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Celtic Kingdoms of the British Isles

Celts of Cymru

 

Powys (Wales)

In circa 570, Paganes was apparently divided in two. The name Powys was retained or given to the western half, while the eastern half may have become known as Pengwern, although this name change is far from certain. It is just as possible that the name Powys was still used to describe the whole, formerly united territory.

The lament, Marwnad Cynddylan (The Lament for Cynddylan), mourns the death of Cynddylan in the mid-seventh century at the hands of the king of Dogfeilion, marking a resurgence for the Dogfeilion side of a feud that appears to begin following a disastrous Powysian defeat in battle in 613. It refers to Cynddylan and his side of the feud as 'the Cadelling', meaning that they are the descendants of Cadell Ddyrnllwg, ruler of the Paganes territory in the mid-fifth century. In the poet's eyes they are the rightful kings of Powys, although there has to be a valid claim of descent for any claimant to the throne, meaning that the Dogfeilion kings have intermarried into the Powysian royal family in some way (see below). To distinguish between the two sides, Cadell's direct descendants are labelled 'Cadelling' in the list.

In later years, as attacks by the Norman conquers of England compressed Wales' free borders, what was left of Powys came to be ruled by Gwynedd.

(Additional information by Edward Dawson, from Marwnad Cynddylan (The Lament for Cynddylan), and from the Annales Cambriae, James Ingram (taken from the Harleian manuscript, the earliest surviving version, London, Everyman Press, 1912).)

c.570

FeatureIt seems likely that Powys loses its eastern territory by this time. There is later a commander at Caer Legion in 613 called Brochfeal, who has not been linked to a kingdom, and may have been either Mawn or Iago ap Brochfael, the brothers of Cynan Garwyn. Passing the main kingdom of Powys to his son, Cynan, it would be standard practice for Brochfael to divide the territory and give the eastern half, Pengwern, to a second son. Although there is no available evidence to support this theory, Pengwern does seem to become a separate kingdom in its own right around this time, and seems to retain the original Powysian capital of Caer Guricon (Wroxeter).

The River Dee
The River Dee probably formed the border between northern Powys and south-western Rheged during the sixth century AD, and until the fall of the latter in the early seventh century

c.570 - c.610

Cynan Garwyn ap Brochfael

Son of Brochfael. 'White Shanks'. A Cadelling. Mentioned in 580.

c.610 - 613

Selyf Sarffgadau (Battle Serpent)

Son (Selim/Soloman). Killed at Caer Legion by Æthelfrith.

c.612 - 613

This point marks the first appearance of the Dogfeilion of Gwynedd in Powys and Pengwern, although according to Edward Dawson, Pengwern remains part of Powys, and the courts of Pengwern and Caer Luit Coyt are Powysian courts.

Given Welsh emphasis on ancestry to qualify for a throne, it seems likely that a Dogfeilion leader (probably Cyndrwyn Glas) had married a daughter of the king of Powys, qualifying his descendants to rule Powys by the rules of descent of Gwynedd (which had been inherited from their ancestors, the Pictish Venicones). Romans and Romano-British use primogeniture, but the Pictish rules are that any descendant, regardless of the form of that descent, is qualified to inherit (meaning that even bastard sons of wayward daughters can show up and claim a piece of a territory or even kingship). The fact that the Dogfeilion are accepted as rulers of Powys (and the part of Powys that is known as Pengwern) is very telling. There has to be a valid claim of descent.

613?

In one of the bloodiest and hardest fought battles of its time, several British kings form a coalition to halt Æthelfrith of Bernicia at the Battle of Caer Legion (Chester). Cearl of the Mercians could also be involved on the British side (according to scholarly theory). Iago of Gwynedd and Selyf of Powys are both killed, and the battle is a disastrous British defeat. Despite Æthelfrith's victory, he does not occupy the territory around Chester. Just who does is unknown, and the entire history of this region from the post-Roman period to the tenth century is extremely sketchy. One possibility is that the line of the River Dee is successfully defended by the people living just to the west of it - the Dogfeilion - who are able to claim great prestige from being the victorious defenders of the western Britons. Another possibility is that groups of Angles not under Bernicia's control settle the region to the east of the Dee, and are later subsumed within Mercia.

