Person Page - 1640

     Dafydd ap Gruffydd Prince of Wales died on 3 October 1283.¹
     He was last Prince of Wales between 11 December 1282 and 25 April 1283.¹

     Gwenwynwyn ap Owain Prince of South Powys married Margaret Corbet, daughter of Sir Robert Corbet Knt., Baron of Caus, Gwenwynwyn and Emma Pantulf.³
Gwenwynwyn ap Owain Prince of South Powys was born in 1158.⁴
Gwenwynwyn ap Owain Prince of South Powys died circa 1216.¹
     GKJ-23. Gwenwynwyn ap Owain Prince of South Powys was also known as Re: FitzWarine Question - CP amendment? ap Owain Prince of South Powys.⁴

; GWENWYNWYN Southern Powys, 1195-1216. The last great ruler of Powys. The son of OWAIN CYFEILIOG and grandson of OWAIN GWYNEDD, Gwenwynwyn had an impressive pedigree, a strong character and a patriotic fervour that caused him to step rapidly into the power vacuum left by the deaths of DAFYDD AB OWAIN in 1195 and RHYS AP GRUFFYDD in 1197. A series of raids along the English border in 1196 and the annexation of Arwystli in 1197 gave Gwenwynwyn a strong power base from which he launched his claim for overall control of Wales. Raids into Ceredigion brought him control over those territories, but increasingly roused the ire of LLYWELYN AB IORWETH, whose ambition for the Welsh hegemony was as powerful as Gwenwynwyn's. The two would remain rivals for the next ten years, although Gwenwynwyn's authority was weakened in August 1198 when English forces defeated him at Painscastle. Nevertheless the next year, with the accession of JOHN to the English throne, saw Gwenwynwyn benefiting from the favour of the English king, with the grant of lands in Derbyshire. Later that same year Llywelyn established a rapport with John and the two Welsh lords became locked in intense rivalry. In August 1202 Llywelyn planned an all-out raid on Powys, but was temporarily persuaded to an amicable treaty. Gwenwynwyn eventually overstepped the mark in 1208 when he recommenced raids in mid Wales to take advantage of the fall from grace of William de Breos, the senior marcher lord. John reacted immediately. Gwenwynwyn's forces were soon overcome, and the Welsh prince was summoned to Shrewsbury in October where John confiscated his lands and only allowed him his freedom upon rendering twenty hostages. Llywelyn promptly overran Ceredigion and Powys, and Gwenwynwyn found himself a prince dispossessed. John eventually restored Gwenwynwyn to his lands in southern Powys in November 1210, but under such strict conditions that Gwenwynwyn was virtually a pawn. Unable to suffer this for long, in 1212 he swallowed his pride and threw in his lot with Llywelyn. The next four years saw Llywelyn's rise to overall power in Wales with Gwenwynwyn as a staunch supporter, paying him formal homage in 1215. But all this came to naught in early 1216 when John restored Gwenwynwyn to his manor in Derbyshire. Llywelyn saw this as a treacherous act and immediately invaded Powys, driving Gwenwynwyn into exile. He is heard of no more after June 1216 and presumably died about that time.¹

     Owain ap Cadwgan died in 1116.¹
      ; OWAIN AP CADWGAN Powys, 1111-14; 1115-16. Owain was probably the single most disastrous factor in stopping the rise to power of Powys at the start of the twelfth century. He was the son of CADWGAN AP BLEDDYN, a capable enough ruler but one who had no control over his son. From 1106 onwards, Owain caused problem after problem. In that year he murdered two sons of TRAHERN AP CARADOG, starting an inter-dynastic feud. In 1109 he abducted Nesta, the daughter of RHYS AP TEWDWR and wife of Gerald, castellan of Pembroke, which caused a major political conflict between HENRY I of England and Cadwgan. Owain then embarked upon banditry in Dyfed, capturing victims for the Irish slave trade, before committing a major felony by murdering a prominent member of a local Flemish family. At last in 1110 Owain was banished to Ireland; he was pardoned and returned in 1111, but was soon obliged to go back to Ireland. Within months, his father was murdered by Madog ap Rhiryd, and Owain returned to Wales to claim his inheritance. He was awarded the kingship of Powys, sharing a small part of the lands with his cousin, Madog. It seems that once he was in power Owain's character changed. He had achieved his ends and now sought to rule strongly but fairly. This did not stop him imprisoning Madog in 1113 and blinding him. In 1114 Henry invaded Wales as a punitive expedition against GRUFFYDD AP CYNAN. In the process he captured Owain and took him with him back to Normandy. It seems that Henry took to Owain. For all the excesses of his youth, he must have been a likeable rogue, with his own code of honour. Henry knighted him and returned him to his kingdom in July 1115. The next year, Owain was fighting on behalf of Henry and suddenly found himself ambushed and killed by Gerald of Pembroke and his Flemish archers, both of whom Owain had so badly wronged a few years earlier.¹

