Gwenllian of Wales
Encyclopedia
Gwenllian ferch Llywelyn (June 1282
– 7 June 1337
) was the only child of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Tywysog Cymru (Prince of Wales). She is sometimes confused with Gwenllian ferch Gruffudd, who lived two centuries earlier.
royal home in Abergwyngregyn
near Bangor
, Gwynedd
. Lady Gwenllian's mother, Eleanor de Montfort
, Lady of Wales, died during childbirth, or shortly after on 19 June 1282. She was descended from dual Royal bloodlines; not only was she the daughter of the Welsh Prince of Wales
, but her maternal great grandfather was King John
of England.
. On 11 December 1282 her father, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, was lured into Builth Castle
, ostensibly to sign a treaty, but he was captured there and put to death. Gwenllian's uncle, Dafydd ap Gruffudd, assumed her guardianship, but on 21 June 1283 he was captured with his family at Nanhysglain, a secret hiding place in a bog by Bera Mawr
in the uplands of North Wales. Dafydd, severely injured, was taken to Rhuddlan
, then moved under guard to Shrewsbury
, where he was later executed.
, and never allowed freedom. It has been speculated that the girls were taken to Lincolnshire from Gwynedd by sea.
Gwenllian was placed in the Gilbertine Priory at Sempringham
, where she was held behind high walls until her death fifty-four years later. In committing her to a convent, Edward's aim was not only to prevent her from marrying and having sons who might lay claim to the Principality of Wales, but also to hide her away, unknown to the outside world. He chose the Gilbertines in Lincolnshire because of their remote location in the fenlands and because they were an order in which nuns were hidden from view behind high walls. Gwenllian's royal rank was acknowledged at least once by the English Crown. When writing to the Pope, attempting to secure more money for the Sempringham priory from the Church, the English King stated that "...herein is kept the daughter of the Prince of Wales
, whom we have to maintain."
Having been taken from her native land so young, Gwenllian never learned any Welsh. Documents indicate that the priory record-keepers were not even sure how to spell her name correctly; she is listed as "Wencilian" and was herself shown to have signed her name "Wentliane".
, Edward I's grandson, endowed Gwenllian with a pension of £20 per year; this was not money for her personally, simply a sum paid on her behalf to the priory in respect of her food and clothing. Her death there was recorded by the priory's chronicler in June 1337, a few days before her 55th birthday.
, where they were held prisoner; Llywelyn ap Dafydd
died there in 1287, four years after his capture, and was buried in the Dominican Church; Owain ap Dafydd
survived his brother; the King of England ordered a cage made of timber, bound with iron, in which to hold Owain ap Dafydd more securely at night. Owain was never released from imprisonment.
King Edward I
took the title of "Prince of Wales" for the Crown, bestowing it upon his son, Edward, who was crowned in Caernarfon
in 1301 at the age of seventeen. Since then the title has been that of the heir apparent
to the English crown to this day.
11th century in Wales
This article is about the particular significance of the century 1000 - 1099 to Wales and its people.-Events:1005*Aeddan ap Blegywryd succeeds Cynan ab Hywel as Prince of Gwynedd.1018...
– 7 June 1337
14th century in Wales
This article is about the particular significance of the century 1300 - 1399 to Wales and its people.-Princes of Wales:*Edward of Caernarfon *Edward, the Black Prince...
) was the only child of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Tywysog Cymru (Prince of Wales). She is sometimes confused with Gwenllian ferch Gruffudd, who lived two centuries earlier.
Lineage
Gwenllian was born in the WelshWales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
royal home in Abergwyngregyn
Abergwyngregyn
Abergwyngregyn is a village of historical note in Gwynedd, a county and principal area in Wales. Under its historic name of Aber Garth Celyn it was the seat of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd....
near Bangor
Bangor, Wales
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. It is a university city with a population of 13,725 at the 2001 census, not including around 10,000 students at Bangor University. Including nearby Menai Bridge on Anglesey, which does not however form part of...