FeatureBledric ap Custennin, king of Dumnonia, dies at the Battle of Bangor-is-Coed, which follows very soon afterwards. A certain Brochfael is named as the commander of Caer Legion at this time, and may be one of the sons of Powys' Brochfael, potentially the first king of Pengwern. After this, the Dogfeilion kings appear to move in on Pengwern (perhaps due to their theoretical defence of the Dee). The monks of Bangor-is-Coed are present at the battle to pray for divine support, but they too are slaughtered (the act is seen as divine retribution for their refusal to help evangelise the English in 603 - and see one of Geoffrey of Monmouth's more accurate entries about this campaign via the feature link).

613

Manwgan ap Selyfan

Infant Cadelling king. Usurped by Eiludd.

613

With Selyf Sarffgadau dead, and his heir an infant, the Dogfeilion kings clearly assert their right to rule Powys (a right earned most probably through marriage). This begins a long-running feud between the two Powysian royal houses that lasts for several generations. Eiludd Powys appears to control only North Powys, a division of the kingdom that will resurface many times over successive centuries.

613 - 642?

Elfan / Eiludd Powys

King of Dogfeilion.

fl 620s

Cyndrwyn the Stubborn

South Powys only. The same as Cyndrwyn Fawr of Pengwern?

Cyndrwyn the Stubborn probably gains his epithet from his refusal to allow the Dogfeilion king uncontested rule over Powys. Instead the king holds the north alone, the part of the kingdom that abutts his own territory.

642

Oswald of Bernicia is killed by Penda of Mercia on 5 August at the Battle of Maserfelth (Maes Cogwy to the Britons), but Eiludd Powys on the Brito-Welsh side is killed. The location of Maserfelth is still disputed but opinion favours Oswestry ('Oswald's tree') in Shropshire. Politically, Oswald's death splits Northumbria. His brother succeeds him in Bernicia but Deira breaks away under their cousin Oswine.

With Eiludd out of the way, it is probably Cyndrwyn who restores the 'rightful' king, Manwgan ap Selyfan (although in theory all of them have a justifiable claim to rule). How much of a restoration this really is seems to be open to question. Possibly it is in name only, and possibly even less than that. Instead, Cynddylan seems to rule the south while Beli ap Eiludd quickly appears in the north, leaving Powys still divided.

642? - ?

Manwgan ap Selyfan

Apparently restored, but ruling?

c.644 - c.660

Cynddylan

A Cadelling. South Powys only (until the death of Beli, perhaps?).

Cynddylan now appears in the south, presumably succeeding Cyndrwyn. The Powysian king in the north, Beli ap Eiludd, is said not to be related to Eiludd Powys, who is supposedly from a rival house. This would appear to be incorrect, however, as the feud continues with Beli fulfilling the role of a Dogfeilion king.

c.655

Beli ap Eiludd

Son of Eiludd of Dogfeilion? North Powys only.

656

Overrun by Oswiu of Northumbria, the royal family of Pengwern is destroyed and the kingdom terminated. Apparently this battle, at or near Caer Luit Coyt (Lichfield), is fought by Cynddylan as king of Powys (and potential overlord of Pengwern), although he and his retinue of seven hundred warriors is defeated. This loss further exposes the border of Gwent and fully exposes Powys for perhaps the first time. Saxons migrate into the territory from the south to form the minor kingdoms of the Wrocenset and Magonset. These in turn are absorbed by Mercia by the eighth century.

c.660

Marwnad Cynddylan (The Lament for Cynddylan) laments the death of Cynddylan at the hands of the king of Dogfeilion, marking a resurgence for the Dogfeilion side of the feud. It refers to Cynddylan and his side of the feud as 'the Cadelling', meaning that they are the descendants of Cadell Ddyrnllwg, ruler of the Paganes territory of the mid-fifth century.

Cynddylan is 'the battle leader', meaning (in the poet's eyes) the rightful king, and is given a full royal retinue of seven hundred chosen soldiers, the same number that had been beaten by Oswiu of Northumbria in his 656 defeat of Pengwern.

Whether Cynddylan really has that number of men himself is questionable given the fractured nature of Powysian politics at this time and the very recent catastrophic loss of Pengwern. It could be down to poetical largess instead, as a lament of this nature would clearly be written for the court of the dead king, a court that is still resisting the Dogfeilion opposition.

c.680

Gwylog ap Beli

Son of Beli. A Dogfeilion. North Powys only?

Gwallawg ap Lleenawg?

A Cadelling?

c.710 - 773

Elisedd ap Gwylog

Son of Gwylog. A Dogfeilion.

c.730

MapBy now Mercia has fully absorbed the Magonset, although their territory remains a highly disputed borderland area between Mercia and Powys until the period of Norman power in England. Also by now, the feud between the two main houses for control of Powys seems to have ended, with the descendants of the Dogfeilion kings apparently victorious.

c.740 - 773

Brochfael ap Elisedd

Son.

