The tragedy of Prince Dafydd, Part One

We’re coming up to the anniversary of the execution of Dafydd ap Gruffudd, Prince of Wales, on 3 October 1283. To commemorate this unhappy event, let’s have another look at him.

Dafydd was the third of the four sons of Gruffudd ap Llywelyn, eldest son of Llywelyn ab Iorwerth. He was born in 1238 and in 1241 handed over to the English, along with his younger brother Rhodri, as part of a peace agreement between their uncle, Prince Dafydd ap Llywelyn, and Henry III.

The influence of Dafydd’s upbringing in England has possibly been exaggerated. He clearly spent some time in Wales. In 1247, at just eight years old, he appears as a witness on a charter of his eldest brother, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, which granted land to the priors and canons of Ynys Lannog.

Dafydd next appears in 1252, presiding over a lawsuit in which the canons of the church of Aberdaron resolved a dispute with the Austin canons of Bardsey. Aged about fourteen, Dafydd was already exercising lordship over Cymydmaen, the westerly commote of the cantref of Llŷn.

Despite his earlier association with Llywelyn, it seems that Dafydd owed his lordship in Cymydmaen to the influence of his eldest brother, Owain Goch. The chronicler states that Dafydd was appointed captain of the household (dux familia) in Owain’s service. He therefore occupied the position of penteulu which, according to the custom of his lineage, was reserved for the near kinsman of the ruler.

No comparable grant of land was made over by Llywelyn to Dafydd. This is the first sign of tension between the brothers; by 1253 Dafydd had decided to take steps to gain an appropriate share of his patrimony, and offered his homage and fealty to Henry III. The king agreed to receive him, but had sailed for Gascony by the time Dafydd arrived at Westminster. Even so, he came to an arrangement with the royal council, who ensured that the king would endorse his tenure of whatever part of Gwynedd he acquired for himself.

Owain and Llywelyn, who had divided Gwynedd between them after the death of their uncle, were informed that Dafydd had sworn fealty to the king. This oath was sworn for the portion of lands in Gwynedd which had been held by Gruffudd ap Llywelyn and Dafydd ap Llywelyn. The brothers were thus required to provide him with a due portion ‘according to the custom of Wales’.