Tudur Hen facts for kids

Tudur Hen, also known as Tudur ap Goronwy, was an important Welsh leader who lived a long time ago. He is known as the person who started the famous House of Tudor family. He passed away on October 11, 1311.

Tudur was one of three sons of Goronwy ab Ednyfed. They were given land by King Edward I of England. Even though he received land from the English king, Tudur supported a Welsh uprising led by Madog ap Llywelyn. After the uprising, he promised his loyalty to King Edward I and later to his son, Edward of Caernarfon. Tudur Hen helped rebuild a special religious building called a Franciscan friary in Bangor, Gwynedd. He was buried there on October 11, 1311.

Tudur Hen's Family Tree

Tudur Hen's father was Goronwy ab Ednyfed, who died in 1268. Goronwy was a "seneschal," which means he was a chief officer or manager for Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. Llywelyn was also known as Llywelyn the Last, and he was the King of Kingdom of Gwynedd by 1258. Goronwy worked for Llywelyn until he died in 1268.

By being a seneschal, Goronwy followed in his own father's footsteps, Ednyfed Fychan. This connection made the early House of Tudor family very important to Llywelyn. Goronwy led Llywelyn's army. In 1263, he took his forces as far south as Gwent to fight against the Marcher Lords. Goronwy and his wife Marudd had three sons: Tudur ap Goronwy (Tudur Hen), Goronwy ap Goronwy (also called Goronwy the Younger), and Hywel ap Goronwy. Tudur Hen was not the first in his family with that name. His uncle, Tudur ab Ednyfed, had worked for an earlier Prince of Wales, Dafydd ap Llywelyn.

Serving the English King and a Rebellion

In September 1278, King Edward I of England gave land to Tudur and his brothers. Most noble families in Wales supported the Welsh during the English invasion of Gwynedd. However, King Edward I said that anyone who joined him would keep their lands and titles under English rule. Tudur Hen kept his important position and lands even after Llywelyn died in 1282 and the English won.

Tudur and his brother Goronwy were two of the lords who supported the uprising of Madog ap Llywelyn. This rebellion was against the English in 1294–95. Tudur worked as a steward for Madog, while Goronwy also served him. Tudur and Goronwy were two of three men who signed Madog's special document, called the Penmachno Document, in 1294. This document gave land in Ardudwy and Llansannan to Bleddyn Fychan.

After the rebellion failed, Tudur was among the lords from North Wales who promised their loyalty to King Edward I in 1296. He also promised loyalty to Edward of Caernarfon when he became Prince of Wales in 1301.

Rebuilding a Friary

Since the 1700s, people have believed that Tudur Hen built the Franciscan Llanfaes Friary near Bangor, Gwynedd. However, the friary was actually built before his time. Llanfaes Friary is where two Welsh princesses were buried: Joan, Lady of Wales and Eleanor de Montfort, Princess of Wales. They were the wives of Llywelyn ap Iorwerth and Llywelyn ap Gruffudd respectively. It is thought that Tudur was responsible for rebuilding the friary around 1293 after it was damaged. He arranged to be buried in the south wall of the friary.

Tudur also worked as an official representative for the English Royal Family in the Perfeddwlad areas. Tudur used English property laws, which he found more helpful than Welsh laws. English laws allowed one person to inherit all the land. He continued to own lands in North Wales and Cardiganshire that he had inherited. When he died in 1311, his lands went to his son Goronwy ap Tudur Hen. He had two other sons, Madog and Hywel. Tudur Hen was buried in Bangor Priory on October 11, 1311. His son, Goronwy, was also buried there on December 11, 1331, after his death.

Tudur Hen's Lasting Impact

One of the first poems by the Welsh poet, or bard, Iolo Goch was about Tudur Hen. Iolo might have studied at the Bangor Priory. Tudur Hen's most important lasting impact was his name. In Wales at that time, people often named their children by adding the father's name to the child's first name. So, Tudur Hen's son was named Goronwy ap Tudur Hen.

Tudur Hen and his wife Anghared fil Ithel Fychan had children. One of their sons was also named Tudur, who became another Tudur ap Goronwy. This younger Tudur was noticed by King Edward III of England. He became a knight serving the king. This younger Tudur was the grandfather of Owain ap Maredudd ap Tudur, through his son Maredudd ap Tudur. Owain changed his name to Owen Tudor. Owen Tudor was the grandfather of King Henry VII of England, who started the Royal House of Tudor.

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