, 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...
. Lady Gwenllian's mother, Eleanor de Montfort
Eleanor de Montfort
Eleanor de Montfort, Princess of Wales and Lady of Snowdon was a daughter of Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester and Eleanor of England. She was also the first woman who can be shown to have used the title Princess of Wales....
, Lady of Wales, died during childbirth, or shortly after on 19 June 1282. She was descended from dual Royal bloodlines; not only was she the daughter of the Welsh Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
, but her maternal great grandfather was King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
of England.
At the mercy of King Edward I
A few months after Gwenllian's birth, north Wales was encircled by the English army of King Edward IEdward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
. On 11 December 1282 her father, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, was lured into Builth Castle
Builth Castle
Builth Castle was a castle built under King Edward I, today an abandoned site just outside Builth Wells, Powys, Wales.Construction started in May 1277 and continued until August 1282, when the castle was left unfinished for lack of money. It replaced an earlier castle built by the Marcher baron...
, ostensibly to sign a treaty, but he was captured there and put to death. Gwenllian's uncle, Dafydd ap Gruffudd, assumed her guardianship, but on 21 June 1283 he was captured with his family at Nanhysglain, a secret hiding place in a bog by Bera Mawr
Bera Mawr
Bera Mawr is a summit in the Carneddau mountains in north Wales, height 794 metres. It and Bera Bach are together known as the Berau, or northern Carneddau. The summit is a large rock tor, characteristic of the western Carneddau...
in the uplands of North Wales. Dafydd, severely injured, was taken to Rhuddlan
Rhuddlan
Rhuddlan is a town and community in the county of Denbighshire , in north Wales. It is situated to the south of the coastal town of Rhyl and overlooks the River Clwyd. The town gave its name to the Welsh district of Rhuddlan from 1974 to 1996...
, then moved under guard to Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
, where he was later executed.
Confinement for fifty years
Gwenllian and the daughters of her uncle Dafydd ap Gruffudd were all confined for life in remote priories in LincolnshireLincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, and never allowed freedom. It has been speculated that the girls were taken to Lincolnshire from Gwynedd by sea.
Gwenllian was placed in the Gilbertine Priory at Sempringham
Sempringham
Sempringham is a hamlet in Lincolnshire, England that is located north of Bourne, on the Lincolnshire fen edge. Sempringham is now a very small hamlet consisting of a church, a house and a well, giving little clue to the history embodied within its parish boundary. Most of its houses are a...
, where she was held behind high walls until her death fifty-four years later. In committing her to a convent, Edward's aim was not only to prevent her from marrying and having sons who might lay claim to the Principality of Wales, but also to hide her away, unknown to the outside world. He chose the Gilbertines in Lincolnshire because of their remote location in the fenlands and because they were an order in which nuns were hidden from view behind high walls. Gwenllian's royal rank was acknowledged at least once by the English Crown. When writing to the Pope, attempting to secure more money for the Sempringham priory from the Church, the English King stated that "...herein is kept the daughter of the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
, whom we have to maintain."
Having been taken from her native land so young, Gwenllian never learned any Welsh. Documents indicate that the priory record-keepers were not even sure how to spell her name correctly; she is listed as "Wencilian" and was herself shown to have signed her name "Wentliane".
Old age and death
Edward III of EnglandEdward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
, Edward I's grandson, endowed Gwenllian with a pension of £20 per year; this was not money for her personally, simply a sum paid on her behalf to the priory in respect of her food and clothing. Her death there was recorded by the priory's chronicler in June 1337, a few days before her 55th birthday.
Fate of her male cousins
Dafydd's two young sons, heirs to the Principality or Kingdom of Wales, were taken to Bristol CastleBristol Castle
Bristol Castle was a Norman castle built for the defence of Bristol. Remains can be seen today in Castle Park near the Broadmead Shopping Centre, including the sally port.-History:...
