullt was an otherwise unknown daughter of Rǫgnvaldr Guðrøðarson, King of the Isles. ^[3]

Wife Catrin?

Boyer proposes Catrin ferch Cynchwr of Ireland as Gruffudd's third wife. ^[2] Catrin ferch Cynchwr of Ireland, also known as Catrin inghean Cynchwr, married Gruffydd ap Llewelyn Fawr. ^[9] Baldwin states that the only source listed for Catrin is the manuscript Peniarth 134 by Gruffudd Hiraethog (d. 1564). ^[8]

Gruffudd had no children by Catrin. ^[2]

1221 Maladministration

As early as 1221 Gruffudd was acting as lord of the cantrev of Meirionydd and the cymmwd of Ardudwy. ^[6]

Gruffydd was given lands in Ardudwy and Merioneth by his father, though in 1221 he was removed for maladministration of those lands. ^[3]

1222 Marriage to Senena

1222 is the estimated date of Senena's marriage to Cruffydd. ^[1]

Cawley states that Gruffydd married Senena.^[4] Wikipedia adds that Senana was possibly a daughter of Caradoc ap Thomas of Anglesey. ^[3] Boyer refers to her as Senena ferch Caradog ^[2] and addresses no ancestry before Caradog ^[10]

While Boyer relies heavily on Bartrum, Baldwin notes that, in a footnote Bartrum states that Senena was unknown in the medieval Welsh genealogies, and the two sources he lists for her are secondary sources from the nineteenth and twentieth century. ^[8] Baldwin adds that in using Bartrum, it must be always kept in mind that this is a finding aid which shows what is CLAIMED by various sources, and that the sources themselves (which are listed in the index, but often ignored by those who use Bartrum) still need to be judged for reliability. ^[8]

1223 Conflict with William Marshall

In 1223 Gruffydd was entrusted by Llewelyn with a numerous army to oppose William Marshall, earl of Pembroke, who had returned from Ireland to South Wales, and had taken Aberteivi and Carmarthen from Llewelyn. A battle was fought by Carmarthen with doubtful result, but lack of provisions immediately afterwards obliged Gruffydd to retire to the north. ^[6]

A little later Gruffydd again took arms and intercepted the earl at Carnwyllon(ib.) ^[6]

1228 Conflict with Father and Imprisonment

Afterwards, however, he seems to have quarrelled with his father again, and underwent six years' imprisonment. ^[6]

His father then imprisoned him between 1228 and 1234. On his release he was again given lands, this time controlling much of the commotes of Llŷn, Ceri, Cyfeiliog, Mawddwy, Mochnant and Caereinion. ^[11]

1234 Lordship of Llyn

Although he suffered a long term of imprisonment at Degannwy from 1228 to 1234, after having been deprived of the lordships of Ardudwy and Merioneth, he was eventually made lord of Llŷn (or Lleyn) ^[4] and given the extensive appanage of Upper Powys, in Llywelyn's hands since the death of Gwenwynwyn .^[5]

1239 Gryffydd Imprisoned by Davydd

By 1239, Gruffydd's father was old and paralysed, and Gruffydd attacked him with such vigour that Llewelyn was compelled to submit himself to the English (Matthew Paris, Hist. Major, iii. 385). ^[6]

By the mediation of Richard, Bishop of Bangor, Gruffydd was entrapped in 1239 into a conference with his brother Davydd, who seized and imprisoned him at Criciceth (Brut y Tywysogion, sub an. 1139; Annales Cambriæ; Matt. Paris, iv. 8, wrongly makes Gruffydd's imprisonment to begin after Llewelyn's death).^[6]

It was Dafydd himself, during his father's last enfeebled years, who struck a final blow for the principles of legitimacy and primogeniture, stripping Gruffydd of all his territories and imprisoning him and Owain ap Gruffydd (q.v.) , his eldest son, at Criccieth . This last event occurred in the period just before Llywelyn's death ( April 1240 ) or immediately afterwards. ^[5]

