Gruffydd ap Llywelyn ^{1 2}

   Cause of his death was murder.

  General Notes:

Gruffydd ap Llywelyn was the ruler of all Wales from 1055 until his death, one of very few able to make this boast. He was the son of Llywelyn ap Seisyll and a descendant of Rhodri the Great. On the death of Iago ab Idwal ap Meurig in 1039, Gruffydd unexpectedly seized control of Gwynedd, successfully waged war with Mercia, then attacked the neighbouring principality of Deheubarth. By 1044, he had conquered Deheubarth, but lost it again in 1047. Allying himself with the Mercians, he proceeded to gain considerable ground along what is now the English border, and in 1055 he sacked Hereford. Deheubarth came back within his power in the same year, and he claimed sovereignty over the whole of Wales - a claim which was recognised by the English. Gruffydd reached an agreement with Edward the Confessor, but was less successful in holding off the incursions of Harold Godwinson. His own men deserted him, and he was murdered by them and his territory broken up among several successors.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Acceded: Prince of Deheubarth, 1039.

Gruffydd married Edgyth Swan-neck, daughter of Alfgar of Mercia and Aelfgifu, circa 1050. (Edgyth Swan-neck was born before 1050 and died after 1070.)