Supremacy

Victory in Perfeddwlad was won swiftly and, exercising authority over Gwynedd in its entirety, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd stood poised for the advances which were to make 1257 a year of striking achievement. ‘Llew Gwynedd, gwynfaith ardalau, /Llywiadr pobl Powys a’r Deau’ – the poet Llygad Gŵr, in an exuberant celebration, recounted the triumphs by which the prince brought Gwynedd, Powys and Deheubarth into a new unity under his rule.¹ His successes during this year were secured largely through force of arms, and Llygad Gŵr was not the only poet to strike a militant note in addressing a powerful prince who stood