Llywelyn's father, Gruffydd, and his brother, Owain, were initially kept prisoner by Dafydd, then transferred into the custody of King Henry III of England. ^[7]

The Annals of Dunstable record that “David” imprisoned “fratrem suum majorem, ex alia matre oriundum” after the death of their father in 1240. ^[4]

Following a successful invasion of the Welsh borders by King Henry III of England in 1241, Dafydd was obliged to hand over Gruffydd into the king's custody; he was then taken to London and imprisoned in the Tower of London. ^[7]

1241 Senena's agreement with Henry III

Gruffydd's wife, Senana (possibly a daughter of Caradoc ap Thomas of Anglesey), agreed to pay Henry 600 marks for the release of her husband and their eldest son, Owain, and to hand over her two youngest sons, Dafydd and Rhodri, to the king as hostages to ensure that she kept her part of the bargain. .^[3]

Henry III King of England made an agreement with "Senana wife of Griffin son of Llewellyn…whom David his brother. agreeing to give "David and Rothery her sons as hostages" to the king, dated 12 Aug 1241. ^[4]

On 12 Aug. 1241 , Senena, Gruffydd 's wife, entered into an agreement with Henry III , arranging for her husband's release and restoration. ^[5]

On 12 Aug. 1241 Senena, Gruffydd's wife, made a convention with Henry at Shrewsbury (Matt. Paris, iv. 316-18). Many of the Welsh magnates favoured his cause. Henry invaded Wales and Davydd was compelled to submit. He now handed over Gruffydd to Henry's custody, warning him that if he were released there would be more troubles in Wales. The question as to Gruffydd's claims was to be submitted to the king's judgment (Fœdera, i. 242-3).^[6]

Henry III King of England made an agreement with "Senana wife of Griffin son of Llewellyn…whom David his brother keeps in prison with Owen his son" for payment of a ransom for their release, agreeing to give "David and Rothery her sons as hostages" to the king, dated 12 Aug 1241[316]. ^[4]

The Bishop of Bangor excommunicated Davydd and went to England, where he persuaded King Henry to take up the cause of Gruffydd, whose friends promised a heavy tribute. ^[6]

1241 Prisoner in the Tower of London

Henry did not keep his part however, and kept Gruffydd and his son imprisoned as "guests" because this continued to give him the possibility of using Gruffydd as a weapon against his brother.^[3]

When, a fortnight later, Dafydd was obliged to submit to the king at Gwern Eigron , the first part only of the agreement was fulfilled, for Gruffydd was now made a prisoner in the Tower of London where for over three years he spent an easy confinement in the company of his wife and some of their children, a pawn in the game of Anglo-Welsh politics. His attempt to escape on 1 March 1244 had a fatal ending. ^[5]

Gruffydd was now sent to London (about 29 Sept. 1241) under the care of John of Lexington, and confined in the Tower, along with his son Owain and some other Welsh captives. He was, however, honourably treated. The government allowed half a mark a day for his support, and his wife Senena was allowed to visit him. He tried, however, to escape on the night of 1 March 1244, having made a rope from his linen, and broke his neck in the attempt, as he was a very tall and heavy man (Matt. Paris, iv. 295-6). ^[6]

1244 Death

The Annales Cambriæ record that "Grifinus filius Lewelini" was imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1244 and died while attempting to escape. ^[4]

The Chronicle of the Princes of Wales records that "Gruffudd son of Llywelyn attempted to escape from the king´s prison in London by throwing a rope through the window of the tower, and descending along the rope, but the rope breaking, he fell and broke his neck" in 1244[315]. ^[4]

His body was discovered by the Yeoman of the Guard the next morning at the foot of the White Tower where he had fallen some 90 feet (27 m). The window from which he made his descent is on the south side of the Tower on the top floor. It was bricked up afterwards and can still be seen today.

Gruffydd died in 1244, from a fall while trying to escape from his cell at the top of the Tower of London. The window from which he attempted to escape the Tower was bricked up and can still be seen to this day.^[7]

In 1248, the abbots of Strata Florida and Aberconwy arranged for the return of his body to Wales, where he was buried at Aberconwy with his father.^[3]

Issue

Gruffudd appears to have had four sons and three daughters by two women. Sources are not in agreement about the numbers or mothers of the children.

