Llywelyn ap Seisyll

Biography

Llywelyn was the son of Seisyll, about whom little is known. Llywelyn's mother, Prawst, was the daughter of Elisedd, a younger son of Anarawd ap Rhodri, King of Gwynedd (d. 916). His paternal great grandparents were Angharad ferch Meurig and Rhodri Mawr (d. 878). Llywelyn was married to Angharad, daughter of Maredudd ab Owain ap Hywel Dda (d. c. 999), who ruled in Gwynedd, Deheubarth and Powys.

He first appears on the record in 1018, when he defeated and killed Aeddan ap Blegywryd and his four sons, subsequently obtaining control of Gwynedd and Powys.

In 1022, Rhain the Irishman, who claimed to be a son of Maredudd ab Owain and thereby asserted a claim to Deheubarth, was made its king. Rhain's claim was contested by Llywelyn, as Maredudd's daughter Angharad was Llywelyn's wife. A battle ensued at Abergwili in 1022, where after significant casualties on both sides, Rhain was killed and Llywelyn took control of Deheubarth.

According to the Brut y Tywysogion, Llywelyn's reign was prosperous, and he was dubbed "King of the Britons" by the Annals of Ulster.

Legacy

Gruffydd ap Llywelyn would eventually become the first and only ruler to govern the entirety of what is now known as Wales, although he was killed by his own men in 1063. His sons, Maredudd and Idwal, met their end in 1069, fighting at the Battle of Mechain.

References

Sources

Maredudd ab Owain (Powys)

References

1. "Rhodri Mawr (b. before 844, d. 878), king of Gwynedd".
2. "MAREDUDD ab OWAIN ap HYWEL DDA (died 999), king of Deheubarth {{!}} Dictionary of Welsh Biography".
3. "GRUFFUDD AP LLYWELYN (died 1064), king of Gwynedd 1039-1064 and overlord of all the Welsh 1055-1064 {{!}} Dictionary of Welsh Biography".
4. "Battle of Mechain".
5. {{harv. Pierce. 1959
6. {{harv. Tout. 1901
7. {{harv. Walcott. Seisyll