     Madog ap Bleddyn died in 1088.¹
      ; MADOG AP BLEDDYN Powys, 1075-88. The eldest son of BLEDDYN AP CYNFYN. On the death of his father Madog and his brothers took advantage of the war of succession that was happening throughout Wales, in particular the rivalry between RHYS AB OWAIN of Deheubarth and TRAHERN AP CARADOG of Gwynedd and, by around 1080, had succeeded in claiming for themselves the old kingdom of Powys. It seems they shared the land between them, though Madog and his full brother Rhiryd, were regarded as the premier rulers. In 1088 the brothers attacked RHYS AP TEWDWR of Deheubarth, driving him into exile in Ireland. Their triumph was short-lived, for Rhys raised a Danish fleet and returned victorious. Madog and Rhiryd were killed in the ensuing battle.¹

     Rhiryd ap Bleddyn died in 1088.²

     Iorweth ap Bleddyn died in 1111.¹
      ; IORWETH AP BLEDDYN Powys, 1088-1 103; 1110-11. One of the younger sons of BLEDDYN AP CYNFYN who came to power jointly with his brother CADWGAN after the death of his elder brothers MADOG and Rhiryd in 1088. Iorweth was easily influenced and became involved in a number of raids and uprisings, sometimes at the behest of his countrymen, sometimes at the bidding of the Normans. He was involved in the rebellion of Robert of Montgomery in 1102, which failed due to his own desertion. He expected to be honoured by HENRY I with lands in Powys and Ceredigion which, instead, went to Cadwgan, and when he received no other lands, Iorweth became openly hostile. He was arrested and imprisoned in 1103. His release in 1110 was only in the hope that he might be able to control the family disharmony amongst the sons and grandsons of Bleddyn and prove a better ruler than Cadwgan. The main malcontents were OWAIN AP CADWGAN and his cousin, Madog ap Rhiryd, whom Iorweth succeeded in driving into Ceredigion and from there into exile in Ireland. However, this fortune did not last for long. Madog returned and, in 1111, murdered Iorweth. Control of Powys and Ceredigion passed back briefly to Cadwgan.¹

     Maredudd ap Bleddyn married Hunydd ferch Eunydd, daughter of Eunydd ap Gwerny Lord of Dyffryn Clwyd,
; "his 1st consort."³ Maredudd ap Bleddyn married Efa ferch Blettrws, daughter of Blettrws ap Ednowain Bendew Lord of Tegeingle (Fling),
; his 2nd wife.³
Maredudd ap Bleddyn died in 1132.³
     GAV-24.

; MAREDUDD AP BLEDDYN Powys, 1116-32. One of the younger sons of BLEDDYN AP CYNFYN who somehow survived the trials and tribulations of his brothers and nephews and eventually, in 1116, came to inherit most of Powys. He was a weaker ruler than his brothers, and certainly than his nephew OWAIN AP CADWGAN, though he had been no less a hothead in his youth. In 1103 he had been handed over to the English Crown by his brother IORWETH, but escaped from prison in 1108. When HENRY I invaded Wales in 1114 and captured Owain, Maredudd paid homage to the king and ruled as steward until Owain was restored the next year. In 1116, after Owain's murder, Powys was shared out amongst his brothers, but Maredudd was able to exercise authority as overlord, and gradually rebuilt the kingdom. Nevertheless, Maredudd remained in power primarily because of his fealty to Henry I. When Henry again invaded Wales in 1121, Maredudd was unable to defend himself and fled into Gwynedd. GRUFFYDD AP CYNAN was not prepared to annoy Henry by harbouring Maredudd, and Maredudd had to buy his peace with 10,000 cattle. Powys came increasingly under pressure from Gwynedd, during the ruthless expansion of Gruffydd's son Cadwallon, but with his death in battle against Powys at Llangollen in 1132, peace was temporarily restored. Maredudd must have lived well into his sixties. He married twice and had at least four children. He was succeeded by his eldest son, MADOG.¹

     Gruffydd ap Maredudd Lord of Mowddwy died in 1128; dvp.²
     GKJ-25.

