Consolidation 1200–1209 Gruffudd ap Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd died in 1200 as a monk in
Aberconwy Abbey. In 1201, Llywelyn took
Eifionydd and
Llŷn from Maredudd ap Cynan on a charge of treachery. He also had to pay a large tribute in cattle and horses and to hand over hostages, including his illegitimate son Gruffudd and was forced to agree that if he died without a legitimate heir by Joan, all his lands would revert to the king. This was the low point of Llywelyn's reign, but he quickly recovered his position. The other Welsh princes, who had supported King John against Llywelyn, soon became disillusioned with John's rule and changed sides. Llywelyn formed an alliance with Gwenwynwyn of Powys and the two main rulers of Deheubarth,
Maelgwn ap Rhys and
Rhys Gryg, and rose against John. They had the support of
Pope Innocent III, who had been engaged in a dispute with John for several years and had placed his kingdom under an
interdict. Innocent III released Llywelyn, Gwenwynwyn and Maelgwn from all oaths of loyalty to John and lifted the interdict in the territories which they controlled. Llywelyn was able to recover all Gwynedd apart from the castles of Deganwy and
Rhuddlan within two months in 1212. John planned another invasion of Gwynedd in August 1212. According to one account, he had just commenced by hanging some of the Welsh hostages given the previous year when he received two letters. One was from his daughter Joan, Llywelyn's wife, the other from William I of Scotland (
William the Lion), and both warned him in similar terms that if he invaded Wales his magnates would seize the opportunity to kill him or hand him over to his enemies. The invasion was abandoned, and in 1213, Llywelyn took the castles of Deganwy and Rhuddlan. Llywelyn made an alliance with
Philip II Augustus of
France, then allied himself with the barons who were in rebellion against John, marching on
Shrewsbury and capturing it without resistance in 1215. When John was forced to sign
Magna Carta, Llywelyn had now established himself as the leader of the independent princes of Wales, and in December 1215, led an army which included all the lesser princes to capture the castles of
Carmarthen,
Kidwelly,
Llanstephan,
Cardigan and
Cilgerran. Another indication of his growing power was that he was able to insist on the consecration of Welshmen to two vacant sees that year, Iorwerth, as
Bishop of St Davids, and
Cadwgan of Llandyfai, as
Bishop of Bangor. In 1216, Llywelyn held a council at
Aberdyfi to adjudicate on the territorial claims of the lesser princes, who affirmed their homage and allegiance to Llywelyn.
J. Beverley Smith comments: "The leader in military alliance assumed the role of lord, his erstwhile allies were now his vassals." Gwenwynwyn of Powys changed sides again that year and allied himself with King John. Llywelyn called up the other princes for a campaign against him and drove him out of southern Powys once more. Hostilities broke out with
William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke in 1220. Llywelyn destroyed the castles of
Narberth and
Wiston, burnt the town of
Haverfordwest and threatened
Pembroke Castle, but agreed to abandon the attack on payment of £100. In early 1223, Llywelyn crossed the border into
Shropshire and captured
Kinnerley and
Whittington castles. The Marshals took advantage of Llywelyn's involvement here to land near
St David's in April with an army raised in
Ireland and recaptured
Cardigan and
Carmarthen without opposition. The Marshals' campaign was supported by a royal army which took possession of
Montgomery. A letter from Llywelyn to William's wife,
Eva Marshal, written shortly after the execution enquires whether she still wishes the marriage between Dafydd and Isabella to take place. The marriage did go ahead, and the following year Joan was forgiven and restored to her position as princess. Until 1230, Llywelyn had used the title
princeps Norwalliæ "Prince of North Wales", but from that year he changed his title to "Prince of Aberffraw and Lord of Snowdon". He was, however, more concerned with the reality of power rather than its appearance. He never claimed or used the title "Prince of Wales" despite his authority extending over other rulers in Wales.
Final campaigns and the Peace of Middle 1231–1240 In 1231, there was further fighting. Llywelyn was becoming concerned about the growing power of Hubert de Burgh. Some of his men had been taken prisoner by the garrison of Montgomery and beheaded, and Llywelyn responded by burning
Montgomery, Powys,
New Radnor,
Hay, and
Brecon before turning west to capture the castles of
Neath and
Kidwelly. He completed the campaign by recapturing
Cardigan Castle. King Henry retaliated by launching an invasion and built a new castle at
Painscastle, but was unable to penetrate far into Wales. Negotiations continued into 1232 when Hubert was removed from office and later imprisoned. Much of his power passed to
Peter de Rivaux, including control of several castles in south Wales. William Marshal had died in 1231, and his brother
Richard had succeeded him as Earl of Pembroke. In 1233, hostilities broke out between Richard Marshal and Peter de Rivaux, who was supported by the king. Llywelyn made an alliance with Richard, and in January 1234 the earl and Llywelyn seized
Shrewsbury. Richard was killed in Ireland in April, but the king agreed to make peace with the insurgents. The Peace of
Middle, agreed on 21 June, established a truce of two years with Llywelyn, who was allowed to retain Cardigan and
Builth. This truce was renewed year by year for the remainder of Llywelyn's reign. == Death and aftermath ==