773 - 808

Cadell Powys ap Brochfael

Son.

808 - 854

Concenn / Cyngen ap Cadell

(Annales Cambriae 852). Last of Vortigern's direct descendants.

814

Gryfudd ap Cyngen

Killed by his brother, Elisweg (Annales Cambriae 814).

822 - 823

Powys is mainly overrun in a large-scale Saxon (Mercian) invasion that is led by Ceolwulf I. Cyngen ap Cadell fights successfully to regain Powysian independence, a task which is probably aided by the weakening power of the Mercian throne.

854

Elisedd / Elisweg ap Cyngen

Never gained the throne, as it passed through Cyngen's sister.

854 - 873

MapConcenn of Powys goes on a pilgrimage to Rome and in 854 drops dead along the way. His nephew, Rhodri Mawr of Gwynedd, the son of Concenn's sister and Merfyn Vrach, takes Powys for himself to form part of a united Wales.

In 873 Rhodri institutes a form of devolved government in which three of his sons control parts of the country in his name. Anarawd is granted Deheubarth, Cadell governs Seisyllwg, and Merfyn commands in Powys.

873 - 900

Merfyn ap Rhodri

Son of Rhodri Mawr of Gwynedd. Ruled Powys as a sub-division.

878

Upon the death of Rhodri Mawr, and according to his wishes, Wales is officially divided between his sons. Anarawd succeeds him in Gwynedd and retains Deheubarth, Cadell is confirmed in Seisyllwg, and Merfyn in Powys.

900 - 942

MapUpon the death of Merfyn ap Rhodri, Powys and Seisyllwg apparently merge back into Gwynedd under the command of Anarawd ap Rhodri. However, Llywelyn ap Merfyn, son of Merfyn, seemingly rules Powys until it is grabbed by Hywel Dda. Possibly this is in the role of sub-king or vassal, but either way, Hywell Dda is having none of it.

Hywel Dda of Deheubarth and Wales
Unusually for the dominant rulers in later medieval Wales, Hywel Dda was a man of the south, having been the driving force behind the creation of Deheubarth out of several smaller states and territories (1909 oil imagining the prince's appearance)

900 - 942

Llywelyn ap Merfyn

Son. Ruled Powys independently? Deposed.

942

Hywel Dda of Deheubarth gains Gwynedd upon the death of Idwal Foel and grabs Powys, making him sole ruler of all Wales. He has already acknowledged the late Athelstan of Wessex as his overlord and has associated himself closely with the English king, witnessing Athelstan's grants of lands and charters.

The subsequent division of a united Wales sees Gwynedd dominate Powys, with power in Powys being held by the Gwyneddian king. By 1063, King Blethyn of Gwynedd rules a still-mostly united Wales, and Powys is detached from Gwynedd and Deheubarth for, or by, his son. This division may happen in 1063 as an informal devolvement of power by Blethyn himself to avoid later dynastic squabbles, but it is certainly conformed upon his death in 1075.

942 - 1075

The subsequent division of a united Wales sees Gwynedd dominate Powys, with power in Powys being held by the Gwyneddian king. By 1063, King Blethyn of Gwynedd rules a still-mostly united Wales, and Powys is detached from Gwynedd and Deheubarth for, or by, his son. This division may happen in 1063 as an informal devolvement of power by Blethyn himself to avoid later dynastic squabbles, but it is certainly conformed upon his death in 1075.

1063 - 1075

Blethyn (ap Cynfyn?)

King of Powys, Gwynedd & Deheubarth. Killed in battle.

1066 - 1068

The last native British earl of Corniu (Cornwall) is deposed by William in 1066 as he tightens his grip on the newly-conquered kingdom of England. At first, only the south-east can be considered as being securely held. Princes Blethyn and Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn of Gwynedd, Deheubarth, and Powys resist the invaders as part of their supporting role for Harold Godwinson. They join Eadric the Wild of Mercia in an attack on Norman forces at Hereford in 1067, and Earl Edwin of Mercia with Earl Morcar of Northumbria in a further attack in 1068.

Normans
The Norman conquest of Britain owed much to good fortune, but once achieved it was enforced by military strength and a prolific castle-building programme

1075 - 1132

Maredudd ap Blethyn

Son. Sub-ruler of Powys until 1075? Independent afterwards.

