Gruffudd Fychan II facts for kids

Gruffudd Fychan II was a powerful Welsh lord who lived from about 1330 to 1369. He was the Lord of Glyndyfrdwy and Cynllaith Owain. Because of his family, he had a claim to be the Prince of Powys Fadog, a historic Welsh kingdom. He was part of the Royal House of Mathrafal, a very old Welsh royal family. His son, Owain Glyndwr, later became famous for leading the Welsh Revolt and was known as the Prince of Wales.

Family and Important Connections

Gruffudd's Marriage

Gruffudd Fychan II married a woman named Elen, also known as Eleanor. She had a very important family background. Elen was the great-granddaughter of Eleanor Plantagenet. This Eleanor was the daughter of King Edward Longshanks and Queen Eleanor of Castile of England. They were members of the Royal House of Plantagenet.

Elen's Welsh Family

Elen's father was Thomas ap Llywelyn. He was a representative of the last independent Princes of South Wales and was a lord in South Wales. This included parts of Ceredigion.

Elen also had a sister named Marged ferch Tomos. Marged married Tudur ap Goronwy, whose family was known as the Tudors of Penmynydd. Marged and Tudur were the grandparents of Sir Owen Tudor. Sir Owen Tudor's family later became the famous House of Tudor, which ruled England for many years.

Children of Gruffudd and Elen

Gruffudd Fychan II and Elen had several children. Their most famous child was Owain ap Gruffudd. He later became known as Owain Glyndŵr. In September 1400, he was declared the Prince of Wales and led a big uprising against English rule, known as the Welsh Revolt. This revolt lasted for many years. Owain married Margaret Hanmer. Their daughter, Catrin, married Sir Edmund Mortimer. Sir Edmund was related to the English Royal family.

Another child was Lowry, who married Robert Puleston. Their son, Roger, became an important official at Denbigh Castle. He worked for Jasper Tudor, who was a Duke and a member of the House of Tudor. Jasper Tudor was also Lowry's first cousin.

Gruffudd and Elen also had a son named Tudur ap Gruffudd. He was a lord and an important commander in the Welsh Revolt, fighting against King Henry V and his father, King Henry IV. These kings were from the House of Lancaster. Tudur's daughter later became the heir to his brother Owain, the Prince of Wales. Tudur's grandson, Baron Elissau ap Gruffudd, founded the House of Yale, a well-known family.

All the children of Gruffudd Fychan II and Elen were first cousins to Sir Owen Tudor, Edmund Tudor, 1st Earl of Richmond, and Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford. They were also first cousins to the first Tudor king, King Henry VII of England.

Death and Burial

Gruffudd Fychan II passed away in 1369. He was buried at the Church of St. Asaph & St Cyndeyrn in Llanasa. You can still see parts of his tomb there today.