Goronwy ap Tudur Hen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Goronwy ap Tudur Hen
Tomb of Goronwy ap Tudur Hen at St Gredifael's Church, Penmynydd
Born	c. early 14th century
Died	11 December 1331
Resting place	Bangor, Gwynedd
Other names	Goronwy ap Tudur Goronwy Fychan
Occupation	Welsh noble
Title	Lord of Penmynydd
Spouse(s)	Gwerfyl ferch Madog of Hendwr
Children	Hywel ap Goronwy Tudur ap Goronwy Gruffydd ap Goronwy

Goronwy ap Tudur Hen (died 1331) was an important Welsh noble. He was also known as Goronwy ap Tudur or Goronwy Fychan. He was the Lord of Penmynydd in Anglesey, North Wales.

Goronwy was a member of the Tudor family. This family later became very famous. He was a direct ancestor of Owen Tudor. Owen Tudor's grandson, Henry VII of England, started the Royal House of Tudor. Goronwy was a soldier who fought for the English king. He took part in the First War of Scottish Independence. This included the English invasion that led to the Battle of Bannockburn. He stayed loyal to King Edward II of England until the king died. He was also a yeoman (a royal servant) and a forester in Snowdon. After he died in 1331, he was buried in Llanfaes Friary near Bangor, Gwynedd.

Who Was Goronwy's Family?

Goronwy ap Tudur Hen was one of three sons. His father was a Welsh noble named Tudur Hen (Tudur the Elder). His mother was Anghared fil Ithel Fychan. His brothers were Madog ap Tudur Hen and Hywel ap Tudur Hen.

Tudur Hen first served Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. Llywelyn was the last King of Gwynedd. After King Edward I of England conquered Wales, Tudur kept his titles. But during a rebellion led by Madog ap Llywelyn, Tudur helped Madog. When the rebellion failed, Tudur promised his loyalty to King Edward.

When Tudur died in 1311, his lands went to Goronwy. This was made easier by English property laws.

Goronwy: A Soldier for the King

Goronwy ap Tudur Hen was the Lord of Penmynydd. He was also a soldier who served the English king. In 1314, he joined King Edward II of England to invade Scotland. This was part of the First War of Scottish Independence. He fought at the Battle of Bannockburn in June of that year.

In 1316, a rebellion started in Glamorgan. It was led by Llywelyn Bren. At the same time, King Edward was fighting in Scotland. People were not worried the rebellion would spread to North Wales. Instead, royal officials worried about an invasion from Ireland. About 1,500 soldiers were called from the area to help the King. Goronwy ap Tudur Hen was one of the leaders of these troops. The troops went to Chester. On August 4, 1316, they were sent back to North Wales. This was to protect the area from the Irish threat.

Goronwy and his troops were called to serve the King again in 1319. They were needed to take back Berwick. Scottish forces had captured it a year earlier. Most of the soldiers from Wales came from the southern Marcher Lords. But Goronwy, Gruffudd Llwyd, and Hywel ap Gruffudd ap Geruath led those from North Wales. Around this time, Goronwy became a yeoman (a royal servant) of the king. He was also made a forester of Snowdon. He stayed loyal to Edward II. After Edward II died, Goronwy continued to serve King Edward III.

Goronwy married Gwerfyl ferch Madog. She was the daughter of Madog ap Iorwerth, the 3rd Baron of Hendwr. Goronwy and Gwerfyl had three sons: Tudur, Hywel, and Gruffydd.

Goronwy died on December 11, 1331. He was buried in the west wall of the Franciscan Llanfaes Friary near Bangor, Gwynedd. His father had helped rebuild this friary. In 1311, his father was the first family member buried there.

Other family members were also buried there. Later, during the Dissolution of the Monasteries (when King Henry VIII of England closed many religious houses), some tombs were moved. Goronwy's tomb was moved to St Gredifael's Church, Penmynydd. His tomb is still there today.

His Family's Legacy

Goronwy's oldest son, Hywel ap Goronwy, became a priest. He was a canon (a type of priest) at Bangor Cathedral. In 1357, Hywel became the Archdeacon (a church official) of Anglesey. His other son, Gruffydd, drowned in 1344.

Goronwy ap Tudur Hen was a direct ancestor of the Royal House of Tudor. This was a very important royal family in England.

His son, Tudur ap Goronwy, became a knight for Edward III. Tudur was the grandfather of Owain ap Maredudd ap Tudur. Owain later changed his name to Owen Tudor. Owen Tudor was the grandfather of King Henry VII of England. King Henry VII was the founder of the famous House of Tudor.

Family Tree