Llywelyn ab Iorwerth

Llywelyn ab Iorwerth
Prince of Aberffraw Lord of Snowdon
Llywelyn (left) with his sons, Gruffudd (centre) and Dafydd (right)
King of Gwynedd
Reign	1195–1240
Predecessor	Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd
Successor	Dafydd ap Llywelyn
Born	c. 1173[1] Dolwyddelan
Died	11 April 1240 Aberconwy Abbey
Burial	Aberconwy Abbey
Spouse	Joan, Lady of Wales
Issue	Dafydd ap Llywelyn Gruffudd ap Llywelyn Elen ferch Llywelyn Gwladus Ddu Marared ferch Llywelyn Angharad ferch Llywelyn Susanna ferch Llywelyn Tegwared ap Llywelyn
House	Aberffraw
Father	Iorwerth Drwyndwn
Mother	Marared ferch Madog

Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (pronounced [ɬəˈwɛlɪn ab ˈjɔrwɛrθ], c. 1173 – 11 April 1240), also known as Llywelyn the Great (Welsh: Llywelyn Fawr, [ɬəˈwɛlɪn vaʊ̯r]; Latin: Leolinus Magnus), was a medieval Welsh ruler. He succeeded his uncle, Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd, as King of Gwynedd in 1195. By a combination of war and diplomacy, he dominated Wales for 45 years.

During Llywelyn's childhood, Gwynedd was ruled by two of his uncles, who split the kingdom between them, following the death of Llywelyn's grandfather, Owain Gwynedd, in 1170. Llywelyn had a strong claim to be the legitimate ruler and began a campaign to win power at an early age. He was sole ruler of Gwynedd by 1200 and made a treaty with King John of England that year. Llywelyn's relations with John remained good for the next ten years. He married John's natural daughter Joan in 1205, and when John arrested Gwenwynwyn of Powys in 1208, Llywelyn took the opportunity to annex southern Powys. In 1210, relations deteriorated, and John invaded Gwynedd in 1211. Llywelyn was forced to seek terms and to give up all lands east of the River Conwy but was able to recover them the following year in alliance with the other Welsh princes. He allied himself with the barons who forced John to sign Magna Carta in 1215. By 1216, he was the dominant power in Wales, holding a council at Aberdyfi that year to apportion lands to the other princes.

Following King John's death, Llywelyn concluded the Treaty of Worcester with his successor, Henry III, in 1218. During the next fifteen years, Llywelyn was frequently involved in fights with Marcher lords and sometimes with the king, but also made alliances with several major powers in the Marches. The Peace of Middle in 1234 marked the end of Llywelyn's military career, as the agreed truce of two years was extended year by year for the remainder of his reign. He maintained his position in Wales until his death in 1240 and was succeeded by his son Dafydd ap Llywelyn.