Owain Goch ap Gruffydd
Owain ap Gruffydd, (also known as Owain Goch (Owain the Red)), (d. 1282), was brother to Llywelyn the Last and David ap Gruffydd.
Little is known of Owain's early life, but in 1246, he and his younger brother Llywelyn succeeded their uncle, David ap Llywelyn, as rulers of Gwynedd in northern Wales. Their uncle's lands were split between the two of them. Though initially paying homage to the English, Owain and Llywelyn soon broke with Henry III in protest over the ruthless raids being conducted on the Welsh borders. By 1256 Owain and Llywelyn had largely forced the English out of northern Wales.
The brothers were desirous of the throne for themselves, and in 1255 the three brothers fought over the right to proclaim themselves ruler. Llywelyn defeated Owain and Dafydd on the field of battle at Bryn Derwin. (An artist's rendering of the battle) With his brothers out of the way, Llywelyn proceeded to extend Gwynedd's territory until it encompassed much of the rest of Wales, in the process claiming the title of Prince of Wales. Owain was imprisoned.
In a contemporary poem of the 16th Century, author Hywl Foel ap Griffri laments Owain's captivity, describing him in the opening line as:
Gwr / ysydd yn nhwr / yn hir westai (a man who is in the tower, long a guest).
It is unclear where Owain was imprisoned, but some scholars believe he was kept in Dolbadarn Castle near Llanberis. Wherever his cell, Llywelyn reluctantly released Owain in 1277 under the terms of the Treaty of Aberconwy, after some 20 years of captivity.
Upon being released, Owain retired to his estate in western Wales and never again mounted a serious challenge to his brother Llywelyn's rule.