Criccieth Castle was built by Llywelyn the Great
1836 painting by Joseph Turner

Royal House of Wales

The Welsh, as they came to be known, were Christianized in the 6th century. They persistently defended their land against the Anglo-Saxons and challenged the authority of the powerful King Offa of Mercia in a series of conflicts between 760 and 796. The first recorded king of Wales was Rhodri Mawr, who was otherwise known as Roderick the Great. Ruling from his seat in Anglesey, he drove off the raids of Norman pirates, who were the descendants of Viking raiders. Following his death in 893, his realm was divided among his three sons: Anarawd became king of North Wales; Cadalh became king of South Wales, and Mervyn became king of Mid-Wales.

Gruffydd ap Llywelyn united all Wales under his leadership, despite the opposition of the princes of the south. He allied himself with Ælfgar, an outlawed Anglo-Saxon earl, and they invaded England in 1055. However, Gruffydd's ambitions were finally ended after a successful military campaign when he was slain in 1063, by the forces of Earl Harold Godwinson, who later became King Harold II of England. .... more

The Story of Prince Owain's grandmother: Lady Godiva                                   The Welsh - Mandan connection

  • A1. Gwriad, d:825, m. Eisyllt of Gwynedd;  ==>  Kings of Gwynedd
    • B1. Merfyn "the freckled", King of Gwynedd, d:844;
      • C1. Rhodri Mawr 'the Great', Prince of Wales, d:878;
        • D1. Cadell, King of South Wales, d:916;
          • E1. Hywel Dda, King of South Wales, d:950;
            • F1. Owain, King of South Wales, d:988;
              • G1. Maredudd, d:999;
                • H1. Angharad, m. Llywelyn, Prince of Deheubarth;
                  • I1. Gruffydd, Prince of Deheubarth, d:1063, m. Ealdgyth;
              • G2. Einion, d:984;
                • H1. Cadell;
                  • I1. Tewdwr Mawr, Prince of South Wales;
                    • J1. Rhys I, Prince of South Wales, lvd:1078/1093;
                      • K1. Gruffydd I, Lord of South Wales, d:1137;
                        • L1. Rhys II, d:1196, m. Gwenllian of Powys;
                          • M1. Gruffydd II, d:1208, m. Maud de Braose;  ==>  de Braose family
                            • N1. Rhys III, lord of Dynevor;
        • D2. Anarawd, King of Gwynedd, d:909;
          • E1. Idwal Foel, d:942;
            • F1. Meurig, d:986;
              • G1. Idwad, King of North Wales, d:996;
                • H1. Iago, King of Gwynedd, d:1039;
                  • I1. Cynan of Gwynedd, m. Ragnhildir of Dublin;  ==>  Vikings
                    • J1. Gruffydd, Prince of Gwynedd, lvd:1055/1137, m. Angharad of Mercia;
                      • K1. Owain, Prince of Gwynedd, lvd:1137/1170, m. Gwladys;
                        • L1. Madoc, lvd:1170, sailed to America;
                        • L2. Iorwerth Drwyndwn, m. Margaret;
                          <==========
            • M1. Llewellyn 'the Great', Prince of Wales, lvd:1173/1240, m1. Joan Plantagenet,  ==>  Plantagenet
                                             p2. Tangwystsl Goch, p3. Eve FitzWarine;
              • N1. [m1]: Margaret, m1. John de Braose;  <==  de Braose family
                                                    m2. Walter de Clifford  <==  Clifford family
              • N2. [p2]: Gwladus Dou, d:1251, m. Ralph de Mortimer;  <==  Mortimer family
              • N3. [p3]: Helen, lvd:1297, m. Domhnall I, 6th Earl of Mar;  <==  Earls of Mar

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Llewellyn the Great was buried in Conway Castle in Gwynedd