Ref:

(1) Gwentian Chronicle- Brut y Tywysogion- in "Archaeologia Cambrensis, The Journal of the Cambrian Archaeological Association"- Third Series, London, 1864- Vol. X, p. 59
(2) Brut y Tywysogion or the Chronicle of the Princes of Wales- J. Williams ap Ithel, Ed., London, 1860- p. 141

b.c.978
m.1. ANGHARAD FERCH MEREDUDD (b.c.982, m.1. Llywelyn ap Seisyll, King of Gwynedd)- d. of Maredudd ap Owain.
2. ?
d. 1023

The Chronicle of the Princes of Wales states that "Bleddyn son of Cynvyn [and] Gruffudd son of Llywelyn... were brothers by the same mother... Angharad daughter of Meredudd king of the Britons".(1) The "Chronicle" in 1106 records that "Bleddyn and Rhiwallon, sons of Cynvyn, were brothers, from Angharad daughter of king Maredudd".(2) It goes on to say that "Iweryd the mother of Owain and Uchtryd, the sons of Edwin king of Tegeingl and Bleddyn son of Cynvyn were sister and brother by the same father but not the same mother as Angharad daughter of Maredudd was the mother of Bleddyn."(3) The Gwentian Chronicle states that "Yngharad the widow of Llywelyn son of Seisyllt married Cynvyn son of Gwerystan lor of Cibwyr" in 1023.(4)

Ref:

(1) Brut y Tywysogion or the Chronicle of the Princes of Wales- J. Williams ap Ithel, Ed., London, 1860- p. 125
(2) Ibid- p. 81
(3) Ibid- p. 141
(4) Gwentian Chronicle- Brut y Tywysogion- in "Archaeologia Cambrensis, The Journal of the Cambrian Archaeological Association"- Third Series, London, 1864- Vol. X, p. 47

b.c.1025
m.1. _______- d. of Brockwell ap Moelyn of Nwrcelyn in M�n, Anglesey
2. _______-
3. HAER FERCH CILLIN (m.1. Cynfyn Hirdref)- d. of Cillin/Colin y Blaidd Rhudd, Lord of Gest yn Eifionydd
4. Morien- d. of Idnerth ap Cadwgan ap Elstan Gledrydd
d. 1075

After Gruffydd ap Llywelyn was killed by his own men after being defeated by Harold Godwinson in 1063, Gruffydd's lands were given to his half-brothers Bleddyn and Rhiwallon who succeeded as vassals and allies of King Edward the Confessor and then Harold.(1) He and his brother Rhiwallon along with Eadric "the wild" of Mercia, joined in a successful attack on the new Norman castle of Hereford in 1067. The following year Bleddyn joined Edwin, Earl of Mercia in an abortive revolt against the Normans. Two years later he successfully defended his princedom against the two sons of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn in the battle of Mechain in Powys, but Rhiwallon was killed. Gruffydd's sons were killed as well and Bleddyn was left as sole ruler of Gwynedd and Powys.(2) In 1073 Robert of Rhuddlan amassed his forces on the banks of the Clwyd and attempted to ambush Bleddyn who narrowly escaped, however, Rhuddlan seized valuable booty from these raids.

In 1075 in an attempt to conquer the minor princedom of Deheubarth, Bleddyn was killed by Rhys ap Owain and the lords of Ystrad Tywi.(3) Rhys was defeated at the Battle of Goodwick by Trahaearn ap Caradog in 1078 and killed by Caradog ap Gruffydd of Gwent which was called "vengeance for the blood of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn".

He had made Powys the most powerful princedom of the day and was one of the few to introduce amendments to the Law of Hywel. According to the Brut y Tywysogion he was the mildest and most clement of kings, and did injury to none save when insulted, nor loved to avenge the insult when it came. To his kinsmen he was gentle, widows and orphans and the weak he defended, he was the support of the wise, the glory and cornerstone of the church, the delight of all lands, open-handed to all, terrible in war, but in peace beloved.

Page from the "Brut y Tywysogion"- National Library of Wales

Issue- First three children by first wife, next two children by second wife, sixth child by Haer, last two children by Morien.

Ref:

(1) The Chronicles of Florence of Worcester with two continuations- T. Forester, London, 1854- entry for 1064, p. 166
(2) Brut y Tywysogion or the Chronicle of the Princes of Wales- J. Williams ap Ithel, Ed., London, 1860- p. 47
(3) Ibid

Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, King of Gwynedd and of Powys- Huw Pryce, in the "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography", 2004
Tim Powys-Lybbe's web page at: http://www.tim.ukpub.net/

m.1. HUNYDD FERCH EINUDD- d. of Efnydd ap Gwernwy, Lord of Duffryn Clwdd, Denbighland
2. Eva ferch Bledrus ap Ednowain Bendew
d. 1132

In the chronicles, Maredudd appears to have been the least powerful lord of that time and place. The brothers held their lands as vassals of Robert, Earl of Shrewsbury. When the Earl rebelled against King Henry I in 1102 the brothers initially supported him and raided Staffordshire. King Henry bought Iorwerth's allegience with gifts of land through William Pantulf who, along with a now large Welsh force, defeated Earl Robert and captured Maredudd.(1) Maredudd escaped in 1107 and by 1113 he was acting as penteulu or Captain of the Guard for his nephew Owain ap Cadwgan who had taken over as Prince of Powys. At this time Maredudd captured Madog ap Rhiryd who had killed his brother Iorwerth and Cadwgan in 1111. Madog was sent to Owain who took revenge by blinding Madog. Maredudd was quick to make peace with King Henry when he invaded Wales in 1114 while Owain opposed the invaders and allied himself with Gruffydd ap Cynan of Gwynedd. After Owain was killed in 1116 Maredudd was able to strengthen his position and became ruler of Powys. In that year he sent 400 men to assist Hywel ap Ithel of Rhos and Rhufoniog, which were under Powys' protection, against the sons of Owain ap Edwin of Dyffryn Clwyd. Hywel won the Battle of Maes Maen Cymro near Ruthin in 1118, however, died of the wound he received and Gruffydd ap Cynan's sons then took over these lands. In 1121 Maredudd raided Cheshire and King Henry then invaded Powys and Maredudd retreated into Snowdonia and asked Gruffydd ap Cynan for help. Gruffydd was not willing to defy King Henry and Maredudd had to purchase peace at the price of 10,000 head of cattle. Gruffydd ap Cynan applied more pressure on Powys and his sons Cadwallon and Owain annexed more land in 1124. Cadwallon was killed in a battle against the men of Powys near Llangollen in 1132. Maredudd died that year and was remembered by Brut y Tywysogion as "the beauty and safety of all Powys and her defender".(2)