1081

Attempting to emulate the achievements of his father and grandfather and become king of South Wales, Caradoc ap Gruffydd of Morgannwg drives Rhys ap Tewdwr Mawr of Deheubarth from his throne. He is immediately faced by the threat of that king returning in alliance with Gruffydd ap Cynan, who is pursuing his own claim for the throne of Gwynedd. Gruffydd also gains the cooperation of his nemesis in Gwynedd, Trahaern ap Caradog, and Meilir ap Rhiwallon of Powys. Caradoc is killed at the Battle of Mynydd Carn, as are Trahaern and Meilir, allowing Gruffydd to seize his birthright in Gwynedd and Rhys to regain Deheubarth.

1132 - 1160

Madog ap Maredudd

Son. King of Powys & Prince of Wales.

1150 - 1157

Despite being his brother-in-law, Madog is temporarily deposed by Owain Gwynedd who subsumes Powys within Gwynedd. King Henry Plantagenet mounts an invasion of Wales in 1157, supported by Madog from the little territory he still commands, the lordships of Oswestry and Whittington. Still nominally independent, Powys continues to survive by negotiating its way between Gwyneddian and English interests.

1160

A north-south division of Powys seems to become apparent during Madog's reign - probably due to the (possibly non-permanent) division of territory following the death of Blethyn. Although Maredudd had apparently been over-king of Powys, his brothers Iorwerth and Cadwgan have governed their own regions, possibly on a semi-independent basis at the least. Now with the death of Madog, Powys becomes permanently divided, with Madog's son governing Powys Fadog (the renamed north) and South Powys falling under the control of Madog's brother.

North Powys (Powys Fadog)

The death of Blethyn ap Cynfyn in 1075 had seen his son, Maredudd succeed him in Powys, with brothers Iorwerth and Cadwgan ruling regions of the kingdom on what appears to have been a semi-independent basis. Maredudd's son, Madog, succeeded as over-king of Powys, but North Powys was already becoming known as Powys Fadog during his time (Fadog for Madog himself, while South Powys may have been governed by an under-king - however, Madog ap Gruffydd of 1191-1236 is also claimed as the founder of Powys Fadog). This northern region covered the pre-1974 counties of eastern Meirionnydd and southern Denbighshire and Flintshire. However, this version of Meirionydd was much larger than the territory formed by the preceding kingdom, largely also incorporating Edeyrnion, so it is more the latter which had been incorporated into its immediate neighbour - Powys.

The death in 1160 of Madog ap Maredudd made permanent this division of Powys. Madog's son, Llywelyn, inherited only Powys Fadog while Madog's brother briefly gained South Powys, just a generation before that too found itself being renamed. Despite this, during the three years of his reign, Llywelyn still seems to have been recognised as over-king in Powys. Llywelyn ap Madog was a member of the House of Mathrafal via his great-grandmother, Agharad, the wife of Llywelyn ap Seisyll, and their son, the aforementioned Blethyn ap Cynfyn. Mathrafal was a cadet branch of the House of Dinefwr - the descendants of Cadell ap Rhodri of Seisyllwg - which had Mathrafal Castle near Welshpool in Powys as its core territory. Now as the first independent king of North Powys - and rightfully the king of a united Powys if such a thing still existed - Llywelyn governed North Powys from Mathrafal Castle.

Following the Norman invasion and occupation of England between 1066-1086, King William I had set up some of his barons in territory which faced onto Welsh lands. This region quickly became known as the Welsh Marches, and the barons were generally tasked with increasing Norman control at the expense of the Welsh. The first earl of Shrewsbury, Roger de Montgomery, set up Montgomery Castle at Rhydwhiman, a ford across the River Severn. Successive Norman lords claimed various cantrefi - meaning that these districts were captured - so that by 1090 little was left of a free Powys until a fight-back restored some balance. Unfortunately, the death of Llywelyn meant that Powysian unity collapsed and independence quickly crumbled.

Fadog is pronounced 'vadok', and is the same word as Madog. It is the result of an ongoing tendency by the Welsh to change the pronunciation of an 'm' to a 'v'. For this reason there is the possibility that Powys Fadog was originally pronounced as Powys Madog, undergoing change only subsequently. This cannot be proven, however. Also note that a 'v' sound in Welsh is spelled with a single 'f'. The 'f' sound is spelled with a double 'ff'. The final 'g' of Fadog is pronounced as a hard 'k', not the 'kh' sound (such as the Scots 'loch') of the welsh 'c'. The Welsh pronounce all their letters, just not always in the way that English speakers may expect.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information by Edward Dawson, from A Political Chronology of Wales 1066 to 1282, P M Remfry (2003), from History of Wales, John Davies (Penguin Books, 1990), and from The Age of Arthur, John Morris (1973).)

