Gwenwynwyn

Notes:

Also called Wenuwin, Wenonwyn.

Family/Spouse: Margaret Corbet. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn died after 17 Feb 1286.

Notes:

Prince of southern Powys. Also called Owain ap Gruffudd. Died as a monk at the Cistercian monastery of Strata Marcella (Ystrad Marchell) near Welshpool, which he had founded in 1170.

From the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography:

Owain Cyfeiliog probably married twice, first certainly to Gwenllïan, daughter of Owain Gwynedd, and second perhaps to Gwenllïan, daughter of Ednywain, claimed by later genealogies to be of the line of Gollwyn ap Tangno. [...]

Gerald of Wales includes Owain Cyfeiliog with Owain Gwynedd and Maredudd ap Gruffudd ap Rhys of south Wales as the three Welshmen who, in his days, were conspicuous for their justice, prudence, and moderation as rulers. The lavish hospitality of Owain's court -- "Where there was drinking without want, without refusal" -- was celebrated by the poet Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr. Cynddelw's poetry also testifies to Owain's raids against Anglo-Norman lands in the Shropshire marches, among them the territories of the Corbet lords of Caus, an aspect of his career which is ignored by the chronicles. The poet's evidence is complemented by the portrayal of Owain in the thirteenth-century Anglo-French romance "Fouke le Fitz Waryn" (the Fitzwarines held land of the Corbets at Alberbury). Here he features as "un chevaler hardy e fer" (a bold and fierce knight) who grievously wounds Fouke le Fitz Waryn.

Owain, whom Gerald of Wales praised for the readiness of his tongue, is renowned in Welsh literary history as a poet. Two poems, the lengthy "Hirlas Owain", which is definitely ascribed to Owain in the Red Book of Hergest, and the shorter "Englynion on the circuit of Wales" have been regarded as his work. The "Hirlas" is an unusual poem, which, in dramatic style, depicts a feast in Owain's court following a raid in Maelor in north-east Wales to free his brother Meurig from prison, an event which the Welsh chronicles show to have taken place in 1156. Owain praises his brave warriors, calling upon his cup-bearer to bring the long blue ("hirlas") drinking-horn filled with mead to each hero in turn. Recent stylistic analysis of this and the other poem, however, implies that their true author was Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr, Owain's court poet, and that the prince's role was that of a persona in the poems rather than their creator.

Owain married Gwenllian ferch Owain. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Gruffudd married Gwerful ferch Gwrgeneu. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Said to have been a descendant of the possibly ahistorical Elystan Glodrydd.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: 23 Nov 1170
• Alternate death: 28 Nov 1170

Notes:

"Though it was Owain who finally accepted the principle of Angevin overlordship over Gwynedd, he regarded himself as no ordinary vassal (his attitude to episcopal elections in the see of Bangor should be noted) and it is clear that it was he who gave initial direction to the policies of his successors. It was largely due to his example, moreover, that the native rulers of Wales ceased to be mere tribal chieftains and took their place alongside the great feudal magnates of the time. The praises so repeatedly accorded to his many personal qualities by contemporary poets, and indeed by several public figures who could not have been predisposed in his favour, have so genuine a tone about them that the progressive trends in all the arts of peace and war discerned in 12th century Wales, it must be concluded, were in large measure due to the fostering genius of ‘Owain the Great.’" [Dictionary of Welsh Biography, citation details below.]

Owain married Gwladus ferch Llywarch. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Also called Gwladus of North Wales.

Maredudd married Hunydd ferch Einudd. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: 1139

Notes:

"It was part of the traditional lore of the Welsh bards that Gruffudd ap Cynan had made certain regulations to govern their craft, and his name was used to give authority to the 'statute' drawn up in connection with the Caerwys eisteddfod of 1523. There is nothing to substantiate this tradition, but it is not unreasonable to suggest that Gruffudd may have brought bards and musicians with him from Ireland and that these may have had some influence on the craft of poetry and music in Wales. He may also have made some formal changes in the bardic organization. It is clear that a genuine and persistent tradition to this effect existed in the 16th century. It is perhaps worth noting that the History mentions the death in battle of Gellan, Gruffudd's harpist, in 1094." [Dictionary of Welsh Biography, citation details below.]

Gruffydd married Angharad ferch Owain about 1095. Angharad (daughter of Owain ab Edwin and (Unknown daughter of Ednywain Bendew)) died in 1162. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Also called Angharad of Tegaingl.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: Abt 1129

Notes:

Of the identity of the mother of Gwladus ferch Llywarch, Stewart Baldwin (citation details below) notes: "Bartrum p. 354 gives Dyddgu ferch Iorwerth ap Cadwgan ab Elystan Glodrudd in this position, but his only source is the late visitation LD.ii.24, which names Dyddgu as the mother of another child of Llywarch, but not of Gwladus (#5). In addition, the sources given by Bartrum for Dyddgu's alleged father Iorwerth ap Cadwgan are all late 16th century or later, so Iorwerth's existence is also uncertain. In my opinion, this link should be regarded as dubious."

Bleddyn married Haer ferch Cillin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Cynan married Radnailt of Dublin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Also called Ragnaillt O'Olaf; Ragnaillt Olafsdottir; Ragnhildr of Dublin.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: 1105

Notes:

Called by some Owain the Traitor. Welsh chieftan in Tegeingl. However, see also Darrell Wolcott, "Was Owain ap Edwin Really a Traitor?", citation details below.

Owain married (Unknown daughter of Ednywain Bendew). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Killed in battle at Mynydd Carn.

Cynfyn married Angharad ferch Maredudd. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Called, in Old Norse, Óláfr. Royal heir of Dublin.

Amlaíb married Máelcorcre ingen Dúnlaing. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: 1104

Notes:

Also called Edwin ap Gronwy. Prince of Tegaingl. "He held Counsillt near Flint under the Norman lord Robert of Rhuddlan, perhaps the beginning of feudal tenure in Wales." [Henry James Young, citation details below]

Edwin married Iwerydd ferch Cynfyn. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Also spelled Eferydd.