Llywelyn Fawr ap Maredudd facts for kids

Llywelyn Fawr ('the Elder') ap Maredudd ap Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd was an important Welsh prince from the 13th century. He was part of the royal family of Gwynedd, a powerful Welsh kingdom. Llywelyn Fawr was related to other famous Welsh leaders like Gruffudd ap Llywelyn and Dafydd ap Llywelyn.

Llywelyn's family, known as the House of Aberffraw, played a big role in Welsh history. His father, Prince Maredudd, was also a strong leader. In 1195, Prince Maredudd and his brother joined forces with Llywelyn the Great. They worked together to remove their uncle, Dafydd, from power. This shows how important family alliances were in those times.

Llywelyn's Role as a Lord

Llywelyn Fawr became the Lord of Meirionnydd. This was an important area, a bit like a county, called a cantref in Wales. In 1241, Henry III of England officially recognized Llywelyn as the Lord of Meirionnydd. This meant his power in the region was confirmed by the English king.

Fighting for Gwynedd

Llywelyn Fawr was a loyal member of the royal family of Gwynedd. In 1245, he fought alongside Dafydd ap Llywelyn (who was also known as Prince Dafydd II). This shows his continued support for his family and the kingdom of Gwynedd during important conflicts.

Family Connections and Legacy

Llywelyn Fawr had a younger brother who was also named Llywelyn. To tell them apart, his brother was sometimes called Llywelyn Fychan, which means 'the Younger'.

Not a lot of detailed information is known about Llywelyn Fawr himself. However, we do know he had a son named Maredudd. Llywelyn Fawr's grandson, Madog ap Llywelyn, later became a very important leader. Madog played a key role in a big Welsh revolt against English rule in 1294. This shows the lasting impact of Llywelyn Fawr's family on Welsh history.