Dafydd ap Gruffydd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dafydd ap Gruffydd |
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| Prince of Wales, Prince of Aberffraw and Lord of Snowdon | |
Coat of Arms of Dafydd ap Gruffydd
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| Prince of Wales | |
| Reign | 1282–1283 |
| Predecessor | Llywelyn ap Gruffudd |
| Successor | Owain Glyndŵr |
| Born | 11 July 1238 Gwynedd, Wales |
| Died | 3 October 1283 (aged 45) Shrewsbury, England |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Ferrers |
| Issue | Llywelyn ap Dafydd Owain ap Dafydd Gwladys ferch Dafydd |
| House | Aberffraw |
| Father | Gruffudd ap Llywelyn ab Iorwerth |
| Mother | Senena ferch Caradog |
Dafydd ap Gruffydd (born 11 July 1238 – died 3 October 1283) was a Prince of Wales. He held this important title from December 1282 until his death in October 1283. King Edward I of England ordered his execution.
Dafydd was the very last native Welsh prince to rule Wales before England took control in 1283. After him, Wales was ruled by England for a long time. Later, Owain Glyndŵr also claimed the title during a Welsh uprising in the 1400s.
Contents
Early Life of Prince Dafydd
Dafydd was a prince from the Kingdom of Gwynedd in Wales. He was the younger son of Gruffudd ap Llywelyn and his wife, Senena. This made him the grandson of the famous Welsh ruler, Llywelyn the Great.
When he was young, in 1241, Dafydd and his younger brother, Rhodri, were given to King Henry III of England as hostages. This was part of a peace agreement. By 1252, Dafydd was old enough to be considered an adult under Welsh law. He began to rule the area of Cymydmaen, located on the Llŷn Peninsula.
Family Conflicts and Alliances
Dafydd's life was full of changes in loyalty. In 1255, he joined his brother, Owain, to fight against their older brother, Llywelyn. But Llywelyn won the battle and put Dafydd in prison. Luckily, Llywelyn released him the next year and they became friends again.
In 1263, Dafydd even joined King Henry III of England to attack his own brother, Llywelyn. However, after Llywelyn was recognized as Prince of Wales in 1267, Dafydd once again made peace with him.
Later, in 1274, Dafydd changed sides again. He joined Edward I of England (King Henry's son) to challenge Llywelyn. But by 1277, after a peace agreement called the Treaty of Aberconwy, Dafydd and Llywelyn finally became friends for good.
Dafydd ap Gruffydd married Lady Elizabeth Ferrers sometime after 1265. She was the daughter of a powerful English earl. Through this marriage, Dafydd gained some land in England.
Struggle for Welsh Independence
On Easter in 1282, Dafydd ap Gruffydd attacked Hawarden Castle. This attack started the final big war between Wales and England. This war eventually led to Wales losing its independence.
A church leader, Archbishop John Peckham, tried to stop the war. He suggested that Llywelyn should give up his land in Wales and get land in England instead. He also suggested that Dafydd should go on a religious journey (a crusade). But both Welsh princes refused these offers.
In December 1282, Dafydd's older brother, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, was killed by the English. Many believe it was a trap. After Llywelyn's death, Dafydd became the new Prince of Wales. He held this title for about 10 months.
The Final Stand
By January 1283, King Edward I of England brought a huge army to surround Dafydd's stronghold in Snowdonia. Dafydd first operated from Dolwyddelan Castle. He was supported by other Welsh leaders who had lost their lands.
With limited soldiers and supplies, Dafydd had to keep moving. He went from Dolwyddelan to Castell y Bere. In April, Castell y Bere was surrounded by over 3,000 English soldiers. The small Welsh group inside had to surrender.
Dafydd managed to escape and moved north to Dolbadarn Castle. This castle was a guard post in the mountains near Snowdon. In May 1283, he had to move again, this time hiding in the mountains above the Welsh royal home in Abergwyngregyn.
He and his few followers hid in secret places, suffering from hunger and cold. He eventually retreated to a boggy area called Nanhysglain, near Bera Mountain. He was there with his wife, two sons, and seven daughters. Sadly, his hiding place was betrayed by some people who knew him.
Capture and Execution
On 22 June 1283, Dafydd and his younger son, Owain ap Dafydd, were captured at Nanhysglain. Dafydd was badly hurt during the struggle. He was taken to King Edward's camp that same night. From there, he was moved to Chester and then to Shrewsbury.
Dafydd's wife, Elizabeth, their daughter Gwladys, and his infant niece Gwenllian ferch Llywelyn were also captured. His six other daughters were taken prisoner too. It's likely they were all together when Dafydd was found.
A few days later, on 28 June, Dafydd's older son, Llywelyn ap Dafydd, was also captured. King Edward was very happy. He announced that the last of the "treacherous lineage" of Welsh princes was now caught. With Dafydd's capture, Welsh resistance to the English invasion stopped for a while. King Edward called a special meeting in Shrewsbury to decide Dafydd's fate.
On 30 September, Dafydd ap Gruffudd, Prince of Wales, was sentenced to death. He was the first person in history to be tried and executed for what was then called "high treason" against the King. His death was also historic because he was the first important person to be executed in a very harsh way. This happened on 3 October 1283.
Aftermath for Dafydd's Family
Dafydd's daughter, Gwladys, was sent to a convent in England, where she died in 1336. His sons were both imprisoned at Bristol Castle. Llywelyn ap Dafydd died there in 1287 or 1288. Owain ap Dafydd was last known to be alive in 1325.
Even after Dafydd's death, some members of the Welsh royal family survived. One relative, Madog ap Llywelyn, led another big Welsh revolt in 1294–95.
