History of Llanrwst

Cymru, Lloegr a Llanrwst - Independence

There is an old saying still widely known today, - Cymru, Lloegr a Llanrwst. There are at least two traditions regarding the origin.

Whilst Llywelyn the Great had enjoyed unprecedented status under his father in law, King John, his descendants suffered greatly. King John had assured Llywelyn that upon his death, his son Dafydd would be granted the same authority and status as he had enjoyed. In reality King John, had never intended to fulfil this promise, even though Dafydd ap Llywelyn was his grandson. Llywelyn’s death in 1240 at Aberconway Abbey, marked the immediate dismantling of the Welsh state.

The death of Llywelyn in 1240 marked a drastic change in the fortunes of Llanrwst and the wider Conwy Valley. The late prince had sponsored both Llanrwst and Trefriw, the location of his hunting lodge. Unfortunately, in the wake of Llywelyn’s death and the subsequent difficulties with the Marcher Lords, troops and resources were being channelled elsewhere. The parish of Llanrwst quickly became the home of 'Y Gwylliaid' . These 'Men of the Dusk' were a hardy people who refused to recognise either law or authority. In 1276 Llywelyn ap Gryffydd, Prince of Wales, usurped the entire Parish of Llanrwst, some 22,000 acres, from the Holy See of St Asaph. So incensed were the Bishop and Chapter at St Asaph that they wrote immediately to the Archbishop of Canterbury requesting his intervention and that of His Holiness the Pope.

In his defence Llywelyn ap Gryffydd claimed that his conduct was due to the abuse of the right of sanctuary by ‘de terra nostra fugitivus ac felones, qui machinati fuerent in mortem nostram’, that is murderers, thieves, fugitives and felons. The matter was referred to Rome for instruction, but this move proved to be futile. On December 11th 1282 the man who had ruled Gwynedd for forty years had stopped in the vicinity of Llanganten when he encountered Sir Roger Mortimer and Gryffydd ap Gwenwynwen. The blow was swift, and within weeks the English Knight presented Llywelyn’s head to King Edward, who ordered it be placed on the battlements of the Tower of London, followed less than a year later by the head of his brother Dafydd ap Gryffydd, the last native Prince of Wales.

According to the other tradition, Llanrwst was omitted when Gwynedd was divided among the Fifteen Noble Tribes of North Wales. Thus Llanrwst was reckoned as not being in Gwynedd (roughly speaking North Wales), and it certainly was not in England, hence the saying Cymru, Lloegr a Llanrwst

According to the other tradition, Llanrwst was omitted when Gwynedd was divided among the Fifteen Noble Tribes of North Wales. Thus Llanrwst was reckoned as not being in Gwynedd [roughly speaking North Wales], and it certainly was not in England, hence the saying Cymru, Lloegr a Llanrwst

List of Items - History of Llanrwst

• Historical Timeline : A timeline of some interesting historical events in Llanrwst.
• Saint Grwst the Confessor : The story of Saint Grwst.
• The Battle of Llanrwst 954 AD : Events leading to the Battle of Llanrwst.
• Foundation of the Modern Church : The establishment of the modern church in Llanrwst.
• Cymru, Lloegr a Llanrwst - Independence : The history of Llanrwst in the 13th Century.
• Establishing a Market Town : The establishment of Llanrwst as a market town in the 14th Century.
• Disease, Death and Destruction - the 14th and 15th Century : Llanrwst in the 14th and 15th Century.
• The War of the Roses - The Earl of Pembroke 1468 : The War of the Roses and Llanrwst.
• Local Historic Buildings : Information on the history of some of the buildings in Llanrwst.
• Books on History of Llanrwst : Some books on the history of Llanrwst that may be of interest.