Llywelyn Bren - The Aftermath

The Aftermath

As dissatisfaction with the Despensers grew Llewelyn's death united the native Welsh and marcher Lords. In 1321 a baronial revolt developed, the barons, led by the earl of Hereford, and others like Hugh D'Audley and Roger D'Amory, petitioned the king to dismiss Despenser, the murder of Llewelyn Bren was prominent in their list of complaints. When the King refused, an alliance of local Welsh men and Marcher Lords raided Despenser's lands in Glamorgan over some ten days. It may have been then that Lleucu and her sons were freed—-certainly Hereford took all of Llewllyn's sons into his service around this point. Edward was forced to exile the Despensers for a time until he gathered enough forces to defeat the barons at the Battle of Boroughbridge in 1322 where the Earl of Hereford died.

With the Despensers' return to Edward's court Lleucu and her sons were again imprisoned (now in Bristol Castle). But the Despensers' actions soon aroused more resistance. In October 1326 following the successful rebellion led by Roger Mortimer the Despensers and Edward had further cause to regret their actions in Glamorgan after they were forced to flee there. Edward and the Despensers' attempts to raise troops locally were (understandably) a dismal failure. This led to their capture in November; then Hugh endured the same death he inflicted on Llewelyn when he too was hung, drawn and quartered.

With the overthrow of Edward II, the estates in Senghenydd were restored (11 Feb. 1327) to Llywelyn Bren's sons — Gruffydd, John, Meurig, Roger, William and Llewelyn. The Earls of Hereford continued to pay at Brecon an allowance to their mother Lleucu until 12 April 1349.