Monastic Wales.








Event detail for site: Cymer

1209: Royal confirmation

Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great) confirmed all grants and privileges that had been hitherto accorded to the abbey and offered the monks his protection.

Llywelyn, who from 1199 exercised full control over Gwynedd, gave his full support to the monks of Cymer and was a valuable benefactor. In return for his generosity Llywelyn ap Iorwerth received two of the monks’ horses each year.

People associated with this event

Llywelyn ab Iorwerth; Llywelyn Fawr , prince of Gwynedd (benefactor)

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

Calendar of the Charter Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office, 6 vols (London, 1903-1927) 1321-4 (400)

Robinson, David M., The Cistercians in Wales: Architecture and Archaeology 1130-1540, Society of Antiquaries of London, Research Committee Report (London, 2006) p. 235

Williams-Jones, Keith, 'Llywelyn's charter to Cymer Abbey in 1209', Journal of the Merioneth Historical and Record Society, 3 (1957-1960) p. 60


Other events in the history of this site

c.1198Foundation - The Cistercian General Chapter received a request from 'Grifini', prince of N. Wales (Gruffyd ap Cynan), to build an abbey of the Order.  [5 sources]
1209Royal confirmation - Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great) confirmed all grants and privileges that had been hitherto accorded to the abbey and offered the monks his protection. [3 sources]
1241Destruction - Henry III caused some of the abbey's buildings to be burned. [2 sources]
1274Loan - Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (Llywelyn the Last, d. 1282) made the abbot a loan of £12 to enable him to travel to the annual general chapter at Cîteaux. [3 sources]
1275Royal troops billeted - Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffydd made his HQ at the abbey. [1 sources]
1279Royal troops billeted - Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffydd again made HQ at the abbey. [1 sources]
1283Occupation - Edward I occupied the abbey and made this his base for machinations in the region. [1 sources]
1284Compensation - Edward I offered the monks £80 to defray the costs of damages incurred during the warfare. [2 sources]
1291Wealth - The abbey's net income (spiritualities and temporalities) was assessed at just £28 8s 3d in the Taxatio Ecclesiastica. [3 sources]
1323Confirmation - Edward II confirmed Prince Llywelyn’s charter of 1209.  [2 sources]
1379Poll tax - The abbot was required to pay 10s and each of the four monks, 4d. [1 archives]
1443Custody - Cymer was taken into royal custody. [2 sources]
1453Custody - Cymer was once more taken into royal custody. [2 sources]
1520Contested abbacy - Rival claimants to the abbacy. [2 sources]
c.1535Valuation - On the eve of the Dissolution the abbey had an estimated net income of £51 13s 4d, according to the Valor Ecclesiasticus. [3 sources][1 archives]
c.1537Dissolution - The abbey was likely suppressed in March 1537. [2 sources]
1558Post Dissolution - In May 1558 the site was leased to John Powes, royal servant. [1 sources]
1890Artefacts recovered - A splendid thirteenth-century silver gilt chalice and paten belonging to the abbey were found hidden under a stone at Cym-y-mynach.
 [1 sources]

 
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