..

Eleanor de Montfort, wife of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd died in childbirth on this day 1282, giving birth to Gwenllian, their only child.  It transpired to be a pivotal event in Welsh history. 

Eleanor's maternal grandfather was King John of England.

Eleanor's maternal uncle was Henry III of England.

Eleanor's maternal cousin was Edward I of England.

Her father was Simon De Montfort (leader of the Second Barons War against his brother in law, Henry III. 

1264    Simon De Montfort and Llywelyn ap Gruffydd became allies and it was agreed that Llywelyn (aged 42) and Eleanor (aged 13) would marry.

1265    Simon De Montfort was killed at the Battle of Evesham by the forces of Edward I and Eleanor and her mother fled to the Dominican nunnery at Montargis, in France,

1275    Her mother died and she was married by proxy to Llywelyn ap Gruffudd.

1276    Eleanor began the sea voyage from France to north Wales, but was captured by sailors from Bristol on behalf of Edward I and held prisoner at Windsor for nearly three years

1278    Following the signing of the Treaty of Aberconwy,  which forced Llywelyn to submit to Edward, Eleanor was released.  Eleanor and Llywelyn were then able to marry at the cathedral church at Worcester, with Edward giving her away and paying for the wedding feast.  Following the ceremony, Eleanor became officially known as Princess of Wales and Lady of Snowdon. 

1282    Eleanor died in childbirth on 19 June 1282 at the royal home at Abergwyngregyn and  her body was carried  to the Franciscan Friary of Llanfaes on Anglesey 

Llywelyn was devastated by Eleanor's death, as he appears to have put all of his hopes into stabilising the country and his succession through children sired by her and he suffered what some historians have speculated to be a nervous breakdown.  This was the start of the end game for Welsh independence as Llywelyn then joined his brother Dafydd in a futile rebellion against English rule.  They were soon surrounded in North Wales, with Edward offering Llywelyn terms of one thousand pounds a year and an estate in England if he would surrender his control in Wales to Edward.  Llywelyn rejected  the offer and within a month, he was killed in an ambush at Cilmeri.  His leaderless forces were routed shortly afterwards and the occupational English forces led by Edward I moved in.

Born on this day 1790 in Gyffin, Caernarfonshire.

John Gibson  - Neoclassical sculptor who spent most of his career in Italy. His parents moved to Liverpool when he was nine years old and he was apprenticed at fourteen to a firm of cabinet-makers and wood-carvers, he later became apprenticed as a worker in marble, which he saw as his true vocation. His first patron was William Roscoe, the historian, whose grand-daughter, Mrs. Henry Sandbach of Hafodunos, near Abergele, remained his close friend and what was probably his only link with Wales in his later years. In 1817, he arrived in Rome, where he studied sculpture under Canova and Thorwaldsen and his work was strongly influenced by classical tradition and by the Greeks, even to the colouring of his sculptures. Most of the remainder of his life was spent at Rome, carrying out commissions for leading art patrons of the period.

In all worldly affairs and the business of daily life he was simple and guileless in the extreme, but was resolute in matters of principle. He was described as a man who "dressed with extraordinary slovenliness and indifference to clothes. Everything about him bespoke the utmost unconsciousness and democratic plainness of life".

Gibson died in Rome on 7th January 1866 and bequeathed all his property and the contents of his studio to the Royal Academy, where his work is open to public view.

On this day 1958 at the FIFA World Cup in Gothenburg, Sweeden, Wales played Brazil, losing 1 - 0 to the eventual champions.  The winning goal was the first international goal scored by the great Pele.  

Wales had caused a shock in progressing to the quarter-finals by beating Hungary 2-1 in a play-off, with goals from Ivor Allchurch and Terry Medwin, after the two ended level on points in their group.  The Welsh had earlier drawn against Hungary, Mexico and hosts Sweden.  Critically Wales were without their best player, the "Gentle Giant" John Charles, who was injured for the Brazil match.

..

dftgdgdtggh

Born this day 1951 in Machynlleth

David Russell Hulme ,  conductor and musicologist known for his research and publications on the music of Sir Arthur Sullivan.

dftgdgdtggh

dftgdgdtggh

dftgdgdtggh

dftgdgdtggh

dftgdgdtggh

dftgdgdtggh

dftgdgdtggh

dftgdgdtggh

dftgdgdtggh

dftgdgdtggh

" Ymosodiad Dewr; Amddiffyniad Sicr" - "Bold in Attack; In Defence Secure".  

The Welsh Chess Union (Undeb_Gwyddbwyll_Cymru) was formed on 19th June 1954.  The Union comprises six county associations or "zones": Dyfed, East Glamorgan, Gwent, North Ceredigion, West Wales, and Cheshire and North Wales.

dftgdgdtggh

dftgdgdtggh

dftgdgdtggh

dftgdgdtggh

dftgdgdtggh