Eleanor de Montfort

Eleanor de Montfort was an English noblewoman born in 1252, who became Princess of Wales through her marriage to Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. She was the daughter of Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, and Eleanor of England, making her a granddaughter of King John of England. Her early life included the death of her father and brother at the Battle of Evesham in 1265, after which she and her family fled to France.

In 1275, Eleanor married Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Prince of Wales, through a proxy marriage. Her journey to Wales was interrupted when she was captured by sailors from Bristol, acting on behalf of her cousin, King Edward I of England. She was imprisoned at Windsor for nearly three years before being released in 1278 following the Treaty of Aberconwy, after which she and Llywelyn were formally married at Worcester Cathedral.

Eleanor died on 19 June 1282 while giving birth to her daughter, Gwenllian of Wales, at the royal palace in Abergwyngregyn. She was buried at the Franciscan Friary at Llanfaes, Anglesey. Her husband, Llywelyn, was killed later that year, and their daughter Gwenllian was captured and sent to Sempringham Priory.