Gwenllian

Gwenllian ferch Gruffudd (c. 1100 – 1136) was a Welsh princess, remembered for leading an army against the Norman Marcher lords and being killed in battle. She was the wife of Gruffydd ap Rhys, the Prince of Deheubarth.

Born around 1100, Gwenllian was the daughter of Gruffudd ap Cynan, the King of Gwynedd, and Angharad ferch Owain. This royal lineage connected her to two of the most powerful kingdoms in Wales, Gwynedd and Deheubarth, through her marriage.

In 1136, while Gruffydd ap Rhys was in Gwynedd seeking support from his father-in-law, the Norman lords took advantage of his absence to attack Deheubarth. Gwenllian, pregnant at the time, rallied the Welsh forces and led them into battle against the Norman army near Kidwelly.

The battle was a decisive defeat for the Welsh. Gwenllian was killed, along with two of her sons. The exact location of her death is traditionally believed to be near Kidwelly Castle. The site is known as Maes Gwenllian ("Gwenllian's Field") to this day.

Gwenllian's sacrifice and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds made her a symbol of Welsh resistance against Norman incursions. Her story is recounted in various Welsh chronicles and histories, solidifying her place in Welsh national identity. While the details surrounding her life and death are sometimes embellished with folklore, the core narrative of a courageous princess who died defending her land remains a significant part of Welsh history.