Editing Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (section)

=== Arrangements for the succession ===
In his later years, Llywelyn devoted much effort to ensuring that his only legitimate son, [[Dafydd ap Llywelyn|Dafydd]], would follow him as ruler of Gwynedd and amended Welsh law as followed in Gwynedd.<ref>{{cite book |title=A history of Wales: from the Norman invasion to the Edwardian conquest |isbn=0760752419 |year=2004 |pages=297, 362 |publisher=Barnes & Noble |edition=Reprint |author=John Edward Lloyd}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|A history of Wales{{sfn|Lloyd|1911}} 2004 reprint, also look up, pp. 347, 369 and note 64, 82, 164|group=ll}} Llywelyn's amendment to Welsh law favouring legitimate children in a Church sanctioned marriage mirrored the earlier efforts of the Lord Rhys, Prince of Deheubarth, in designating [[Gruffydd ap Rhys II]] as his heir over those of his illegitimate eldest son, [[Maelgwn ap Rhys]]. In both cases, favouring legitimate children born in a Church sanctioned marriage would facilitate better relations between their sons and the wider Anglo-Norman polity and [[Catholic Church]] by removing any "stigma" of illegitimacy. Dafydd's older but illegitimate brother, [[Gruffydd ap Llywelyn Fawr|Gruffudd]], was therefore excluded as the primary heir of Llywelyn, though would be given lands to rule. This was a departure from Welsh custom, which held that the eldest son was his father's heir regardless of his parents' marital status.<ref name="Welsh Succession Law">{{google book|id=tfUyAAAAIAAJ&rdid|title=The Ancient Laws of Wales|pages=192–200}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|According to Hubert Lewis, though not explicitly codified as such, the ''[[Edling]]'' or [[Heir apparent]], was ''by convention, custom and practice'' the eldest son of the lord and entitled to inheirit the position and title as "head of the family" from the father. Effectively [[primogeniture]] with local variations. However, all sons were provided for out of the lands of the father and in certain circumstances, so too were daughters. Additionally, sons could claim maternal patrimony through their mother in certain circumstances.|group=ll}}{{#tag:ref|There was provision in Welsh law for the selection of a single ''edling'' or heir by the ruler, for the succession which created a family struggle.{{sfn|Williams|1860|pages=393–413}} For a discussion of this, see Stephenson.{{sfn|Stephenson|1984|pages=138–141}}|group=ll}}

In 1220, Llywelyn induced the minority government of King Henry to acknowledge Dafydd as his heir.<ref name="Davies 249"/> In 1222, he petitioned [[Pope Honorius III]] to have Dafydd's succession confirmed. The original petition has not been preserved, but the Pope's reply refers to the "detestable custom... in his land whereby the son of the handmaiden was equally heir with the son of the free woman and illegitimate sons obtained an inheritance as if they were legitimate." The Pope welcomed the fact that Llywelyn was abolishing this custom.{{sfn|Pryce|2005|pp=414–415}} In 1226, Llywelyn persuaded the Pope to declare his wife Joan, Dafydd's mother, to be a legitimate daughter of King John, again in order to strengthen Dafydd's position, and in 1229, the English crown accepted Dafydd's homage for the lands he would inherit from his father.<ref name=DWB/><ref name="Davies 249" /> In 1238, Llywelyn held a council at [[Strata Florida Abbey]] where the other Welsh princes swore [[fealty]] to Dafydd.<ref name="Davies 249" /> Llywelyn's original intention had been that they should do homage to Dafydd, but the king wrote to the other rulers forbidding them to do homage.{{sfn|Carr|1995|p=60}} Additionally, King Llywelyn arranged for his son Dafydd to marry [[Isabella de Braose]], eldest daughter of William de Braose. As William de Braose had no male heir, Llywelyn strategized that the vast de Braose holdings in South Wales would pass to the heir of Dafydd with Isabella.

Gruffudd was given an [[appanage]] in [[Meirionnydd]] and [[Ardudwy]] but his rule was said to be oppressive, and in 1221 Llywelyn stripped him of these territories.{{sfn|Williams|1860|pp=182–183}} In 1228, Llywelyn imprisoned him, and he was not released until 1234. On his release, he was given part of [[Llŷn Peninsula|Llŷn]] to rule. His performance this time was apparently more satisfactory, and by 1238, he had been given the remainder of Llŷn and a substantial part of Powys.{{sfn|Lloyd|1911|p=692}}