     Sir Walter de Faucomberge Knt. married Anastasia de Neville, daughter of Ralph/Randolph de Neville 1st Baron Neville of Raby and Euphemia de Clavering.¹

Sir Walter de Faucomberge Knt. died on 24 June 1314 at Battle of Bannockburn, Bannockburn, Scotland; dsp & vp, k at the Scots victory over the English of Bannockburn.^1,2
      ; Walter (Sir); ktd 1306; m Anastase (d in or after 1315), dau of 1st Lord (Baron) Nevill(e) (of Raby) (see ABERGAVENNY, M), and dsp & vp, k at the Scots victory over the English of Bannockburn 24 June 1314.¹

; per Watson: "Sir Walter de Faucomberge, second son and heir apparent, [of Walter de Faucomberge and Isabel de Ros] was knighted by the Prince of Wales, 22 May 1306, at Westminster. He was summoned for Military Service, 24 June 1312 and again (but after his death) 30 June 1314 by writs directed Waltero de Faucumberge juniori or Facumberge le fiz. He married Anastase, daughter of Sir Randolph de Neville, of Raby, co. Durham [1st Lord Neville], by Eupheme, daughter of Robert [FitzRoger], 1st Lord FitzRoger. He died s.p., being slain at the battle of Bannockburn, 24 June 1314. His widow was living in 1315 [1].

Reference:
1. Complete Peerage, Vol 5, pp 270-1 & Vol 14, p 318."²

     Owain Fychan ap Madog died in 1187; killed.²
      ; established Lord of Mechain.²

     Owain Brogyntyn ap Madog died after 1188.²
      ; established Lord of Edeirnion.²

     Owain ap Gruffydd died in 1197.¹

     Madog ap Gruffydd married Gwladus ferch Ithel "Frenin Gwent ap Rhys.²

Madog ap Gruffydd died in 1236.¹
Madog ap Gruffydd was buried in 1236 at Llyn Egwestl Abbey, Valley of the Pillar of Elisedd (Valley of the Cross), Powys, Wales.¹
     GAV-23.

; MADOG AP GRUFFYDD MAELOR Northern Powys, 1191-1236. On the death of Madog's father, Northern Powys was divided between his two sons Madog and Owain. Owain died in 1197 and Madog was able to re-unite Northern Powys, which in later years became known as Powys Fadog after him. Madog was initially supportive of his neighbouring king, LLYWELYN AP IORWETH, but became increasingly wary as Llywelyn's power rose. Madog owed his status and position to the good relationship his father and grandfather had established with the English Crown and Madog was not about to lose that, especially when JOHN came to the throne in 1199 and showed himself as a king not to be trifled with. Thus, when Llywelyn sought to establish a Welsh confederacy against the Normans, Madog remained in the English camp, despite the dire straits that placed him in. This remained so until 1215, when John's domestic problems caused him to release his hold over Wales and, at that stage, Madog switched to Llywelyn. It was a shrewd move. When the Treaty of Worcester was agreed in 1218 Madog was confirmed in his position, even though he had to acknowledge Llywelyn as supreme prince of Wales. Madog was a strong supporter of the church and, in 1201, he established a Cistercian abbey at Llyn Egwestl, in the Valley of the Pillar of ELISEDD, known as the Valley of the Cross. It was in this abbey that Madog was buried in 1236. On his death, his lands were again divided amongst his five sons, of whom GRUFFYDD was the senior.¹

     GKJ-15.

; van de Pas cites: The Lineage and Ancestry of H.R.H. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Edinburgh, 1977, Paget, Gerald, Reference: ancestor Q 99802.¹

     Gruffydd Fychan I ap Gruffydd died in 1289.¹

     Madog Crippil ap Gruffydd married Elizabeth le Strange, daughter of Sir John V le Strange Knt., 1st Lord Strange of Knockyn and Maud de Walton.^2,3

Madog Crippil ap Gruffydd died in 1304.¹

     Ystradwal (?) married Coel Hen "Old King Cole" (?) King of Northern Britain, son of Goutepauc (?).¹

     GAV-44 EDV-44 GKJ-45.

     GAV-45 EDV-45 GKJ-46.