Individual Details
Gwenllian Gwynedd
(1090 - 1137)
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== Biography ==Gwenllian was born in 1097. Gwenllian vh Gruffydd ... She passed away in 1136.
:''"In this district, after the death of king Henry, whilst Gruffydh son of Rhys, then prince of South Wales, was engaged in soliciting assistance from North Wales, his wife [[Gwynedd-24|Gwenliana]] (like the queen of the Amazons, and a second Penthesilea) led an army into these parts; but she was defeated by [[Londres-14|Maurice de Londres]], lord of that country, and Geoffrey, the bishop's constable. [[Ap_Rhys-15|Morgan]], one of her sons, whom she had arrogantly brought with her in that expedition, was slain, and the other, [[Ap_Rhys-14|Malgo]], taken prisoner; and she, with many of her followers, was put to death."''p. 393 ''[http://bit.ly/1bsZFsj The Itinerary through Wales, and the Description of Wales]'', transcribed by sir R.C. Hoare - author: Giraldus (Cambrensis)
=== Carmarthenshire ===
:''"Giraldus Cambrensis, in his Itinerary, states that a few years after, Grufydd's wife [[Gwynedd-24|Gwenllian]], attended by her two sons, led in person a body of troops into the vicinity of this fortress, where she was defeated, made prisoner, and put to death, with several of her followers, by [[Londres-14|Maurice de Londres]], grandson of William. Whether or not this happened, the reputation which Grufydd acquired by his expeditions greatly added to the number of his followers; and Henry, regarding this influence as important, encouraged his Norman and Flemish vassals, and such Welsh adventurers as had something to expect from his favour, to unite their forces against him. Grufydd, aware of the advantages derived by his enemies from the king's possessing so strong a fortress as Carmarthen Castle, in the heart of his little dominion, led his forces against it with great secrecy, and took it by surprise; he then marched into Cardiganshire, where he was frequently successful against the Norman lords, but experienced a severe loss in an incautious attack upon the castle of Aberystwith."''Samuel Lewis. "Carmarthen - Carmarthenshire," in A Topographical Dictionary of Wales, (London: S Lewis, 1849), 180-202. British History Online, accessed April 13, 2016, [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-dict/wales/pp180-202]
=== Birth ===
: Date: 1090
: Place: Caernarvonshire, Wales
: Date: 1085
: Place: Aberffraw Castle, Wales
=== Death ===
: Date: 1136
: Place: Maes Gwenllian, Outside Walls, Wales
===Of Interest===[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/experts-clash-over-theory-female-2092645 The Mabinogion] – regarded as the most important text in Welsh literature – has helped spawn everything from King Arthur to Lord of the Rings.
And the medieval masterpiece, which was first translated by Lady Charlotte Guest, is widely thought to have been written by a man, perhaps a monk.
But now academic Andrew Breeze has published a controversial new book arguing the most important parts of the tome were written by a woman.
He names her as the very well-connected [[Gwynedd-24|Gwenllian]]. Born in 1097, she was the daughter of Gruffudd ap Cynan, king of Gwynedd and wife of Gruffudd ap Rhys, prince of Dyfed.
== Sources ==
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Events
| Birth | 1090 | Caernarvonshire, Wales | |||
| Death | 1137 | Maes Gwenllian, Outside Walls Kidwelly, , Wales | |||
| Reference No | 6944216 | ||||
| Reference No | 7189136 | ||||
| Reference No | 60 |
Families
| Father | Gruffudd ap Cynan (1054 - 1137) |
| Mother | Angharad "of Gwynedd" Deuheubarth (1065 - 1162) |
| Sibling | Owain ap Gruffydd (1078 - 1170) |
| Sibling | Susanna ferch Gruffudd (1090 - 1165) |
| Sibling | Rhanullt Gruffydd (1083 - ) |
| Sibling | Ellen Gruffydd (1089 - ) |
| Sibling | Merinedd Gruffydd (1091 - ) |
| Sibling | Cadwaladr Gruffydd (1097 - 1172) |
| Sibling | Membyr Gruffydd (1114 - ) |
| Sibling | Rhael Gruffydd (1116 - ) |
| Sibling | Annes Gruffydd (1118 - ) |
| Sibling | Margred Gruffydd (1120 - ) |
| Sibling | Tudwal Gruffydd (1122 - ) |