Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd

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.

Contents

Early life

Gwenllian was the youngest daughter of Gruffudd ap Cynan, Prince of Gwynedd 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.[1]

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.[1] From here, she and Gruffydd ap Rhys led retalitory strikes against Norman-held positions in Deheubarth.[1]

The Great Revolt 1136

See also: Wales and the Normans: 1067–1283

By 1136 an opportunity arose for the Welsh to recover lands lost to the Marcher lords when Stephen de Blois displaced his cousin Empress Matilda from succeeding her father to the English throne the prior year, sparking the Anarchy in England.[2][3] The usurpation and conflict it caused eroded central authority in England.[2] 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.[1][2] 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.[2]

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.[2][4][5] In a battle fought near Kidwelly Castle, Gwenllian's army was routed, and she was captured and beheaded by the Normans.[2] 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.[2] 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.[2]

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.[2]

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 Castle 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.[1] 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 Hoods of Wales, as historian and author Philip Warner writes.[1]

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 Mabinogi

Hollywood interpretation

Hollywood studios are considering a script on Gwenllian as "The Female Braveheart", written by Welsh writer Jeff Murphy.

Sources

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Warner, Philip, Famous Welsh Battles, pg 79, 1997, Barnes and Noble, INC.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lloyd, J.E. A History of Wales; From the Norman Invasion to the Edwardian Conquest, Barnes & Noble Publishing, Inc. 2004, pp. 80, 82-85
  3. ^ Davies, John, A History of Wales, Penguin, 1994, p. 124
  4. ^ Kidwelly Castle by C.A. Ralegh Radford
  5. ^ From Kidwelly Castle by C.A. Ralegh Radford: "The account speaks of Maurice de Londres, Lord of Kidwelly, and Geoffrey, Constable of the Bishop, as leaders of the Norman army. Maurice, who is mentioned for the first time in connection with this district, already possessed Ogmore in Glamorgan, where his father William de Londres appears to have been one of the original conquerors. The coupling of the two names suggests that Roger of Salisbury, while retaining possession of the castle, had granted the lordship of the district to Maurice de Londres, who probably acquired the castle also when the bishop died in the following year."