, where they were held prisoner; Llywelyn ap Dafydd
Llywelyn ap Dafydd
Llywelyn ap Dafydd , de jure Prince of Gwynedd , was the eldest son of Dafydd ap Gruffydd the last free ruler of Gwynedd and his wife Elizabeth Ferrers. Nothing is known of his early life, though it is thought he was probably born some time around 1267...
died there in 1287, four years after his capture, and was buried in the Dominican Church; Owain ap Dafydd
Owain ap Dafydd
Owain ap Dafydd , de jure Prince of Gwynedd , was the younger son of Dafydd ap Gruffydd the last free ruler of Gwynedd and self-proclaimed Prince of Wales...
survived his brother; the King of England ordered a cage made of timber, bound with iron, in which to hold Owain ap Dafydd more securely at night. Owain was never released from imprisonment.
King Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
took the title of "Prince of Wales" for the Crown, bestowing it upon his son, Edward, who was crowned in Caernarfon
Caernarfon
Caernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
in 1301 at the age of seventeen. Since then the title has been that of the heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
to the English crown to this day.
Gwenllian in later culture
- Gwenllian has been immortalised at least twice in poetry. "Gwenllian", by T. James Jones, was inspired by the site of her memorial stone. "In Sempringham" is by Mererid Hopwood. Hopwood is notable for being the first woman ever to win the Chair at the National Eistedfodd, Wales' top honour for poetry.
- Gwenllian is also the subject of "Gwenllian's Lament," also called "Gwenllian's Cradlesong," a song composed by Toby Griffen.
- On 26 September 2009, Carnedd Uchaf, in the Carneddeau mountain range in SnowdoniaSnowdoniaSnowdonia is a region in north Wales and a national park of in area. It was the first to be designated of the three National Parks in Wales, in 1951.-Name and extent:...
, was formally renamed Carnedd Gwenllian in memory of this lost princess of Wales following a lengthy campaign by the Princess Gwenllian Society. The Ordnance SurveyOrdnance SurveyOrdnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
added the names Carnedd Uchaf / Carnedd Gwenllian on its maps to be published from 2010 onwards. The original name of Garnedd Uchaf, which is within the Bounds of Abergwyngregyn, is Garnedd Lladron. - A plaque has also been placed at the summit of Mt Snowdon itself
Primary source references
- Calendar of Patent Rolls, 1281-92, 321 ((Inquiry of 1289 concerning the custody of the Welsh royal children)
- Calendar of Papal Letters, ii, 185, 273
- Calendar of Memoranda Rolls, 1226-7, no. 2160
- Calendar of Close Rolls, 1327-30, 65, 175, 273, 322, 438
- Public Record Office, London E101/351/9 (Letter, noting provision made for the needs of the Welsh royal children, 11 November 1283)
- Calendar Ancient Petitions, 458 (letter from Gwenllian)
- Robert ManningRobert MannyngRobert Manning was an English chronicler and Gilbertine monk. Mannyng provides a surprising amount of information about himself in his two known works, Handlyng Synne and a Chronicle...
(a canon at Sempringham then at Sixhills) see The Works of Thomas Hearne, 4 vols (London, 1810) - Annales Prioratus de Dunstaplia, 293-4
- Accounts of Bristol Castle
External links
- The Princess Gwenllian Society has been formed in honour of this princess, and a memorial to her has been erected on the site of the former priory at SempringhamSempringhamSempringham is a hamlet in Lincolnshire, England that is located north of Bourne, on the Lincolnshire fen edge. Sempringham is now a very small hamlet consisting of a church, a house and a well, giving little clue to the history embodied within its parish boundary. Most of its houses are a...
. - The Aber Trust / Ymddiriedolaeth Aber owns and is restoring the gatehouse at AbergwyngregynAbergwyngregynAbergwyngregyn is a village of historical note in Gwynedd, a county and principal area in Wales. Under its historic name of Aber Garth Celyn it was the seat of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd....
. - Castles of Wales has a page dedicated to Gwenllian, including photographs of her own memorial and that of her father.