Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, << leh oo EH lihn or loo EHL ihn ahp GRIHF ihth >> (1228?-1282), ruled as Prince of Wales from 1258 until his death on Dec. 11, 1282. His name means Llywelyn, son of Gruffydd. Llywelyn was the last powerful independent Welsh prince.
In 1246, Llywelyn and his older brother, Owain, succeeded their uncle Dafydd (also spelled David) as co-rulers of the principality of Gwynedd in northwestern Wales. Llywelyn took over as sole ruler in 1255.
Llywelyn took advantage of unrest in England and the weakness of the English king, Henry III, to expand his power in Wales. In 1258, he began to use the title Prince of Wales. In 1267, Henry III recognized Llywelyn’s right to the hereditary title of Prince of Wales and his authority over the other native Welsh nobles. In return, Llywelyn swore to recognize Henry as his king.
In 1272, Henry’s son Edward I succeeded him. Llywelyn refused to recognize Edward’s authority over him. In 1277, Edward invaded Wales. He forced Llywelyn to give up much of his territory but allowed him to keep his title.
In 1282, Llywelyn’s brother Dafydd began a revolt that swept through Wales. Llywelyn became the leader of the revolt. But on Dec. 11, 1282, he was killed in a skirmish with some English troops, and the revolt soon collapsed.
In 1284, Edward I issued the Statute of Rhuddlan, which placed all the conquered Welsh lands directly under English control. In 1301, Edward gave the title Prince of Wales to his son, who later became Edward II. Since then, nearly all English and British monarchs have given the title to their oldest son.