1160? - c.1163

Llywelyn ap Madog 'Hope of Powys'

' Prince' Owain Glyndwr's direct ancestor. Killed.

c.1163

The death of Llywelyn ap Madog effectively ends Powysian hopes of fully restoring the kingdom in the face of aggression from the marcher lords. Powys Fadog quickly becomes little more that a satellite state of the resurgent Gwynedd and its powerful king, Owain Gwynedd. South Powys frequently takes a different tack, opposing Gwynedd and maintaining an independent stance.

Mathrafal Castle
Mathrafal Castle was located not far from Welshpool in Powys, serving as the seat of the kings of Powys Fadog in the twelfth century until the structure was destroyed in 1212 (External Link: Creative Commons Licence)

c.1163 - 1191

Gruffydd Maelor (I) ap Madog

Brother. Over-king alongside his brothers. Reunited the region.

1160 - 1187

Owain Fychan ap Madog

Brother. Lord of Mechain.

1160 - 1186

Owain Brogyntyn ap Madog

Brother. Lord of Penllyn & Edeirnon (old Gwynedd sub-state).

1191 - 1236

Madog ap Gruffydd

Son of Gruffydd. Died. Last king of a united Powys Fadog.

1208 - 1215

With Llywelyn Fawr, Prince of Wales and king of Gwynedd, having married Joan of England, daughter of King John in 1204, the antagonism exhibited by Powys Wenwynwyn towards Gwynedd has left it politically isolated. Now King John arrests Gwenwynwyn ap Owain of the southern kingdom and Llywelyn takes the opportunity to annexe the territory. Gwenwynwyn is restored in 1210 but the Powysian ancestral seat of Mathrafal Castle is destroyed in 1212.

1236

In the same year as Deheubarth falls, North Powys also loses its independence to the Norman English. During his lifetime, Madog ap Gruffydd has ruled as king in Powys Fadog, initially alongside his brother, Owen, gaining his territory upon his death in 1197. After that Madog had served as sole king in the north and is sometimes claimed as the founder of Powys Fadog (although his grandfather, Madog ap Maredudd is the preferred candidate for this). Following his death, the north is divided between his five sons, ending any hope of further unity which, with England as its overlord, is virtually impossible anyway. South Powys survives as a semi-independent entity until 1283.

A descendant of Llywelyn ap Madog is Owain Glyndwr, son of Gruffydd Fychan II, hereditary heir of Powys Fadog and lord of Glyndyfrdwy. On his mother's side he is related to the royal house of Deheubarth. In 1399 he rebels against the English rule of Wales and is proclaimed prince of Wales by his supporters. His royal blood attracts many followers, and he is assisted by Henry Percy ('Harry Hotspur'), who is defeated at the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403. Owain himself is last seen by his enemies in 1412 and is never defeated or captured. In valiantly resisting the English for so long, Glyndwr becomes an ever-enduring figurehead for Welsh nationalism.

South Powys (Powys Cyfeiliog/Wenwynwyn)

The death of Blethyn ap Cynfyn in 1075 had seen his son, Maredudd succeed him in Powys, with brothers Iorwerth and Cadwgan ruling regions of the kingdom on what appears to have been a semi-independent basis. Maredudd's son, Madog, succeeded as over-king of Powys, but North Powys was already becoming known as Powys Fadog during his time (Fadog for Madog himself, while South Powys may have been governed by an under-king). This southern part covered much of the pre-1974 county of Montgomeryshire. The death in 1160 of Madog ap Maredudd made permanent this division of Powys. Madog's son, Llywelyn, inherited only Powys Fadog while Madog's brother briefly gained South Powys, just a generation before that too found itself being renamed. Initially the south may have been known as Powys Cyfeiliog for its ruler, Owain ap Gruffydd, while the appellation Powys Wenwynwyn was used to describe South Powys only from the reign of Gwenwynwyn. Despite the division, during the three years of his reign, Llywelyn still seems to have been recognised as over-king in Powys.