On 2 April 1258, because the king, Henry III of England, understood by report that Llewelin son of Griffin proposed to marry Margaret his sister in a place in which could cause damage to the king, he commanded R. earl of Gloucester to be diligent in getting her into his power and when he had got her, to keep her safely.^[12]

• Cawley identifies only one wife, Senana and states that with Gruffydd she had five children -- Owain, Llywelyn, Dafydd, Rhodri, and Gladys. Cawley does not include Catrin or Margred among Gruffydd's children. ^[4]
• The Dictionary of Welsh Biography identifies no mother of the children, but names the same five children as Cawley, excluding Catrin and Margred. ^[5]
• Carl Boyer and Stewart Baldwin both base their lists of children on Bartrum. Carl Boyer presents three wives in order -- first, Senena, second Rhannullt, and third Catrin. This cannot be correct because Senena was the wife with visiting privileges to Gruffudd at the Tower of London when he attempted to escape. Following Bartrum, Boyer and Baldwin state that Owain, Llywelyn and Dafydd were the children of Senena, as listed by Bartrum; another Dafydd --Dafydd Felyn -- and Rhodri, are listed by Bartrum as mother not known; and daughters Caitrin and Gwladus are by Rhannult. ^[2][8]
• Baldwin notes that in Bartrum's Welsh Genealogies [BWG], Senena is given as the mother of three of his children (Owain Goch, Llywelyn, and Dafydd), Rhanullt is given as the mother of two daughters (Catrin and Gwladus, of whom the latter's husband is given as Rhys Ieuanc ap Rhys Mechyll), and a third wife (Catrin daughter of Cynchwr of Ireland [whoever he was]) is not listed as the mother of any of his children. Two sons, Rhodri and an uncertain second Dafydd, are listed with unknown mothers. ^[8]
• Wikipedia identifies the same four sons: Owain, Llywelyn, Dafydd and Rhodri as well as three daughters, Gwladus, Catherine and Margred, but not the second Dafydd shown by Bartrum, Boyer and Baldwin. ^[3]

Attempting to make the best sense of the sources, the following list of children can be produced:

