Gwenllian ferch Gruffudd ap Cynan

Events

Date of Birth: unknown.

Date of Death: 1136.

Place of Death: Maes Gwenllian.

Gwenllian’s death in battle is described by Lloyd (2:470), Bridgeman (pp. 30-31) and Tout/Pryce (“Gruffudd ap Rhys”). The ultimate source is Giraldus Cambrensis (Itinerarium Kambriæ i. 9). The battle is probably also described by John of Worcester (Thorpe p. 97). The death is not mentioned in either Annales Cambriæ or Brut y Tywysogion.

Relationships

Father: Gruffudd ap Cynan ab Iago.

This relationship is shown by Bartrum (EVWG “Gruffudd ap Cynan 1”; EWGT), and given by Lloyd (2:464 n.7), and Tout/Pryce (ODNB “Rhys ap Gruffudd”).

Mother: Angharad ferch Owain ab Edwin.

This relationship is shown by Bartrum (EVWG “Gruffudd ap Cynan 1”; EWGT), and given by Lloyd (2:464 n.7), and Pryce (ODNB “Gruffudd ap Cynan”).

Spouse: Gruffudd ap Rhys ap Tewdwr.

This relationship is shown by Bartrum (EVWG “Gruffudd ap Cynan 1”, “Rhys ap Tewdwr 1”; EWGT), and given by Giraldus Cambrensis (Itinerarium Kambriæ i. 9), Lloyd (2:435, 2:470), and Tout/Pryce (ODNB “Gruffudd ap Rhys”).

Children:

(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. Most information below comes from Bartrum. Lloyd gives Maredudd, Rhys, Morgan, and Maelgwn as her sons.)

Morgan (died 1136).

Maelgwn (died 1136).

Owain.

Rhys Fychan married Margred.

Nest married Ifor Bach.

Gwladus married (1) Caradog ab Iestyn ap Gwrgan; married (2) Seisyll ap Dyfnwal.

child.

Maredudd (about 1130 - 1155).

Yr Arglwydd Rhys (about 1132 - 1197) married Gwenllian ferch Madog. Had many concubines.

References

Bartrum, Peter C (ed.) Early Welsh Genealogical Tracts. (Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1968).

The sources Bartrum gives for Gwenllian are:

Jesus College MS. 20 -- (dated to the first part of the 14th century):

24. “Rees gryc m. Rees mwynuawr m. Gruffudd m. Rees m. Tewdwr m. Cadell m. Einyawn m. Ewein m. Howel da m. Kadell m. Rodri mawr.”

25. “Rees gryc m. Rees mwynuawr m. Gwenlliant. Brodyr y Rees mwynuawr oedynt Maredud a Morgant a Maelgwn, meibon Gwenlliant merch Gruffud m. Kynan”);

Achau Brenhinoedd a Thywysogion Cymru (probably based on 15th century MSS):

5. Plant Gruffudd ap Kynan ap Iago ap Idwal ap Meurig

(a). “Ewain Gwynnedd a Chatwaladyr a Chatwallawn a Ranillt a Gwenlliant a Marfreda a Sussan ag Agnest. Angharat ferch Ywein ap Edwin eu mam.”

10. Gwehelyth Deheubarth: “Rrys ap Gruffudd ap Rrys ap Tewdwr [ap Cadell] ap Eynon ap Ewein ap Howel dda ap Kadell ap Rhodri. I vam oedd Wenllian verch Gruffudd ap Kynan ap Iago...”;

Bartrum, Peter C., “Rhys ap Tewdwr 1” and “Gruffudd ap Cynan” in An Electronic Version of Welsh Genealogies AD 300-1500.

The source Bartrum cites for Gwenllian is his own Early Welsh Genealogical Tracts.

Bridgeman, George T.O. History of the Princes of South Wales (Wigan: Thomas Birch, 1876).

Guy, Ben. Medieval Welsh Genealogy. (The Boydell Press, 2020).

From Guy’s critical edition of the Llywelyn ab Iorwerth genealogies, which were based on an archetype created no later than the first half of the fourteenth century from an original compilation dating to the early thirteenth century, partly based on earlier written sources (Note that Guy is striving for textual rather than genealogical accuracy):

15 Plant Gruffud ap Kynan:

15.1 Ewein a Chatwaladyr a Chatwallawn a Ranillt a Gwenlliant a <Maryreda> a Sussanna ag Agnest: Agharat ferch Ywein ap Edwin eu mam.

30.1.1. Gwenlliant ferch Gruffyd ap Kynan oed fam Rys ap Gruffud.

Thorpe, Benjamin (ed.), Florentii Wigorniensis Monachi Chronicon ex Chronicis Tomus II, (Londini: Sumptibus Societatis, M.DCCC.XLIX)

Giraldi Cambrensis. Opera, Volume VI: Itinerarium Kambriæ (James F. Dimock, ed.) (London: Longmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer, 1868).

Lloyd, John Edward, A History of Wales. 2 volumes (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1911-1912).

Oman, Sandra. “Gruffudd ap Rhys, Brenin of Cantref Mawr” in Tree: Wales. Welsh Medieval Database Primarily of Nobility and Gentry.

Pierce, Thomas Jones. “Gruffydd ap Rhys” in Welsh Biography Online.

Pryce, Huw. “Gruffudd ap Cynan” in The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004).

Tout, T.F. rev. Huw Pryce. “Gruffudd ap Rhys” in The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004).

Williams ab Ithel, John (ed.). Annales Cambriæ (London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts; 1860).

Williams ab Ithel, John (ed.). Brut y Tywysogion; or, The Chronicle of the Princes (London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts; 1860).