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Birth:          ABT 1100 of Caernarvonshire, Wales
Death:          1136 

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwenllian_ferch_Gruffydd
Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd (Gwenllian, daughter of Gruffydd, c. 1100 – 1136) was 
Princess consort of Deheubarth in Wales, and married to Gruffydd ap Rhys, Prince of 
Deheubarth. Gwenllian was the daughter of Gruffudd ap Cynan (1055–1137), Prince of 
Gwynedd and Angharad ferch Owain, and a member of the princely Aberffraw family of 
Gwynedd. 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, often depicting her with a 
sword in hand, or riding a chariot into battle in the style of Boudicca. She is sometimes 
confused with Gwenllian ferch Llywelyn, who lived two centuries later.
Early life[edit]

Gwenllian was the youngest daughter of Gruffudd ap Cynan, Prince of Gwynedd, and 
his wife, Angharad. She was born 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[1] and Cadwaladr. She was the 
great-great-great-granddaughter of Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig, High King of Ireland.
[2]

Gwenllian grew to be strikingly beautiful. After Gruffydd ap Rhys, the Prince of 
Deheubarth, ventured to Gwynedd around 1113 to meet her father, Gwenllian and 
Deheubarth's prince became romantically involved and eloped.[3] Gwenllian and 
Gruffydd had the following children:[1]
Morgan ap Gruffydd (c. 1116, Carmarthenshire – 1136)
Maelgwyn ap Gruffydd (c. 1119, Carmarthenshire – 1136?)
Rhys "Fychan" ap Gruffydd (c. 1132, Dynevor Castle, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire – 
after 24 April 1197)

Gwenllian joined her husband at his family seat of Dinefwr in Deheubarth. Deheubarth 
was struggling against the Norman invasion in South Wales, with Norman, English, 
and Flemish colonists in footholds throughout 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.[3] From here, 
she and Gruffydd ap Rhys led retalitory strikes, aka "lightning raids" against Norman-
held positions in Deheubarth.[3]

The Great Revolt 1136[edit]

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 year prior, sparking the Anarchy in England.[4][5] The 
usurpation and conflict it caused eroded central authority in England.[4] 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.[3][4] 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.[4]

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 defence.[4][6][7] In a battle 
fought near Kidwelly Castle, Gwenllian's army was routed, she was captured in battle 
and beheaded by the Normans.[4] 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.[4] 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 de Clare, the Norman lord who controlled Ceredigion.[4]

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.[4]

Gwenllian's legacy[edit]

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: Field of Gwenllian). 
A spring in the field is also named after her, supposedly welling up on the spot where 
she died.

For centuries after her death, Welshmen cried-out Revenge for Gwenllian when 
engaging in battle.[3] Gwenllian and her husband also 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.[3]

Gwenllian's youngest son went on to become a notable leader of Deheubarth, The 
Lord Rhys.

Authorship of the Mabinogi[edit]

The scholar Dr Andrew Breeze has argued that Gwenllian could have been the author 
of the Four Branches of the Mabinogi.[8]

Parents
AP CYNAN Gruffydd (1055 - 1137)
VERCH OWAIN Angharad (ABT 1065 - 1162)

Siblings
AP GRUFFYDD Owain "Gwynedd" (1087 - 23 Nov 1170)
VERCH GRUFFYDD Susanna (1095 - )
VERCH GRUFFYDD Gwenllian II (ABT 1100 - 1136)

Marriage To AP RHYS Gruffudd (ABT 1081 - 1137)
    m.  

Notes

Parents
AP TEWDYR Rhys (ABT 1010 - 1093)
VERCH RHIWALLON Gwladus (ABT 1041 - )

Children by AP RHYS Gruffudd ABT 1081 - 1137
AP GRUFFYDD Rhys (1132 - AFT 24 Apr 1197)

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