General Notes

RELI Sources: Taut, Anne. "The Kings and Queens of Great Britain"ent after 1277 at the manner in which .ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA:David AP LLYWELYN(b. c. 1208--d. Feb. 25, 1246, Aber, Gwynedd,
Wales), Welshprince, ruler of the state of Gwynedd in northern Wales from1240 to 1246.His father, Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, had made Gwynedd the centre ofWelsh power, and his mother, Joan, was the
illegitimate daughterof King John of England (ruled 1199-1216). Although Llywelyndesignated David as his successor, his half brother Gruffuddopposed him. While the aged Llywelyn lay ill, David
seizedGruffudd and imprisoned him (1239). Llywelyn died in April 1240,and in August 1241 David was forced by England's King Henry IIIto cede part of his territory and surrender Gruffudd to
theEnglish. Henry planned to turn Gruffudd loose against Davidshould the need arise, but in 1244 Gruffudd broke his neck anddied while attempting to escape from the Tower of London. Freedof the
threat from his rival, David went to war against Henry,declaring himself prince of Wales--the first Welsh ruler toadoptthis title. David fell ill and died while the fighting was inprogress. Because
he left no heirs, the sons of Gruffudd ruledGwynedd until Wales fell to the English in 1283.Related Propaedia TopicsThe Kingdom of England and its continental dependencies from theNorman Conquestto
the death of Edward I; Scotland, Wales, and Ireland(1066-1307)The History of MankindCopyright (c) 1996 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. All RightsReserved
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DATE 15 MAR 1997