Helen ferch Llywelyn (abt. 1230 - aft. 1295)

Born about 1230 in Cantref Mawr, Carmarthenshire, Wales

Ancestors

Descendants

Died after 16 Feb 1295 after about age 65 in Wales

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Biography: Helen the Younger, b. 1230

Name

Elen "the Younger" ferch Llywelyn[1]

Birth and Parentage

Helen, born before 1230 to Llywelyn and a mistress other than Tangwystl. ^[1]

It is assumed that she was illegitimate. If she had been her father´s legitimate daughter, the absence in the sources of any reference to her descent from John King of England would be surprising.^[1]

b. ante 1230[2]

Parents

Llywelyn ap Iorwerth and Joan, Lady Snowden (Father: John I of England)[3]

First Marriage to Malcolm, Earl of Fife

m.1 Máel Coluim II, Earl of Fife / Malcolm III (p. Duncan Macduff of Fife and Alice Corbet).[4][5]

John of Fordun´s Scotichronicon (Continuator) records the death in 1228 of "Malcolmus comes de Fyfe" and the succession of "Malcolmus nepos eius, filius…fratris eius", adding that the latter later married "filiam Leulini regis Walliæ"[307]. ^[1]

The Chronicle of Melrose records the death in 1230 of "Malcolm earl of Fife" and the succession of "his nephew Malcolm, the son of his brother", adding that the latter "afterwards married the daughter of Leulin"[308]. ^[1]

The Chronicle of Lanercost records the death in 1229 of "comes de Fif, Malcolmus", the succession of "nepos eiusdem…Malcolmus", adding that the latter married "filia Leulini senioris domini Walliæ"[309]. The last source is the only one of the three which does not state that the new earl´s marriage was later than his succession. ^[1]

Her birth date is estimated on her having given birth to her known son in [1244/46], which suggests that the couple married at least ten years after Malcolm became earl. ^[1]

She m [firstly] [as his first wife,] MALCOLM Earl of Fife, son of DUNCAN Macduff of Fife & his wife Alice Corbet (-1266). ^[1]

Second Marriage to Donald, Earl of Mar

The second marriage of the widow of Malcolm Earl of Fife is confirmed by the documents under which "Elenæ comitissæ de Marre" accounted for payment of "xl s pro parte dotis suæ" in the accounts of lands formerly belonging to Duncan Earl of Fife 20 Nov 1293 and 16 Feb 1294[310].

However, it is not certain that this widow of Earl Malcolm was the same person as his wife who was the daughter of Prince Llywelyn.

The birth of Earl Malcolm's son Colban is estimated to [1244/46]. However, Earl Malcolm´s widow had four known children by her second husband. This would mean that she gave birth to children over an approximately thirty year span, which although not impossible would be unusual.

In addition, it seems unlikely that Earl Donald would have married, as his first marriage, a woman who would have been more than 35 years old.

She [m secondly (after 1266) DONALD Earl of Mar, son of WILLIAM Earl of Mar & his first wife Elizabeth Comyn of Buchan (-after 25 Jul 1297).]

m.2 (after 1266) Domhnall (Donald) I, Earl of Mar (p. William, Earl of Mar and Elizabeth Comyn of Buchan). Issue:[6][7]

• Isabella of Mar m. Robert the Bruce, King of Scots

1295 Death

Helen died after 16 Feb 1295). ^[1]

d. after 16 Feb 1295 [8]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, Cawley, The Foundation for Medieval Genealogy

See also:

Wikipedia: Llywelyn the Great#Children

NAMES HAVE MANY VARIANTS. PLEASE CHECK FOR MATCHES BETWEEN DIFFERENT SPELLINGS PRIOR TO MERGE.