Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd (c. 1097–1136) was a Welsh noblewoman and a national heroine, known for her resistance against the Norman invasion of Wales. She was the daughter of Gruffydd ap Cynan, King of Gwynedd, and the wife of Gruffudd ap Rhys, the ruler of Deheubarth. Gwenllian played an active role in the defense of Wales, leading an armed revolt against the Normans while her husband was seeking military support from Gwynedd. In 1136, she led an army in battle near Kidwelly but was ultimately defeated. She was captured and executed by the Normans, making her one of the few known medieval women to lead troops into battle. Her legacy endures in Welsh history and culture, with some considering her a symbol of Welsh resistance. The battle in which she died is sometimes referred to as “Gwenllian’s Rebellion,” and her name has been associated with the famous Welsh battle cry, “Revenge for Gwenllian!”
