3rd October On 3rd October 1283: Dafydd ap Gruffydd, brother of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, become the first prominent person in recorded history to be hanged, drawn and quartered. He was also the first person known to have been tried and executed for high treason against the King. Dafydd was dragged through the streets of Shrewsbury, attached to a horses tail then hanged alive, revived, then disembowelled and his entrails burned before him for his sacrilege in committing his crimes in the week of Christs passion, and then his body cut into four quarters for plotting the kings death. Pictured is the cross on Pride Hill, Shrewsbry, which replaced the earlier High Cross that was the site for proclamations and significant executions. A notice nearby states that David III, Prince of Wales was hanged, drawn, beheaded and quartered near here in 1283 for high treason. Events leading up to the execution of Dafydd ap Gruffydd; 1238 Dafydd was born to Gruffydd ap Llywelyn and his wife, Senena, and thus a grandson of Llywelyn Fawr. 1241 Dafydd is recorded as having been handed over as a hostage, as part of an agreement with Henry III of England. 1255 Dafydd joined in a challenge to Llywelyn at the Battle of Bryn Derwin. Llywelyn was victorious and Dafydd was imprisoned. However, Llywelyn released him the following year and restored him to favour. 1263 Dafydd joined King Henry against Llywelyn 1267 At the Treaty of Montgomery, Llywelyn was recognised as Prince of Wales by King Henry and Dafydd was again restored to Llywelyns favour 1272 Henry III died and was replaced on the throne by his son Edward I 1274 Dafydd was involved in an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Llywelyn and forced to flee to England where he was maintained by king Edward I and assisted in further raids on Llywelyns lands, 1276 Edward declared Llewelyn a rebel and gathered an enormous army to march against him. 1277 Edwards forces had reached the heart of Gwynedd and confiscated the harvest in Anglesey, which deprived Llewelyn and his men of food, forcing Llewelyn to surrender. This resulted in the Treaty of Aberconwy, which guaranteed peace in Gwynedd in return for several difficult concessions from Llewelyn. However Dafydd and Llywelyn were reconciled. 1282 (Easter) Dafydd attacked Harwarden Castle, thereby starting the final conflict Edward I. 1282 (11th December) Llywelyn was killed and Dafydd who had become Prince of Wales, was on the run. 1283 (January) Edward I had the heartland of independent Wales ringed with a massive army. Dafydd initiallyoperated from Dolwyddelan, but with limited resources of manpower and equipment, the passes leading to Dolwyddelan became indefensible and Dafydd moved down to Castell y Bre. 1283 (April) Castell y Bere was besieged by over 3,000 men, and the small Welsh garrison surrendered. Dafydd escaped to Dolbadarn Castle, at the foot of Snowdon. 1283 (May) Dafydd was forced to move to the mountains above the Welsh royal home in Abergwyngregyn. 1283 (22nd June) Dafydd was captured at Nanhysglain, a secret hiding place in a bog by Bera Mountain to the south of Abergwyngregyn. Dafydd, seriously wounded in the struggle, was brought to King Edwards camp at Rhuddlan and then to Chester and finally to Shrewsbury. Dafydds wife Elizabeth de Ferrers, their seven daughters and their infant niece, Gwenllian ferch Llywelyn, were also taken prisoner at the same time. 1283 (28th June) Edward issued writs to summon a parliament to meet at Shrewsbury, to discuss Dafydds fate. 1283 (3rd October) Dafydd was executed, with Edward ensuring that his death was slow and agonising. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dafydd_ap_Gruffydd
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 23:10:01 +0000
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