Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd
Encyclopedia
Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd (Gwenllian, daughter of Gruffydd) (c. 1097–1136) was Princess-consort of Deheubarth in Wales, and married to Gruffydd ap Rhys
, Prince of Deheubarth. Gwenllian was the daughter of Gruffydd ap Cynan
(1055–1137), Prince of Gwynedd, and a member of the princely Aberffraw
family of Gwynedd. Gwenllian was the sister of Prince Owain Gwynedd
(died 1170). Gwenllian's "patriotic revolt" and subsequent death in battle at Kidwelly Castle contributed to the Great Revolt of 1136.
There are several notable artistic depictions of Gwenllian. However, she is often confused with Gwenllian ferch Llywelyn
, who lived two centuries later.
and his wife Angharad. She was born in 1097 on Ynys Môn
at the family seat
at Aberffraw
, and was the youngest of eight children; four older sisters, Mared, Rhiannell, Susanna, and Annest, and three older brothers, Cadwallon, Owain and Cadwaladr. Gwenllian grew to be strikingly beautiful, and after Gruffydd ap Rhys, the Prince of Deheubarth, ventured to Gwynedd
around 1113 to meet with her father, she and Deheubarth's prince became romantically involved and eloped.
Gwenllian joined her husband at his family seat of Dinefwr in Deheubarth. However, Deheubarth was struggling against the Norman invasion in south Wales, with Norman, English, and Flemish colonists in footholds through-out the country. While the conflict between the Normans and the Welsh continued, the princely family were often displaced, with Gwenllian joining her husband in mountainous and forested strongholds. From here, she and Gruffydd ap Rhys led retalitory strikes
against Norman-held positions in Deheubarth.
from succeeding her father to the English throne the prior year, sparking the Anarchy
in England. The usurpation and conflict it caused eroded central authority in England. The revolt began in south Wales, as Hywel ap Maredudd, lord of Brycheiniog
(Brecknockshire
), gathered his men and marched to the Gower
, defeating the Norman and English colonists there at the Battle of Llwchwr
. Inspired by Hywel of Brycheiniog's success, Gruffydd ap Rhys
hastened to meet with Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd, his father-in-law, to enlist his aid in the revolt.
While her husband was in Gwynedd seeking an alliance with her father against the Normans, Maurice of London and other Normans led raids against Deheubarth's Welsh, and Gwenllian was compelled to raise an army for their defense. In a battle fought near Kidwelly Castle
, Gwenllian's army was routed, and she was captured and beheaded by the Normans. In the battle her son Morgan was also slain and another son, Maelgwyn captured and executed.
Though defeated, her patriotic revolt inspired others in south Wales to rise. The Welsh of Gwent, led by Iowerth ab Owain (grandson of Caradog ap Gruffydd
, Gwent's Welsh ruler displaced by the Norman invasions), ambushed and slew Richard Fitz Gilbert
, the Norman lord who controlled Ceredigion
.
When word reached Gwynedd of Gwenllain's death and the revolt in Gwent, Gwenllian's brothers Owain and Cadwaladr invaded Norman controlled Ceredigion, taking Llanfihangel
, Aberystwyth
, and Llanbadarn.
and north of the town, is known as Maes Gwenllian (Welsh
, meaning 'Field of Gwenllian'). A spring in the field is also named after her, supposedly welling up on the spot where she was beheaded.
For centuries after her death, Welshmen cried-out Revenge for Gwenllian when engaging in battle. Additionally, Gwenllian and her husband harassed Norman, English, and Flemish colonists in Deheubarth, taking goods and money and redistributed them among the Deheubarth Welsh who were themselves dispossessed by those colonizers, like a pair of Robin Hood
s of Wales, as historian and author Philip Warner writes.
Gwenllian's youngest son went on to become a notable leader of Deheubarth, The Lord Rhys.
.
Gruffydd ap Rhys
Gruffydd ap Rhys was Prince of Deheubarth, in Wales. His sister was the Princess Nest ferch Rhys.-Early life:Following the death of Gruffydd's father Rhys ap Tewdwr in 1093, Deheubarth was taken over by the Normans, and Gruffydd spent much of his early years in exile in Ireland.In 1113 Gruffydd...
, Prince of Deheubarth. Gwenllian was the daughter of Gruffydd ap Cynan
Gruffydd ap Cynan
Gruffydd ap Cynan was a King of Gwynedd. In the course of a long and eventful life, he became a key figure in Welsh resistance to Norman rule, and was remembered as King of all Wales...