Llangollen- Brewyn Valley

Issue- First three children by Hunydd, last child by Eva.

Ref:

(1) Brut y Tywysogion or the Chronicle of the Princes of Wales- J. Williams ap Ithel, Ed., London, 1860- pp. 69, 81
(2) Ibid- p. 157

A History of Wales: from the earliest times to the Edwardian conquest- John Edward Lloyd, Longmans, Green & Co., 1911

m. SUSANNA of GWYNEDD- d. of Gruffydd ap Cynan, King of Gwynedd
d.c. 9 Feb. 1160 Whittington Castle, bur. church of St. Tysilio, Meifod.

Oswestry Castle

The Chronicle of the Princes of Wales states that "Madog son of Maredudd built the castle of Oswestry" in 1148 and "gave Cyveiliog to his nephew Owain and Meurug, the sons of Gruffudd son of Maredudd".(1) In 1150 Owain Gwynedd, King of Gwynedd was pushing the border into Powys despite the fact that Madog had married his sister. Madog allied himself with Ranulf, Earl of Chester, however, Owain defeated them at the battle of Coleshill in 1150 and took possession of I�l. When King Henry II invaded Gwynedd in 1157, Madog supported him and he was able to regain his lands. Madog was probably the Welsh prince who went with King Henry on his failed campaign to Toulouse in 1159. Madog returned home and died the following year and was buried at Meifod.(2) Madog had the church at Meifod built in the Norman style. It was consecrated in 1156.

Church of St. Tysilio and St. Mary, Meifod

After his death Powys was divided up between several sons and nephews. This fracturing of Powys allowed Owain Gwynedd to annex part of norther Powys. Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr said in his elegy for Madog:

The Mabinogion tale, The Dream of Rhonabwy, from c.1200, is set in Madog's reign as prince of Powys and its main character, Rhonabwy, was one of Madog's retainers who was sent to bring in Madog's rebellious brother Iowerth Goch ap Maredudd. Rhonabwy's dream contrasts his time with that of the grandeur of King Arthur's court.

Ref:

(1) Brut y Tywysogion or the Chronicle of the Princes of Wales- J. Williams ap Ithel, Ed., London, 1860- p. 177
(2) Ibid- p. 195

A History of Wales: from the earliest times to the Edwardian conquest- John Edward Lloyd, Longmans, Green & Co., 1911

m. ANGHARAD- d. of Owain Gwynedd, King of Gwynedd
d. 1191

Upon his father's death Gruffydd split the territory with his two brothers. He received Maelor or Bromfield as well as I�l or Yale. He later added Nanheudwy, Cynllaith Owain and Lower Mochnant after his brother Owain Fychan died in 1187. He later seized the cantref of Cyfeiliog from his nephews Owain and Meurig. By acquiring all this territory he reunited most of northern Powys.

Ref:

Brut y Tywysogion or the Chronicle of the Princes of Wales- J. Williams ap Ithel, Ed., London, 1860- pp. 237, 251

m. ISOTA
d. 1236
bur. Valle Crucis Abbey.

Madog ruled northern Powys jointly with his brother Owen until his brother's death in 1197 when he became sole ruler. Madog consolidated his father's land holdings and the territory became known as Powys Fadog. He was an ally of his cousin Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, however, distanced himself after 1212 when Llywelyn reformed the Welsh Confederacy and he looked to King John and became an ally of the English king. By 1215 he decided to ally himself with Llywelyn.

Valle Crucis Abbey- Alfred Rimmer-1875

Madog died in 1236 and was buried at Valle Crucis Abbey, the last Cistercian Abbey to be founded in Wales.(1) His heraldic slab was excavated at the abbey in 1956.

Issue-

Ref:

(1) Brut y Tywysogion or the Chronicle of the Princes of Wales- J. Williams ap Ithel, Ed., London, 1860- p. 325

m. EMMA de AUDLEY (m.1. Henry Touchet, d. after 1286), d. of Henry Audley and Bertred Mainwaring
d. 7 Dec. 1269 Dinas Bran, Wales
bur. Allanegwast Abbey

Gruffrydd was Prince of Northern Powys and an ally of Llewellyn ap Gruffyd. Gruffydd died in 1269 and the Chronicle of the Princes of Wales states that "Gruffudd son of Madog lord of Maelor and Madog the Little his brother... were buried at Llanegwestl".(1)

Ref:

(1) Brut y Tywysogion or the Chronicle of the Princes of Wales- J. Williams ap Ithel, Ed., London, 1860- p. 357

The Complete Peerage - St. Catherine Press, London- Vol. XII/2, p. 56
Dictionary of National Biography - Leslie Stephen Ed., Oxford University Press-
History of Cheshire - George Ormerod, Routledge & Sons, 1882- Vol. II, p. 85
Tim Powys-Lybbe's web page at: http://www.tim.ukpub.net