, Beaumaris, Anglesey, Wales,

Street View of Joan, Lady of Wales | Map of Joan, Lady of Wales location

The tale of Joan, Lady of Wales, is not as well known as Wales’s other love stories, but there is no doubt that it too carries tragedy, lust, love and betrayal.

Joan, better known in Welsh as Siwan, was the daughter of King John, then king of England. At the age of twelve she was married to Llywelyn the Great, then King of Wales, and went to live with him in his castle at Abergwyngregyn, north Wales. One night many years later, Llywelyn found Joan in their bed chamber with William de Braose, the 10th baron of Abergavenny. Furious, Llywelyn hanged de Braose and had Joan imprisoned for twelve months. Afterwards, the two reconciled and Llywelyn took Joan back as his wife, restoring her title as Lady of Wales. Joan died in February 1237 and following her death Llywelyn founded a Friary near Llanfaes, where he had Joan buried. In 1537 the Friary was destroyed as part of Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries, and Siwan's stone coffin was used as a horse trough for many years. Her tomb was then moved to Beaumaris church, where it can still be seen today. ....