until 1237, three years before his death, when
he submitted in order to secure the succession of his son
David. Upon David's death, in 1246, the principality of
Wales was divided between Llewelyn and Owen the Red, sons of
Griffith ap Llewelyn, David's illegitimate brother. Civil
war soon followed, and in 1224 Llewelyn made himself master
of the land.

Llewelyn might have reached absolute independence had he not
taken part with Simon de Montfort in the barons' war against
Henry III. With the defeat and death of Montfort at Evesham
(1265) the prospect of a new Welsh sovereignty vanished;
Llewelyn purchased a peace and was recognized by Henry as
prince of Wales, retaining a part of his territories.

When Llewelyn was summoned as a vassal of the English crown
to the coronation of Edward I (1274), he refused. Twice
again was he summoned to do homage to the King, but still
evaded the summons. Upon his final refusal to come to the
parliament of 1276, his lands were declared to be forfeited,
and in 1277 Edward led an army into Wales.

The whole force of the realm was summoned to meet at Worcester in
June, 1277, and so well was the command obeyed that Edward found
himself able to dispose of three armies. With the first he himself
operated along the north, opening a safe road through the Cheshire
forests, and fortifying Flint and Rhuddlan, while the ships of the
Cinque Ports hovered along the coast and ravaged Anglesey. The _corps
d'armee_, under the Earl of Lincoln and Roger Mortimer, besieged and
reduced Dolvorwyn castle in Montgomeryshire. The third was led into
Cardigan by Payne de Chaworth, who ravaged the country with such vigor
that the South Welsh--being probably disaffected to a prince not of
their own lineage--surrendered the castle of Stradewi and made a
general submission.

Edward had avoided the fatal errors of previous commanders, who had
risked their forces in a barren and difficult country. His blockade
was so well sustained that Llewelyn was starved, rather than beaten,
into unconditional submission.

With singular moderation, Edward had declined receiving the homage of
the southern chiefs. He now granted Llewelyn honorable terms, November
5, 1277. A fine of fifty thousand pounds was imposed to mark the
greatness of the victory, but remitted next day out of the King's
grace. Four border cantreds,[72] old possessions