Gwenllian of Wales

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Gwenllian ferch Llywelyn (circa June 19, 1282-June 7, 1337) was the daughter of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. She is sometimes confused with Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd, who lived two centuries earlier.

She was born at the royal home Garth Celyn, (now known as Pen y Bryn, Abergwyngregyn)Abergwyngregyn near Bangor, Gwynedd on or about June 19, 1282. Her mother was Llywelyn's wife, Eleanor de Montfort, who died 'in childbirth' on 19 June.

Just a few months after Gwenllian's birth, her father Llewelyn was murdered, on 11 December 1282, in a plot set up by the king of England through the assistance of the Mortimer Brothers. Her uncle, Dafydd ap Gruffydd, assumed guardianship of Gwenllian. Dafydd and his family were captured in June 1282, at Bera Mountain in the uplands above Garth Celyn; he was taken to Edward and then executed at Shrewsbury.

Though Edward allowed Llywelyn's daughter and Dafydd's children to live, he ensured that none of them would be a challenge to his conquest of independant Wales by placing the boys in captivity and the girls in convents. Gwenllian was placed in the Gilbertine priory at Sempringham. The title of Prince of Wales was given to the future Edward II of England who was the eldest son and heir of his namesake father Edward Longshanks (see the movie Braveheart for a portrayal of Edward in Scotland).

The boys were kept secure prisoners in Bristol Castle till their deaths.

In committing the children to a convent, Edward's aim was not only to prevent them from marrying and having children who might claim the principality, but he sought to hide them from the outside world. He chose the Gilbertines in Lincolnshire both because of their remote location and because they were an order with large communities, where the children would not stand out so much. His grandson, King Edward III, endowed Gwenllian with a pension of £20 per year — a very large sum at that time. Gwenllian remained at the priory the rest of her life — a total of 54 years. Her death was recorded by the priory's chronicler Piers Langtoft.

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 convent at Sempringham.

Part of the royal home Garth Celyn, Aber, is now under the care and protection of the charitable organisation the Aber Trust / Ymddiriedolaeth Aber. http://www.llywelyn.co.uk