Llywelyn ....Prince of Wales

This weekend went for a drive to nearby Wales with my son, and came upon this little bit of history at Cilmeri near Builth Wells , mid Wales.

Apparently this is the well where the head of The Prince was beheaded and washed.

Close by is The Llywelyn Monument , to the great Prince who stood up to the English.

Llywelyn ap Gruffund , opened negotiations with the king, and was eventually recognised as Prince of Wales by King Henry in the Treaty of Montgomery in 1267.
The last resting place of Llywelyn's body is not known for certain, however it has always been tradition that it was interred at the Cistercian Abbey at Abbeycwmhir.

On 11 December at the Battle of Orewin Bridge at Builth Wells, he was killed while separated from his army.
Llywelyn, at the front of his army, approached the combined English army on the promise that he would receive their homage. This was a deception.

His army was immediately engaged in fierce battle during which a significant section of it was routed, causing Llywelyn and his eighteen retainers to become separated. At around dusk, Llywelyn and a small group of his retainers (which included clergy), were ambushed and chased into a wood at Aberedw.
Llywelyn was surrounded and struck down.

Llywelyn's severed head was sent to Edward at Rhuddlan and after being shown to the English troops based in Anglesey, Edward sent the head on to London.

In London, it was set up in the city pillory for a day, and crowned with ivy (i.e. to show he was a "king" of Outlaws and in mockery of the ancient Welsh prophecy, which said that a Welshman would be crowned in London as king of the whole of Britain).

Then it was carried by a horseman on the point of his lance to the Tower of London and set up over the gate. It was still on the Tower of London 15 years later.

The last resting place of Llywelyn's body is not known for certain, but tradition has it that it lyes at the Cistercian Abbey at Abbeycwmhir.