Gruffudd Vychan

Sir Gruffudd Vychan ( 1395 – 1447), also spelt in English sources as Griffith Vaughan, was a Welsh knight who supported the rebellion of Prince Owain Glyndŵr against the English, and captured the Lollard John Oldcastle, who was later immortalized by Shakespeare as John Falstaff. He was finally executed after the murder of Sir Christopher Talbot, son of John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury. Family Lord of Burgedin, Treflydan, Garth and Gearfawr, Vychan was the second son of Gruffudd ap Ieuan ap Madoc ap Wenwys by Maud, daughter of Griffri ap Rhys Fongam. The Gwenwys clan traced its ancestry from King Brochwel Ysgithrog through descent from Elisedd ap Cyngen, the eldest son of the last King of Powys from whom they inherited their lands and titles. Their principal houses lay in the parish of Guilsfield, in the commote of Ystrad Marchell. The name is variously spelt Gruffudd Vychan, Griffith Vaughan, or Gruffydd Fychan: Gruffudd Fychan is the standard orthography in Welsh. Gruffudd married twice, first to Margaret (Margred), daughter of Madoc of Hope (or Hob). They had one two sons, David Lloyd and Cadwaladr. His second wife was also known as Margaret (Margred), daughter of Griffith ap Jenkin Broughten, by whom he had a third son, Reinallt.