Caradog ap Gruffydd
Encyclopedia
Caradog ap Gruffydd was a Prince of Gwent in south-east Wales
who made repeated attempts to gain power over all of southern Wales
by seizing the Kingdom of Deheubarth.
who had seized the throne of Deheubarth before his death in 1033. Caradog's father, Gruffydd ap Rhydderch
also held sway in Deheubarth for a while before being eventually driven out and killed by Gruffydd ap Llywelyn
who eventually ruled most of Wales.
, after defeating Gruffydd ap Llywelyn in 1063 had begun to build a hunting lodge in Portskewet. Caradog attacked and destroyed it, going on to ravage the district with his forces.
, in a battle by the Rhymney River
.
In 1078 he won another victory over Rhys ab Owain
who had succeeded Maredudd as prince of Deheubarth, killing him too.
By 1081 he had forced the new prince of Deheubarth, Rhys ap Tewdwr
to flee to the St David's Cathedral
.
of Gruffydd ap Cynan
, who was aiming to seize the throne of Gwynedd
from Trahaearn ap Caradog
. Rhys ap Tewdwr
and Gruffydd ap Cynan
met at St David's Cathedral and made an alliance with the blessing of the Bishop of St Davids.
. The two factions met in battle at Mynydd Carn
, about a day's march north of St David's
. Caradog and his ally Trahaearn were both killed.
and was the founder of the line of the Lords of Caerleon in south east Wales.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
who made repeated attempts to gain power over all of southern Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
by seizing the Kingdom of Deheubarth.
Lineage
Caradog was the grandson of Rhydderch ab IestynRhydderch ab Iestyn
Rhydderch ap Iestyn was king of Gwent and Morgannwg in south Wales and later took over the kingdom of Deheubarth and controlled Powys....
who had seized the throne of Deheubarth before his death in 1033. Caradog's father, Gruffydd ap Rhydderch
Gruffydd ap Rhydderch
Gruffydd ap Rhydderch was a king of Gwent and part of the kingdom of Morgannwg in south Wales and later king of Deheubarth.Gruffydd was the son of Rhydderch ab Iestyn who had been able to take over the kingdom of Deheubarth from 1023 to 1033...
also held sway in Deheubarth for a while before being eventually driven out and killed by Gruffydd ap Llywelyn
Gruffydd ap Llywelyn
Gruffydd ap Llywelyn was the ruler of all Wales from 1055 until his death, the only Welsh monarch able to make this boast...
who eventually ruled most of Wales.
Early career
The family's stronghold was the Kingdom of Gwent, and Caradog appears to have been able to add Morgannwg during his early career. He first appears in the historical record in 1065. Harold GodwinsonHarold Godwinson
Harold Godwinson was the last Anglo-Saxon King of England.It could be argued that Edgar the Atheling, who was proclaimed as king by the witan but never crowned, was really the last Anglo-Saxon king...
, after defeating Gruffydd ap Llywelyn in 1063 had begun to build a hunting lodge in Portskewet. Caradog attacked and destroyed it, going on to ravage the district with his forces.
Ambition & Aggression
Caradog now set out to emulate his father and grandfather by adding Deheubarth to his realm. In 1072 he defeated and killed the ruler of Deheubarth, Maredudd ab OwainMaredudd ab Owain
Maredudd ab Owain was a King of Deheubarth, and through conquest also of Gwynedd and Powys, kingdoms in medieval Wales.Maredudd was the son of Owain ap Hywel and the grandson of Hywel Dda. His father was king of Deheubarth before him. As Owain grew too old to lead in battle his son Maredudd took...
, in a battle by the Rhymney River
Rhymney River
The Rhymney River is a river in the Rhymney Valley, south-east Wales, flowing through Cardiff into the Severn estuary.The river forms the boundary between the historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire.-Path of the river:...
.
In 1078 he won another victory over Rhys ab Owain
Rhys ab Owain
Rhys ab Owain was a king of Deheubarth in southern Wales.Rhys was the son of Owain ab Edwin of the line of Hywel Dda, and member of the Dinefwr dynasty. He followed his brother Maredudd as king of Deheubarth in 1072...
who had succeeded Maredudd as prince of Deheubarth, killing him too.
By 1081 he had forced the new prince of Deheubarth, Rhys ap Tewdwr
Rhys ap Tewdwr
Rhys ap Tewdwr was a Prince of Deheubarth in south-west Wales and member of the Dinefwr dynasty, a branch descended from Rhodri the Great...
to flee to the St David's Cathedral
St David's Cathedral
St David's Cathedral is situated in St David's in the county of Pembrokeshire, on the most westerly point of Wales.-Early history:The monastic community was founded by Saint David, Abbot of Menevia, who died in AD589...
.
Welsh Alliance Against Him
However the situation was changed by the arrival from IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
of Gruffydd ap Cynan
Gruffydd ap Cynan
Gruffydd ap Cynan was a King of Gwynedd. In the course of a long and eventful life, he became a key figure in Welsh resistance to Norman rule, and was remembered as King of all Wales...
, who was aiming to seize the throne of Gwynedd
Kingdom of Gwynedd
Gwynedd was one petty kingdom of several Welsh successor states which emerged in 5th-century post-Roman Britain in the Early Middle Ages, and later evolved into a principality during the High Middle Ages. It was based on the former Brythonic tribal lands of the Ordovices, Gangani, and the...
from Trahaearn ap Caradog
Trahaearn ap Caradog
- Accession:On the death of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn in 1075, it appears that none of his sons were old enough to claim the throne, and Bleddyn's cousin Trahaearn ap Caradog, seized power...
. Rhys ap Tewdwr
Rhys ap Tewdwr
Rhys ap Tewdwr was a Prince of Deheubarth in south-west Wales and member of the Dinefwr dynasty, a branch descended from Rhodri the Great...
and Gruffydd ap Cynan
Gruffydd ap Cynan
Gruffydd ap Cynan was a King of Gwynedd. In the course of a long and eventful life, he became a key figure in Welsh resistance to Norman rule, and was remembered as King of all Wales...
met at St David's Cathedral and made an alliance with the blessing of the Bishop of St Davids.
Killed at the Battle of Mynydd Carn
Caradog countered this by himself making an alliance with the King of Gwynedd, Trahaearn ap CaradogTrahaearn ap Caradog
- Accession:On the death of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn in 1075, it appears that none of his sons were old enough to claim the throne, and Bleddyn's cousin Trahaearn ap Caradog, seized power...
. The two factions met in battle at Mynydd Carn
Battle of Mynydd Carn
The Battle of Mynydd Carn took place in 1081, as part of a dynastic struggle for control of the Welsh kingdoms of Gwynedd and Deheubarth. The result of the battle had a radical effect on the history of Wales....
, about a day's march north of St David's
St David's
St Davids , is a city and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Lying on the River Alun on St David's Peninsula, it is Britain's smallest city in terms of both size and population, the final resting place of Saint David, the country's patron saint, and the de facto ecclesiastical capital of...
. Caradog and his ally Trahaearn were both killed.
Succession
Caradog left a son, Owain ap Caradog, who contented himself with the rule of GwynllwgGwynllwg
Gwynllŵg was a kingdom of mediæval Wales and later a Norman lordship and then a cantref.-Location:It was named after Gwynllyw, its 5th century or 6th century ruler and consisted of the coastal plain stretching between the Rhymney and Usk rivers, together with the hills to the north...
and was the founder of the line of the Lords of Caerleon in south east Wales.