LLYWELYN ap SEISYLL (died 1023), king of Deheubarth and Gwynedd

Nothing is known of his father, but his mother, Prawst, was, according to late pedigrees, the daughter of Elisedd, a younger son of Anarawd ap Rhodri Mawr. Since he himself married Angharad, daughter of Maredudd ab Owain ap Hywel Dda, he had distant claims to succession in both Deheubarth and Gwynedd, which in the circumstances of the time could be translated into reality by a leader of force and ambition. Such a man was Llywelyn, and by his defeat of the usurper, Aeddan ap Blegywryd, in 1018, and of Rhain, an Irish pretender, in 1022, he became master of the south. He also extended his rule for a few years over a large part of Wales, a memorable period in Welsh annals judging from entries in the chronicle. His chief claim to fame, however, is the fact that he was the father of Gruffudd ap Llywelyn, whose notable career was made possible by the example of the father, and whose claim to power was largely based on the short 'de facto' overlordship of Llywelyn.

Author

• Professor Thomas Jones Pierce, (1905 - 1964)

Sources

• J. E. Lloyd, A History of Wales from the Earliest Times to the Edwardian Conquest (London 1911), Vol. I
• J. E. Lloyd, A History of Wales from the Earliest Times to the Edwardian Conquest (London 1911), Vol. II
• The Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, 1899-1900.

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: Llywelyn ap Seisyll

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q953828

Published date: 1959

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