1. Catrin, born, say, 1217 to Gruffudd and Rhannult ^[1]
2. Gwladus, born, say, 1219 to Gruffudd and Rhannult^[1]
3. Owain, born, say, 1223 to Gruffudd and Senena^[1]
4. Llywelyn, born, say, 1225 to Gruffudd and Senena^[1]
5. Dafydd Felyn, born, say, 1227, to Gruffudd and Senena, perhaps died early.
6. Margred or Margaret, her brother Llewelin was arranging her marriage in 1258,^[12] so she had presumably just reached the marriageable age of 14 years, indicating that she was probably conceived while Gruffudd was imprisoned in the White Tower by Henry III from 1241 from 1244 and Senena was with her husband;
7. Dafydd, born, say, 1232 to Gruffudd and Senena^[1]
8. Rhodri, born, say, 1235, to Gruffudd and Senena^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9} The solid date upon which estimates can be based is 12 August, 1241. On that date, Senena, wife of Gruffudd, signed an agreement with King Henry III arranging for the release and restoration of her husband Grufudd and son Owain, leaving her youngest sons Dafydd and Rhodri as hostages in Owain's place. Henry broke the agreement, keeping Gruffydd prisoner in the Tower of London, but with generous provisions which included permission for Senena to stay with him. Gruffudd ended his life in a failed escape attempt on 1 March, 1244. These facts permit the following conclusions and date estimates:
   1. Senena was Gruffudd's wife to the end. Any other wife would have to precede Senena.
   2. Senena was exemplary in defending her husband before the king, assuming roles few women were accustomed to assume.
   3. Owain was Senena's oldest son. For one of his age, hostage status meant being a prisoner with his father in the Tower of London, so estimate his age as 18 in 1241, thus born in 1223.;
   4. Since Owain was the oldest and first born son, assume the marriage was the year prior to his birth, 1222.
   5. Girls married very young; assume she was 16 at her marriage in 1222, thus born in 1206. Boyer shows Senena's father Caradog born, say, 1200. This estimation would require Caradog to marry in 1205 at the age of 20, and be born in, say, 1185, rather than 1200.
   6. Dafydd and Rhodri, the youngest sons offered as exchange hostages, would have been much younger, and destined to live in a noble household. Assume they were just old enough to comfortably leave home in 1241, aged 9 and 6, thus born in 1232 and 1235, respectively.
   7. Men tended to be older at marriage. Assume Gruffudd was aged 24 in 1222; this would place his birth at 1198.
   8. If Grufudd had an additional relationship, whether in a marriage or with a mistress, assume it occurred between Grufudd becoming 18 in 1216, and his marriage to Senena in 1222.
   9. Some sources refer to Gruffudd's additional marriage to Rhanultt ferch Rheinullt. The relationship and the children born of it would have occurred between 1216 and 1222.
   10. Based on the above, Gruffudd's two oldest children, daughters Catrin and Gwladus, would have been born, say, 1217 and 1219. The remaining children, born to Senena, would have been born as follows: Owain, 1223; Llywelyn, 1225; Dafydd Felyn, 1227 and died early, Margred, 1229, Dafydd 1232, and Rhodri 1235. This date estimation is of course speculative and serves to place persons in the most appropriate time perspective, but hopefully the logic expressed above achieves the best possible date estimates.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} Carl Boyer III. Medieval Welsh Ancestors of Certain Americans. Rhodri Mawr Chapter. By the Author: Santa Clarita, California, 2004. Pages 307-308. Gruffudd is #46 on page 307
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12} Wikipedia: Gruffydd ap Llywelyn Fawr Follows Stephen, Leslie; Lee, Sidney, eds. (1890). "Gruffydd ab Llywelyn (d.1244)". Dictionary of National Biography. 23. London: Smith, Elder & Co. Accessed Feb 15, 2016.
4. ↑ ^{4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10} Charles Cawley. Foundation for Medieval Genealogy. Medieval Lands database. Gruffydd ap Llywelyn Accessed February 15, 2016. jhd
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8} Professor Thomas Jones Pierce, M.A., F.S.A., (1905-1964), Aberystwyth. Gruffydd ap Llywelyn. Dictionary of Welsh Biography. A History of Wales Oxford Dictionary of National Biography ; Littere Wallie , 1940 ; Calendar of Ancient Correspondence concerning Wales , 1935 . Accessed February 27, 2016
6. ↑ ^{6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10} Dictionary of National Biography [https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Gruffydd_ab_Llywelyn_(d.1244)_(DNB00) Gruffydd ab Llewelyn. Accessed December 13, 2017.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3} Wikipedia Article. Llywelyn the Last
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6} Stewart Baldwin Gwladus verch Gruffydd ap Llywelyn Fawr In response to query of Michelle Murphy. 24 March 1999. Accessed December 13, 2017. jhd
9. ↑ Gruffudd ap Cynan 5, in Bartrum, Peter C. (Peter Clement). Welsh genealogies, AD 300-1400. (Wales: University of Wales Press, c1980). Cited at We Relate Accessed December 13, 2017.
10. ↑ Carl Boyer, 3rd. Medieval Welsh Ancestors of Certain Americans. By the Author: Santa Clarita, California, 2004. Senena is the daughter of Caradog, #1 on page 57
11. ↑ Walker, David (1990). Medieval Wales. Cambridge University Press. Cited by Wikipedia: Gruffydd ap Llywelyn Fawr Accessed May 3, 2018 jhd
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} Calendar of the Patent Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office, Henry III 1247-1258, Eds J G Black and R F Isaacson, (London: His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1908), 660, e-book Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/patentrollsreig00unkngoog/page/660/mode/1up : accessed 20 April 2022). [Fadera.] Fit sunt patentes.