CROWDS gathered at the Powys resting place of the last sovereign Prince of Wales in December to mark his death, 741 years since he died.

For the second time since the Covid-19 pandemic, crowds returned to the iconic site of the battle of Cilmeri, near Builth Wells, last month, where Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, the last native Prince of Wales, was defeated and killed by the forces of the English King Edward 1, in December 1282.

The Cofio Llywelyn event, organised by historian Dr John Davies, of Llandysul, and Sian Meredydd, from Llandrindod Wells, included a Latin requiem mass at Llanynis Church, to commemorate the hundreds of fallen soldiers who also died under Llywelyn's command, at the hands of the English forces, including a powerful address by Rev Mark Beaton.

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Following a gathering and restorative lunch at the Prince Llywelyn Inn, at the heart of the village, the assembled company processed along the A483 to the Prince Llywelyn Memorial.

There followed a solemn ceremony, in poetry, prose and music to mark the anniversary of Prince Llywelyn's death.

Speakers included well-known Welsh historian Dr Elin Jones, a longstanding supporter of the Cofio Llywelyn Commemoration, former Welsh Liberal Democrat Senedd member for Mid and West Wales William Powell, alongside Gail Davies, mother of the late Plaid Cymru Senedd Member for South Wales East, Steffan Lewis.

In her contribution, Dr Jones spoke of the importance of unity among those striving for Wales' language, history, culture and democracy to be respected.

That seemed, more than anything, to sum up the spirit of Cofio Llywelyn 2023.

County Times: A solemn ceremony, in poetry, prose and music, was held to mark the anniversary of Prince Llywelyn's death. A solemn ceremony, in poetry, prose and music, was held to mark the anniversary of Prince Llywelyn's death. (Image: Cofio Llywelyn)

Llywelyn – also known as Llywelyn the Last – was the last native Prince of Wales before he was killed in an ambush in Cilmeri; the title has since passed to male heirs to the English throne.

He had ridden down to Builth with around 7,000 men but had left them to rally local leaders at Builth Castle when the attack took place. When Llywelyn heard the news he is said to have ridden back to join his men but was caught and killed at Cilmeri.

The site of Llywelyn’s death is already marked by a monument raised in 1956. His head was sent to London and placed on a spike at the Tower of London where it remained for 15 years.

For more information on Cymdeithas Cofio Llywelyn, visit the Cofio Llywelyn 1282 Facebook page.