Gwladys ferch Dafydd

For other people of this name, see Gwladys (disambiguation).

Gwladys ferch Dafydd was the daughter of Dafydd ap Gruffudd, the last free Prince of Wales, and Elizabeth Ferrers. She probably spent most of her early life in the company of her father in England and Gwynedd.

Upon the death of his brother Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, on 10 December 1282, Dafydd ap Gruffydd briefly took over as Prince of Wales. Hearing the news, Edward I gathered his forces to unseat the newly named prince. Dafydd, his family and a few stalwart supports went into hiding in the forests of Snowdonia. Sensing a losing effort, most of his countrymen gave up hope of continuing the Gwynedd regime. In June 1283, Gwladys was arrested with her father, mother, brothers (Llywelyn and Owain) and sisters.[1]

Dafydd was hanged, drawn and quartered for treason. Dafydd's sons were imprisoned. Gwladys was dispatched to the Gilbertine convent in Sixhills, Lincolnshire, as a young child. Edward I ordered annual payment of 20 pounds for Gwladys' upkeep at the Sixhills convent, where she spent the remainder of her life. She is thought to have died there in 1336, outliving her brothers.[2] She is known to have had sisters, who were illegitimate. Their names and fates are unknown,[3][4] but Edward I considered sending them to Lincolnshire convents.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Youde, J; Lloyd, W (1881). The History of the Princes, the Lords Marcher, and the Ancient Nobility of Powys Fadog 1. London: T. Richards. pp. 188–192.
  2. ↑ Page, W (editor). "Houses of the Gilbertine order: The priory of Sixhills, A History of the County of Lincoln" 2. pp. 194–195. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  3. ↑ "Princes of Gynedd - The Successors". Betws-y-Coed & District Tourism Association. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
  4. ↑ Kathryn Warner (2007–2010). "Donald of Mar: a Scottish Earl and his Loyalty to Edward II". Edward II events, issues and personalities of his reign, 1307-1327. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  5. ↑ Redford, Jill Elizabeth (2010) An edition of the cartulary of Alvingham Priory (Oxford, Bodleian Library, Laud Misc. 642). PhD thesis, University of York.