Dafydd ap Llywelyn

Dafydd ap Llywelyn (1208? - February 25th 1246) was a king of Gwynedd of 1240 with 1246.

Dafydd was the only legitimate son of Llywelyn Large the and his wife, Jeanne of England, illegitimate girl of the king Jean of England. In its last years, Llywelyn made main efforts so that he is recognized like his only heir, at the expense of his bastard son, Gruffydd, which according to the Welsh law had rights equal to the succession. Situations identical in history of different kingdoms Welsh finished in general is by bursting from those between heirs (not easily acceptable per hour when the kings of England lorgnent the Wales), that is to say by fratricidal murders. Llywelyn made recognize Dafydd like Prince de Galles by the king Henri III of England in 1220 (becoming the first to carry this title officially). It also made legitimate Jeanne by the Pope Honorius III to reinforce the political position of Dafydd.

With died of Llywelyn in 1240, Dafydd could be installed indeed as single heir on the throne to Gwynedd but Henri III was not ready to leave him the conquests external in Gwynedd of his father. In 1241 it invades Gwynedd and Dafydd had to subject, give up all its grounds external in Gwynedd and to send his/her Gruffydd brother, hitherto imprisoned, like hostage. Henri III thus gained a weapon which it could have used against Dafydd, by raising it for example like political rival and soldier while making play his legitimate right with part of Gwynedd. However, Gruffydd was killed while trying to escape from the Tour of London beginning 1244.

This action released Dafydd of any obstacle and it was combined with other Welsh kings to tackle the English catches of Wales. These revolts were success and in 1245 Henri III invades Gwynedd again and made build a new castle with Deganwy. Fierce combats followed, but this countryside was precociously stopped by the death of Dafydd at its court of River mouth in February 1246. It was buried with his father with the abbey of Aberconwy.

Like the marriage of Dafydd with Isabella, the girl of Guillaume de Braose, lord of Abergavenny, had not produced of heir they were the two wire of Gruffydd, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd " Dernier" and Owain ap Gruffydd " Rouge" which divided Gwynedd and continued the war against Henri III. In 1247 they met Henri III in Woodstock and managed an agreement in the exchange of important losses of territory.

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