Cynfrig ap Madog
Encyclopedia
Cynfrig ap Madog was constable
of Castell-y-Bere in the kingdom of Gwynedd
, Wales
, during the Anglo-Welsh war of 1282-3 that culminated in the loss of Welsh independence. The castle was besieged by an English force under the command of William de Valance
on 15 April; on 21 April his men were supplemented by those of Roger Lestrange. On the following day, the pair negotiated for the surrender of the castle by Cynfrig, offering £80 if the defenders yielded within a week. He seemingly agreed, for the castle was surrendered on 25 April and a payment of £53 made, but the prince of Wales
, Dafydd ap Gruffudd, was not in it; he apparently escaped during the siege, and was not captured until 22 June. There are no further references to Cynfrig. The siege over which he presided was the longest of a native Welsh castle during the war.
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
of Castell-y-Bere in the kingdom 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...
, 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...
, during the Anglo-Welsh war of 1282-3 that culminated in the loss of Welsh independence. The castle was besieged by an English force under the command of William de Valance
William de Valence, 1st Earl of Pembroke
William de Valence, 1st Earl of Wexford and 1st Earl of Pembroke , born Guillaume de Lusignan or de Valence, was a French nobleman and Knight, who became important in English politics due to his relationship to Henry III...
on 15 April; on 21 April his men were supplemented by those of Roger Lestrange. On the following day, the pair negotiated for the surrender of the castle by Cynfrig, offering £80 if the defenders yielded within a week. He seemingly agreed, for the castle was surrendered on 25 April and a payment of £53 made, but the prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
, Dafydd ap Gruffudd, was not in it; he apparently escaped during the siege, and was not captured until 22 June. There are no further references to Cynfrig. The siege over which he presided was the longest of a native Welsh castle during the war.