Ap Gruffydd Family - Ourfolk
Gwenllian Ap Gruffydd ABT 1090 - 1136/1137
Gwenllian was born on ABT 1090 and died on 1136/1137 .
She was the daughter of King Gruffydd Ap Cynan (1055 - 1137) and Angharad Verch Owain (Ap Cynan) (ABT 1065 - 1162).
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| Parents | Grand Parents | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ⌈ Cynan Ap Iago (B: ABT 1014) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ⌈ King Gruffydd Ap Cynan (1055 - 1137) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ⌊ Rhanult O'Olaf (Ap Iago) (B: ABT 1031) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gwenllian Ap Gruffydd | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ⌊ Angharad Verch Owain (Ap Cynan) (ABT 1065 - 1162) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
princess of Deheubarth, was the mother of
Rhys ap Gruffydd, Yr Arglwydd Rhys. She was killed in 1136 by Maurice de Londres after being defeated by him near Cydweli.
Her two youngest sons, possibly still babes in arms, were with her: Morgan was killed and Maelgwn was captured and
suffered an unknown fate. Andrew Breeze has recently argued that she was the author of the Mabinogi.
Princess Gwenllian
Our prince is far distant, the foeman is near,
And though we shall face him without any fear
A leader we lack, for our chieftain's not here.
The door of the bower is opened, there stands
To lead the proud Cymry to fight for their lands
The Lady Gwenllian, a sword in her hands.
It's away with the distaff, the needle, the loom,
And the song of the harp in the tapestried room,
We must ride out and fight, though we ride to our doom.
The Norman advances through Gwendraeth's green meads,
His dream is of plunder and bloodthirsty deeds,
To arms, then, my warriors, your princess now leads.
To the field they advance, a stout-hearted throng,
The heart of a tyrant is hard as a stone,
No quarter she askes for, no quarter is shown.
To foul execution our Princess is led,
The sword of the tyrant has struck off her head,
But the voice of Gwenllian still calls from the dead
Rhys ap Gruffydd, Yr Arglwydd Rhys. She was killed in 1136 by Maurice de Londres after being defeated by him near Cydweli.
Her two youngest sons, possibly still babes in arms, were with her: Morgan was killed and Maelgwn was captured and
suffered an unknown fate. Andrew Breeze has recently argued that she was the author of the Mabinogi.
Princess Gwenllian
Our prince is far distant, the foeman is near,
And though we shall face him without any fear
A leader we lack, for our chieftain's not here.
The door of the bower is opened, there stands
To lead the proud Cymry to fight for their lands
The Lady Gwenllian, a sword in her hands.
It's away with the distaff, the needle, the loom,
And the song of the harp in the tapestried room,
We must ride out and fight, though we ride to our doom.
The Norman advances through Gwendraeth's green meads,
His dream is of plunder and bloodthirsty deeds,
To arms, then, my warriors, your princess now leads.
To the field they advance, a stout-hearted throng,
The heart of a tyrant is hard as a stone,
No quarter she askes for, no quarter is shown.
To foul execution our Princess is led,
The sword of the tyrant has struck off her head,
But the voice of Gwenllian still calls from the dead
Last change (on this page): 15 OCT 2018