Tudur ap Goronwy

Tudur ap Goronwy (died 1367) was a Welsh nobleman and a member of the Tudors of Penmynydd. He was a royal officer on the island, and following service in King Edward III of England's campaign in France, he assumed the title of knight. He was later implicated in the murder of William de Shaldford, but was released without charge. His grandson Anglicised his name, which he inherited from Tudur and became Owen Tudor, the grandfather of King Henry VII of England (Henry Tudor) and the House of Tudor.

Family and ancestry

Tudur ap Goronwy was one of two sons of Goronwy ap Tudur Hen, and a member of the Tudors of Penmynydd. Tudur inherited lands which had been passed down the family line from his grandfather and namesake, Tudur Hen. Tudur's father Goronwy was a soldier for the English forces, and fought in King Edward I of England's invasion of Scotland which had led to the Battle of Bannockburn. After that King's death, Goronwy was loyal to King Edward II of England until he too died. Tudur had a single brother, Hywel ap Goronwy, who joined the priesthood, and became a canon of Bangor Cathedral, and eventually the Archdeacon of Anglesey.^[1]

Service to the crown

Tudur lived throughout his life in the village of Trecastell, Anglesey. He was a royal officer for the island of Anglesey, and married into the family of Tomos ap Llewelyn; marrying Marged ferch Tomos.^[2] Tudur served in the English army of King Edward III of England during his campaigns in France in 1337. During this time, Tudur assumed the rank of knight although it was later reported that he may have done so without the permission of the king.^[2]

In 1345, Tudur became one of the main suspects in the death of unpopular attorney William de Shaldford,^[2] alongside his brother Hywel. William had been killed near to Hywel's home and both brothers were arrested were placed in custody for a period. Their subsequent release without charge led to a difference of opinion of scholars of the age, with local burgesses complaining that "no Welsh man dare indict them" such was their local influence. Gruffydd ap Maredudd ap Dafydd suggested that the brothers were as strong as oak trees and protected all those under their branches.^[3]

After Tudur's death, his body was placed with those of his in the south wall of the chancel at the Franciscan Llanfaes Friary near Bangor, Gwynedd.^[3] The bodies of his ancestors were nearby, in the south wall of the chapel.^[2]

Legacy

Tudur had five sons with Marged; Maredudd ap Tudur, Ednyfed ap Tudor, Rhys ap Tudur, Goronwy ap Tudor and Gwilym ap Tudur. They all rose to positions of power locally on Anglesey and in the surrounding areas. Both Rhys and Gwilym accompanied King Richard II of England on an expedition to Ireland in 1398 and after he was deposed, Rhys, Gwilym and Maredudd were supporters of the Welsh uprising of their cousin Owain Glyndŵr against King Henry IV of England.^[4]

Tudur's grandson (though Maredudd) was Owain ap Maredudd ap Tudur.^[5] In Anglicising his name, he took "Tudur" and changed it to "Tudor", similarly changing his first name to become Owen Tudor.^[6] Owen married the widow of King Henry V of England, Catherine of Valois, in secret and had had two sons, Edmund and Jasper. Their half brother, King Henry VI of England, took an active interest in them and had Edmund married to Margaret Beaufort to ensure their children could inherit the throne of England.^[7] During the subsequently Wars of the Roses, Edmund's son Henry Tudor became King Henry VII of England, the founder of the House of Tudor.^[6]

Linage

References

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