(1055–1137), Prince of Gwynedd, and a member of the princely Aberffraw
Aberffraw
Aberffraw is a small village and community on the south west coast of the Isle of Anglesey , in Wales, by the west bank of the River Ffraw, at . The UK postcode begins LL63. Access by road is by way of the A4080 and the nearest rail station is Bodorgan. In the early Middle Ages Aberffraw was the...
family of Gwynedd. Gwenllian was the sister of Prince Owain Gwynedd
Owain Gwynedd
Owain Gwynedd ap Gruffydd , in English also known as Owen the Great, was King of Gwynedd from 1137 until his death in 1170. He is occasionally referred to as "Owain I of Gwynedd"; and as "Owain I of Wales" on account of his claim to be King of Wales. He is considered to be the most successful of...
(died 1170). Gwenllian's "patriotic revolt" and subsequent death in battle at Kidwelly Castle contributed to the Great Revolt of 1136.
There are several notable artistic depictions of Gwenllian. However, she is often confused with Gwenllian ferch Llywelyn
Gwenllian of Wales
Gwenllian ferch Llywelyn was the only child of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Tywysog Cymru . She is sometimes confused with Gwenllian ferch Gruffudd, who lived two centuries earlier.- Lineage :...
, who lived two centuries later.
Early life
Gwenllian was the youngest daughter of Gruffudd ap Cynan, Prince of GwyneddKingdom of Gwynedd
Gwynedd was one petty kingdom of several Welsh successor states which emerged in 5th-century post-Roman Britain in the Early Middle Ages, and later evolved into a principality during the High Middle Ages. It was based on the former Brythonic tribal lands of the Ordovices, Gangani, and the...
and his wife Angharad. She was born in 1097 on Ynys Môn
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
at the family seat
Family seat
A seat or family seat is the principal residence of a family. The residence usually denotes the social, economic, political, or historic connection of the family within a given area. Some families took their dynasty name from their family seat , or named their family seat after their own dynasty...
at Aberffraw
Aberffraw
Aberffraw is a small village and community on the south west coast of the Isle of Anglesey , in Wales, by the west bank of the River Ffraw, at . The UK postcode begins LL63. Access by road is by way of the A4080 and the nearest rail station is Bodorgan. In the early Middle Ages Aberffraw was the...
, and was the youngest of eight children; four older sisters, Mared, Rhiannell, Susanna, and Annest, and three older brothers, Cadwallon, Owain and Cadwaladr. Gwenllian grew to be strikingly beautiful, and after Gruffydd ap Rhys, the Prince of Deheubarth, ventured to Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
around 1113 to meet with her father, she and Deheubarth's prince became romantically involved and eloped.
Gwenllian joined her husband at his family seat of Dinefwr in Deheubarth. However, Deheubarth was struggling against the Norman invasion in south Wales, with Norman, English, and Flemish colonists in footholds through-out the country. While the conflict between the Normans and the Welsh continued, the princely family were often displaced, with Gwenllian joining her husband in mountainous and forested strongholds. From here, she and Gruffydd ap Rhys led retalitory strikes
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
against Norman-held positions in Deheubarth.
The Great Revolt 1136
By 1136 an opportunity arose for the Welsh to recover lands lost to the Marcher lords when Stephen de Blois displaced his cousin Empress MatildaEmpress Matilda
Empress Matilda , also known as Matilda of England or Maude, was the daughter and heir of King Henry I of England. Matilda and her younger brother, William Adelin, were the only legitimate children of King Henry to survive to adulthood...
from succeeding her father to the English throne the prior year, sparking the Anarchy
The Anarchy
The Anarchy or The Nineteen-Year Winter was a period of English history during the reign of King Stephen, which was characterised by civil war and unsettled government...
in England. The usurpation and conflict it caused eroded central authority in England. The revolt began in south Wales, as Hywel ap Maredudd, lord of Brycheiniog
Brycheiniog
Brycheiniog was a small independent petty kingdom in South Wales in the Early Middle Ages. It often acted as a buffer state between England to the east and the powerful south Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth to the west. It was conquered and pacified by the Normans between 1088 and 1095, though it...
(Brecknockshire
Brecknockshire
Brecknockshire , also known as the County of Brecknock, Breconshire, or the County of Brecon is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, and a former administrative county.-Geography:...
