Early Life
Gwenllian was the youngest daughter of Gruffudd ap Cynan, Prince of Gwynedd and his wife Angharad. She was born in 1097 on Ynys Môn at the family seat at Aberffraw, and was the youngest of eight children; four older sisters, Mared, Rhiannell, Susanna and Annest, and three older brothers, Cadwallon, Owain and Cadwaladr. Gwenllian grew to be strikingly beautiful, and after Gruffydd ap Rhys, the Prince of Deheubarth, ventured to Gwynedd around 1113 to meet her father. She and Deheubarth's prince became romantically involved and eloped.
Gwenllian joined her husband at his family seat of Dinefwr in Deheubarth. Deheubarth was struggling against the Norman invasion in south Wales, with Norman, English, and Flemish colonists in footholds throughout the country. While the conflict between the Normans and the Welsh continued, the princely family were often displaced, with Gwenllian joining her husband in mountainous and forested strongholds. From here, she and Gruffydd ap Rhys led retalitory strikes against Norman-held positions in Deheubarth.
Read more about this topic: Gwenllian Ferch Gruffydd
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