Llywelyn Fawr 1173-1240
Who was Llywelyn Fawr?
Honorary titles can sometimes encompass the personality of a man or woman, and the welsh have the ability to create them like no other. In considering the welsh prince titles, there is one that stands out, Llywelyn Fawr. Although the name has great affect in welsh, the english translation has greater impact “Llywelyn the Great”. How did this man receive his title and how much influence did his wife Siwan have on the decisions he made?
The play, Siwan written by Saunders Lewis brings her character to the forefront, with the love triangle between Siwan, Llywelyn and Gwilym Brewys. Since the play, historical records and archaeology have been discovered that change the view of Llywelyn’s Wales forever. Wales in the period of Llywelyn the great changed immensely. Siwan’s correct name was Joan, and she was the illegitimate child of King John of England, and welsh law was changed for her benefit. At court (whose language was french), Llywelyn changed the method of inheritance and the line of succession to the Prince of Gwynedd. Not Gruffudd, his eldest illegitimate son who took the title, but his youngest legitimate son Dafydd. This was contrary to welsh tradition.
External influences from England affected Llywelyn’s world. The castles at Criccieth and Dolwyddelan used the rudiments of English castles but with a totally unique method of construction.
Llywelyn’s vision was definitely extensive, and with the entwining of Wales within the modern English world, he created a very different world to what existed before.
In the end Llywelyn’s work was futile. After his death, Dafydd became prince but the English immediately took advantage of the situation. Dafydd lost an extensive amount of territory and his brother Gruffudd was imprisoned. Dafydd tried to rescue his brother from the Tower of London but Gruffudd died in the attempt. Two years later, Dafydd died himself from a serious illness in which he lost his hair and nails.