I enjoyed reading about
the Battlefields of Cadfan, so I thought Gwenllian's story might be of interest.
Not many miles southeast of Cadfan is the site of another, much earlier, engagement between the Welsh and the Normans at a time when England's Norman King was having a difficult time controlling things in South Wales.
Henry I, nicknamed 'The Lion of Justice', the fourth son of the Conqueror, married the niece of the last male descendant of The House of Wessex soon after his accession in 1100. The English support he gained by this wise move helped him in his handling of his elder brother Robert, a bad lot, who ended his days as a captive in Cardiff. It also helped with what was to come in his problems with the Prince of South Wales, and the Prince's wife, Gwenllian.
Gryffith ap Rhys ap Tewdwr, the rightful Prince of South Wales, openly defied the King and continually created pandemonium and general mayhem in the Carmarthen - Llandovery - Swansea district. Gryffith's wife, Gwenllian, daughter of Griffith ap Cynan, Prince of North Wales, was, in her own right as formidable a foe as her husband, and in the year 1130, while her husband was fundraising in the North, she, at the head of an army, marched on Kidwelly; taking on the King's forces led by Maurice de Londres, Lord of the Manor of Kidwelly.
The King's army took up their position on the slope of a hill about a mile and a half north of Kidwelly, on the west bank of the Gwendraeth Fach River, a district still known to this day as Kingswood. Opposite, on the other side of the river, the actual site of the engagement is now the location of a farm Maes Gwenllian (Gwenllian's Field). On this site, both Gwenllian and her son Morgan, were put to death by the victorious de Londres, and it is said that Gwenllian's severed head never left the field!
Maurice de Londres founded Ewenny Priory. On his death, the Lordship of Kidwelly and the ownership of the castle passed to his brother, Thomas de Londres, the Great Great Great Great Grandfather of Henry IV King of England, and, focus of the attention of that other Prince of Wales, Owen Glendower.
Phillip Terry
The Bloody Battlefields of Cadfan.
Kidwelly town site on bbc.co.uk
your comments
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Michelle Guildford
...I'm trying to build a history of Kidwelly for all our children. So can anyone tell me where I can get a picture of the Princess Gwenllian from please?...
Fri Jun 12 17:55:10 2009
Michelle Barnett Guildford
My family and I used to live in 1 Castle Road, next to the castle back in the early seventies and I love the place...we always played in the castle grounds I would love to go back there for a visit one day. It was said that Lady Gwenllian walks by the river and across the bridge to the castle in search of somthing...
Mon Sep 29 15:42:23 2008
Paul, Lincoln
I was led to believe that Gwenllians son was "Yr Arglwydd Rhys" (Lord Rhys) whom was with his father. And in adult life Held the very first eisteddford.
Wed Aug 20 09:17:28 2008
Joan from Kent
I haven't been to Kidwelly but it must be lovely. I have a great-uncle who lived there, moved to Canada, and then went back to Kidwelly to marry a local girl. He was Frederick Menghetti.. I expect people still remember him.
Tue May 6 09:22:15 2008
Michelle of Farnborough, Hants
My auntie moved to kidwelly last year. My family have visited twice and we never want to come home. I love the castle and got to see it lit up in all its glory one night. Wow what an awesome sight! If my husband could get a decent job nearby we would be living there no worries! All of south west wales is stunning and kind of mystical too. My daughter loves history and is fascinated by the town itself, my son likes the parks and beaches! It's not fair we want to live there :-)
Thu Feb 21 10:58:56 2008
Gwenllian of Derby
I often wondered where my Grandma got my name from, now i know. Thanks for the information in the article.
Mon Feb 18 10:43:05 2008
Gwen Fulton from Wisconsin USA
This woman is very dear to my heart. Thank you for sharing the information you had about her. As for the year of the battle, you are right that it was in 1136 as that was the year that her death was recorded. It deeply saddens me that she isn't noted in history as well as she truly deserves. I am actually working on something right now to revive her memory and I would love to hear any information that is available about her. So if you know of any books, websites, documentaries, or otherwise that could aid me in getting as much accurate information about her life and the time in which she lived, I would be very grateful.
Mon Jul 23 15:50:17 2007
Stifyn, Abertawe
The battle was fought in 1136 and not 1130. Her husband was not fundraising but seeking military assistance from his father in law which he obtained and which led to the battle of Cardigan in the same year.
Wed Jun 27 15:59:28 2007
Richard Passfield
We live in Kidwelly now and are enjoying finding out more about the rich history of the area - every corner you turn there are 1000's of years of it.....what about the black cat?
Fri Jan 12 08:45:11 2007
Carol Kidwell Dodds from Detroit, Michigan
I love seeing and reading about the Kidwelly castle and its history. My heritage stems from there and I feel drawn to it and want to learn more...
Thu Dec 14 09:03:36 2006
Did you enjoy Phillip's article? Do you know of any other similar historical tales?
