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Llywelyn the Great and the Scandalous Affair (Welsh History)

Who was found in bed with who?

The next major figure in Welsh history after the Lord Rhys, was Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, known later as Llywelyn the Great. I wrote about him before in detail, which you can find here.
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There is also a whole chapter devoted to him in my book Broken Reed: The Lords of Gower and King John. My interest in Llywelyn is because of his links to King John and the de Braose family: He married King John’s illegitimate and much-loved daughter Joan (known as Siwan in Wales); in return for his help in their battle with John for their ancestral lands, both Reginald de Braose and his nephew John married Llywelyn’s daughters.

Later, Llywelyn arranged a marriage between his son and heir Dafydd and Isabel de Braose, granddaughter of Reginald. While the negotiations were progressing however, there was a major scandal caused by William, father of the potential bride. In 1228 he had succeeded his father Reginald de Braose. During a campaign against another Marcher lord, Llywelyn had captured William, who was fighting on the lord’s side. He was held for ransom for £2,000. William may have been wounded and tended by Llywelyn’s wife and her maids. He was held for six months, and on his release gave his word he would never again bear arms against Llywelyn, and his daughter would marry Llywelyn’s son.

Not only would this be a third (or fourth) tie between Llywelyn’s family and one of the most prominent Marcher families, but it would bring the Lordship of Builth as a dowry and other potential lands when William died and his lands were split between his daughters. Even more important, William’s wife Eva was the sister of William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke and Regent of England.
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At Easter 1230, William visited Llywelyn’s court to finalise the marriage arrangements and possibly to negotiate the release of the companions and servants who had been captured with him. One day William was discovered in Llywelyn’s chamber in bed with Llewelyn’s wife Joan, King John’s daughter.

It’s not known how long the affair had been going on, but it’s possible they fell in love when Joan tended William’s wounds after he was captured. They were immediately separated and imprisoned. Within a month William was tried by a council of Llywelyn’s lords and sentenced to death. He was hung publicly on 2 May 1230. Llywelyn, normally the astute politician, behaved as an outraged husband with no regard for the consequences.

Joan was imprisoned for twelve months, but was later forgiven, so it seems there was genuine love between them. But it should be remembered she was also the half-sister of the king.

There are those historians who say it was a conspiracy to falsely accuse and murder William. Indeed, it did mean his daughters would come into their inheritance. But it jeopardised the whole marriage arrangement, so if it was true, Llywelyn was playing a dangerous game. Most likely it was a genuine affair. Llywelyn was at great pains to convince Isabel’s relatives the marriage should go ahead.

It’s interesting the Crown said nothing about the incident, except a mention in a letter to Llywelyn which referred to the ‘mischance that befell him’. There was no mention of the fact he had taken it upon himself to try, judge and execute a subject of the Crown. In fact, he began to style himself ‘Prince of Aberffraw and Lord of Snowdon’.

The marriage went ahead and William’s lands were split between his four daughters and their husbands.

Head shot Ann Marie ThomasAnn Marie Thomas is the author of four medieval history books, a surprisingly cheerful poetry collection about her 2010 stroke, and the science fiction series Flight of the Kestrel. Intruders, Alien Secrets, and Crisis of Conscience are out now. Follow her at http://eepurl.com/bbOsyz