Biography of Owain "The Red" Aberffraw 1232-1282

In or before 1232 Owain "The Red" Aberffraw was born to Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw (age 33). He a great grandson of King John of England.

In 1239 Owain "The Red" Aberffraw (age 7) was imprisoned at Criccieth Castle [Map].

On 1st March 1244 [his father] Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw (age 46) died at Tower of London [Map].

In 1255 Owain "The Red" Aberffraw (age 23) was imprisoned at Dolbadarn Castle [Map].

Chronicle of William Rishanger. [1277].Furthermore, besides these things, the Prince [[his brother] Llywelyn "Last" Aberffraw (age 44)] will reconcile with his brothers, whom he had wronged. For he had three brothers, two of whom, Owen (age 45) and [his brother] Rhodri (age 47), he had imprisoned; the third, David, having fled, stayed for many years with the King of England. By the King, and against the custom of his people, he was made a knight. In that war, due to his bravery and loyalty, he became highly esteemed by the King. As a result, the King granted him the castle of Denbigh in Wales, along with lands worth one thousand pounds in annual revenue; moreover, he gave him a wife [Elizabeth Ferrers (age 37)], the daughter of the Earl of Derby, who had recently been widowed by another man [William Marshal]. Owen, then, through royal favor, was freed from the prison which he had recently broken. Rhodri, however, fled from his brother and resided in England. The King, moreover, built a significant castle at Aberystwyth [Map]¹ in Western Wales, to suppress the raids of the Welsh.

Item, præter hæc, Princeps fratres suos, quos læsit, placabit. Habuit enim tres fratres, quorum duos, Owenum et Rodericum, posuerat in carcere; tertius vero, David, fuga dilapsus, multis annis cum Rege Angliæ stetit; a quo, contra morem gentis suæ, miles factus, in ista guerra, ob probitatem et fidelitatem suam, plurimum erat Regi acceptus: unde et eidem castrum de Dimby contulit in Wallia, cum terris ad valorem mille librarum annui redditus; insuper et uxorem dedit, filiam Comitis Derbeyæ, quæ nuper alio viro fuerat viduata. Owenus ergo favore regio liberatur a carcere, quem fregerat paulo ante. Rodericus vero, fratrem fugiens, in Anglia morabatur. Rex autem in Occidentali Wallia apud Lampader Vaur, ad cohibendum irruptiones Wallensium, castrum construxit insigne.

Note 1. "Lampader Vaur" i.e. "Llanbadarn Fawr" from which Aberystwyth took its name.

Around 1282 Owain "The Red" Aberffraw (age 50) died.

[his father] Gruffydd ap Llewellyn Aberffraw and Senana ferch Caradog were married. They were second cousin once removed. He a grandson of King John of England.