Gruffydd ap Maredudd was a member of the House of Mathrafal via his grandmother, Agharad, the wife of Llywelyn ap Seisyll, and their son, the aforementioned Blethyn ap Cynfyn. Mathrafal was a cadet branch of the House of Dinefwr - the descendants of Cadell ap Rhodri of Seisyllwg - which had Mathrafal Castle near Welshpool in Powys as its core territory. Llywelyn governed North Powys from Mathrafal Castle.

Following the Norman invasion and occupation of England between 1066-1086, King William I had set up some of his barons in territory which faced onto Welsh lands. This region quickly became known as the Welsh Marches, and the barons were generally tasked with increasing Norman control at the expense of the Welsh. The first earl of Shrewsbury, Roger de Montgomery, set up Montgomery Castle at Rhydwhiman, a ford across the River Severn which lies very close to the modern England-Wales border. Successive Norman lords claimed various cantrefi - meaning that these districts were captured - so that by 1090 little was left of a free Powys until a fight-back restored some balance. Unfortunately, the death of Llywelyn around 1163 meant that Powysian unity collapsed and independence quickly crumbled.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from A Political Chronology of Wales 1066 to 1282, P M Remfry (2003), from History of Wales, John Davies (Penguin Books, 1990), and from The Age of Arthur, John Morris (1973).)

1160

Gruffydd ap Maredudd

Brother of Madog.

1160 - 1195

Owain Cyfeiliog ap Gruffydd

Son. m Gwenllian, dau of Owain Gwynedd. Abdicated. Died 1197.

c.1163

The death of Llywelyn ap Madog effectively ends Powysian hopes of fully restoring the kingdom in the face of aggression from the marcher lords. Powys Fadog quickly becomes little more that a satellite state of the resurgent Gwynedd and its powerful king, Owain Gwynedd. South Powys frequently takes a different tack, opposing Gwynedd and maintaining an independent stance.

1195 - 1208

Gwenwynwyn ap Owain

Son. m Margaret, dau of Robert Corbet. Deposed.

1208 - 1215

With Llywelyn Fawr, Prince of Wales and king of Gwynedd, having married Joan of England, daughter of King John in 1204, the antagonism exhibited by South Powys towards Gwynedd has left it politically isolated. Now King John arrests Gwenwynwyn and Llywelyn takes the opportunity to annexe South Powys. Gwenwynwyn is restored in 1210 but the Powysian ancestral seat of Mathrafal Castle is destroyed in 1212. Gwenwynwyn establishes a new capital at Welshpool.

Montgomery Castle
Roger de Montgomery, first early of Shrewsbury, founded Montgomery Castle between 1071-1074 inside the territory of Powys Wenwynwyn, and this name was eventually applied to the whole of the territory (Montgomeryshire) following its reorganisation into the English county system (External Link: Creative Commons Licence)

1210 - 1216

Gwenwynwyn ap Owain

Restored. Died Feb 1216.

1216

Gwenwynwyn is defeated in battle against Llywelyn Fawr and is forced to flee to England where he dies. His son succeeds him but does not return to Powys until 1241, shortly after Llywelyn's death. At that point Dafydd ap Llywelyn Fawr of Gwynedd is forced to reach peaceful terms with Henry III of England and Gruffydd is able to reclaim his father's lands.

1208 - 1274

Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn

Son. m Hawise, dau of John Lestrange. King-in-exile. Exiled.

1274 - 1276

Although Powysians generally acknowledge Llywelyn ap Gruffydd of Gwynedd as Prince of Wales, those of the southern region have always been less impressed with Gwynedd than their northern counterparts. Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn illustrates this by changing sides again, and he is exiled to England for his refusal to acquiesce. He returns two years later, restored during a fresh English campaign against Llywelyn.

1276 - 1286

Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn

Restored by England. Died 1286.

1282

Dominant in Wales for so long, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd of Gwynedd is ambushed and killed by forces led by his troublesome vassal, Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn of Powys Wenwynwyn, along with Roger Lestrange of Ellesmere and Roger Mortimer (grandfather of the first earl of March of the same name, lover of the wife of Edward II). The loss is a disaster for Wales, although Llywelyn's brother steps forward to continue the fight, albeit briefly.

1283

With the death of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd in 1282 and his brother Dafydd the following year, four hundred years of dominance by the house of Gwynedd comes to an end at the hands of the English, in the person of Edward I. At the same time, Owain, son of Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn, apparently hands over Powys Wenwynwyn to Edward. In the form of Owain de la Pole he is restored to govern the territory as a marcher lord while his father dies in 1286 having lived to witness the end of both independent Powysian kingdoms.

 
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