Perfeddwlad

For much of its history the area had been known as Tegeingl, after the Celtic tribe Deceangli which inhabited North East Wales since the Iron Age.

Llywelyn's expansionist conflicts with Reginald de Braose, William Marshal, and Powys Wenwynwyn, lead to his dominance of Wales, but following his death, his brother-in-law, King Henry III of England, temporarily invaded the Perfeddwlad in order to force Llywelyn's son - Dafydd - to agree (by the Treaty of Gwerneigron) to limit his authority to Gwynedd.

Following Gruffydd's accidental death a few years later (while trying to escape), Dafydd forged an anti-English alliance against his uncle (King Henry), resulting in a pre-emptive English invasion, in 1245.

Dafydd died without heirs the next year, but the war was continued by Gruffydd's sons until 1247, when they decided to make peace with the King - the Treaty of Woodstock.

Supply-line problems led to a series of defeats for the English, who subsequently had to abandon their campaign to deal with serious conflicts between the King and his Barons.

However, when Llywelyn married Eleanor de Montfort (in 1275), the daughter of Henry's greatest enemy, Edward - now king of England - demanded an explanation, in person.