), gathered his men and marched to the Gower
Gower (Lordship)
thumb|350px|right|Map of the Lordship, showing the area detached , the area added and the Town and Franchise of Swansea. The language boundary is shown as a dotted line....
, defeating the Norman and English colonists there at the Battle of Llwchwr
Battle of Llwchwr
The Battle of Llwchwr was a battle fought between Welsh and Norman forces between Loughor and Swansea on New Year's Day 1136.- Background :...
. Inspired by Hywel of Brycheiniog's success, Gruffydd ap Rhys
Gruffydd ap Rhys
Gruffydd ap Rhys was Prince of Deheubarth, in Wales. His sister was the Princess Nest ferch Rhys.-Early life:Following the death of Gruffydd's father Rhys ap Tewdwr in 1093, Deheubarth was taken over by the Normans, and Gruffydd spent much of his early years in exile in Ireland.In 1113 Gruffydd...
hastened to meet with Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd, his father-in-law, to enlist his aid in the revolt.
While her husband was in Gwynedd seeking an alliance with her father against the Normans, Maurice of London and other Normans led raids against Deheubarth's Welsh, and Gwenllian was compelled to raise an army for their defense. In a battle fought near Kidwelly Castle
Kidwelly Castle
Kidwelly Castle is an Norman castle overlooking the river Gwendraeth and the town of Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, Wales.The present remains of the castle include work from about 1200 to about 1476. Created as a defence against the Welsh, the castle fell to the Welsh several times in the twelfth...
, Gwenllian's army was routed, and she was captured and beheaded by the Normans. In the battle her son Morgan was also slain and another son, Maelgwyn captured and executed.
Though defeated, her patriotic revolt inspired others in south Wales to rise. The Welsh of Gwent, led by Iowerth ab Owain (grandson of Caradog ap Gruffydd
Caradog ap Gruffydd
Caradog ap Gruffydd was a Prince of Gwent in south-east Wales who made repeated attempts to gain power over all of southern Wales by seizing the Kingdom of Deheubarth.- Lineage :...
, Gwent's Welsh ruler displaced by the Norman invasions), ambushed and slew Richard Fitz Gilbert
Richard Fitz Gilbert
Richard fitz Gilbert , was a Norman lord who participated in the Norman conquest of England in 1066. He was also known as "de Bienfaite", "de Clare", and "de Tonbridge".-Biography:...
, the Norman lord who controlled Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
.
When word reached Gwynedd of Gwenllain's death and the revolt in Gwent, Gwenllian's brothers Owain and Cadwaladr invaded Norman controlled Ceredigion, taking Llanfihangel
Llanfihangel
Llanfihangel can refer to the following places in Wales:*Llanfihangel Aberbythych, Carmarthenshire*Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, Ceredigion*Llanfihangel-ar-Arth, Carmarthenshire*Llanfihangel Crucorney, Monmouthshire...
, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
, and Llanbadarn.
Gwenllian's legacy
Gwenllian's actions can be compared to another Celtic leader: Boadicea (Buddug). This is the only known example of a medieval period woman leading a Welsh army into battle. The field where the battle is believed to have taken place, close to Kidwelly CastleKidwelly Castle
Kidwelly Castle is an Norman castle overlooking the river Gwendraeth and the town of Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, Wales.The present remains of the castle include work from about 1200 to about 1476. Created as a defence against the Welsh, the castle fell to the Welsh several times in the twelfth...
and north of the town, is known as Maes Gwenllian (Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
, meaning 'Field of Gwenllian'). A spring in the field is also named after her, supposedly welling up on the spot where she was beheaded.
For centuries after her death, Welshmen cried-out Revenge for Gwenllian when engaging in battle. Additionally, Gwenllian and her husband harassed Norman, English, and Flemish colonists in Deheubarth, taking goods and money and redistributed them among the Deheubarth Welsh who were themselves dispossessed by those colonizers, like a pair of Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
s of Wales, as historian and author Philip Warner writes.
Gwenllian's youngest son went on to become a notable leader of Deheubarth, The Lord Rhys.
Authorship of the Mabinogi
The scholar Dr Andrew Breeze has argued that Gwenllian was the author of the Four Branches of the MabinogiHollywood interpretation
Hollywood studios are considering a script on Gwenllian as "The Female Braveheart", written by Welsh writer Jeff MurphyJeff Murphy
Jeffrey Murphy is a Major League Baseball bullpen catcher and catcher instructor for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was drafted by the Cardinals in the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft out of the University of Nebraska.-External links:...
.