Eleanor de Montfort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eleanor de Montfort |
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| Princess of Wales | |
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| Born | 1252 |
| Died | 19 June 1282 (aged 29–30) Aber Garth Celyn, Gwynedd, Wales |
| Spouse | Llywelyn ap Gruffudd |
| Issue | Gwenllian of Wales Princess Catherine |
| House | Montfort |
| Father | Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester |
| Mother | Eleanor of England |
Eleanor de Montfort (born 1252 – died June 19, 1282) was an important English noblewoman who became a Welsh Princess. She was the daughter of Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester and Eleanor of England. Eleanor was also one of the first women known to use the title Princess of Wales.
Contents
Who Was Eleanor de Montfort?
Eleanor de Montfort was born into a powerful family in 1252. Her mother, Eleanor of England, was the daughter of King John and Queen Isabella. This made Eleanor de Montfort a niece of King Henry III of England.
Eleanor's Family Connections
Eleanor's family had many royal connections. Her mother's brother was King Henry III of England. Her mother's sister, Joan, was married to the Prince of Wales, Llywelyn the Great. This shows how connected her family was to both English and Welsh royalty.
A Difficult Childhood
When Eleanor was only 13 years old, a terrible event happened. Her father, Simon de Montfort, and her brother, Henry, were both killed. This happened at the Battle of Evesham on August 4, 1265. After this, Eleanor's family had to leave England for their safety. Her mother took Eleanor to a safe place, a nunnery in France called Montargis.
Eleanor's Marriage to Llywelyn ap Gruffudd
Even after her father's death, there was a plan for Eleanor to marry Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the Prince of Wales. This marriage had been agreed upon by her father before he died.
A Marriage by Proxy
Eleanor's mother passed away in the spring of 1275. Soon after, Eleanor de Montfort married Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. This was done by a "proxy marriage," which means someone stood in for Llywelyn during the ceremony. This type of marriage was allowed by church law at the time.
Capture and Imprisonment
After her proxy marriage, Eleanor tried to travel from France to Wales by sea. She wanted to avoid going through England, which was ruled by her cousin, King Edward I.
Captured at Sea
However, the ships carrying Eleanor and her group were captured. This happened off the coast of the Isles of Scilly by sailors from Bristol. King Edward I had arranged for her capture. Eleanor was then taken to Windsor Castle and held prisoner there for almost three years.
Release and Formal Wedding
Eleanor was finally released in 1278. This happened after King Edward I and Llywelyn ap Gruffudd signed an agreement called the Treaty of Aberconwy. After her release, Eleanor and Llywelyn had a formal wedding. It took place at the cathedral in Worcester on a special feast day in 1278. King Edward I, her cousin, even gave her away at the wedding and paid for the celebration.
After the wedding, Eleanor became officially known as the Princess of Wales and Lady of Snowdon.
Eleanor's Later Life and Legacy
Eleanor and Llywelyn had one daughter together, named Gwenllian of Wales.
Eleanor's Death
Eleanor died on June 19, 1282, while giving birth to her daughter. This happened at the royal palace in Abergwyngregyn, Wales. Her body was taken to a special church called the Franciscan Friary at Llanfaes, Anglesey. This friary had been built by Llywelyn the Great, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd's grandfather, in memory of his wife, Joan (who was Eleanor's aunt).
The Fate of Her Daughter
Sadly, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd was killed a few months later, in December 1282. His one-year-old daughter, Gwenllian, was captured by English forces the next year. King Edward I sent Gwenllian to a faraway place called Sempringham Priory in Lincolnshire, England. She stayed there for the rest of her life, until she died in 1337.
Images for kids
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Eleanor de Montfort, Princess of Wales.
