House of Mathrafal
Encyclopedia
The House of Mathrafal began as a cadet branch of the House of Dinefwr
, taking their name from Mathrafal Castle which was their principal seat
and served as the capital of Powys. Members of this family trace their lineage to Rhodri the Great
who had replaced King Cyngen ap Cadell
of Powys when he died on pilgramage to Rome (claiming the throne through his marriage to Cyngen's sister). The former ruling family were either exiled or reduced to the level of minor land owners (see Sir Gruffudd Vychan
.
Rhodri's grandson Hywel Dda
took possession of Powys in 916. His grandson Maredudd ab Owain ruled as king of Deheubarth and Powys until his death in 999, when it passed through conquest to his own grandson Llywelyn ap Seisyll
, through his daughter Angharad (with her first husband Seisyll ab Owain). By 1063 however, it was their son Bleddyn ap Cynfyn
that would found the line known as the House of Mathrafal that would continue to rule in Powys until the early 14th century (see Powys Wenwynwyn
), when they were finely displaced by the Marcher lordship of Mortimer
.
Bleddyn ap Cynfyn was able to take possession of Gwynedd when Gruffudd ap Llywelyn died in 1063. From this point forward the family jockeyed with the Dinefwr and Aberffraw
dynasties for control of Wales. Their influence was greatest between 1063 to 1081, but lost control of Gwynedd to the resurgent Aberffraw family in the battle of Mynydd Carn
. By 1191 Powys was divided between a northerly Powys Fadog
, which became a loyal vassal of Gwynedd, and a southerly Powys Wenwynwyn
(roughly modern Montgomeryshire
), which remained frequently at logger heads with Gwynedd. Historian John Davies points out that with the division of Powys, the dynasty from 1191 could not be considered as "equal" to that of Aberffraw or Dinefwr. Indeed, Mathrafal Castle was utterly destroyed by Gwynedd in 1212 reducing the realm to one entirely dependent on England for its survival. However, the Mathrafal dynasty would continue to exert some influence, undermining and eventually betraying Llywelyn the Last
during the Edwardian Conquest of 1282-3. They exchanged their royal pretences for an English lordship at the Parliament of Shrewsbury in 1283.
Members of the Mathrafal Dynasty include Bleddyn ap Cynfyn
, Maredudd ap Bleddyn
, Gwladys ferch Rhiwallon, Trahaearn ap Caradog
, Gwenwynwyn ab Owain
Cyfeiliog, Griffith and Owen de la Pole
.
The other principal royal sites in Wales are Aberffraw
for Gwynedd and Dinefwr
for Deheubarth.
House of Dinefwr
The House of Dinefwr was a royal house of Wales and refers to the descendants of Cadell ap Rhodri King of Seisyllwg, son of Rhodri the Great.With the death of Rhodri Mawr, the kingdom of Gwynedd passed to his eldest son Anarawd ap Rhodri...
, taking their name from Mathrafal Castle which was their principal seat
Family seat
A seat or family seat is the principal residence of a family. The residence usually denotes the social, economic, political, or historic connection of the family within a given area. Some families took their dynasty name from their family seat , or named their family seat after their own dynasty...
and served as the capital of Powys. Members of this family trace their lineage to Rhodri the Great
Rhodri the Great
Rhodri the Great was King of Gwynedd from 844 until his death. He was the first Welsh ruler to be called 'Great', and the first to rule most of present-day Wales...
who had replaced King Cyngen ap Cadell
Cyngen ap Cadell
Cyngen ap Cadell was a king of Powys in eastern Wales.-Biography:Cyngen was of the line of Brochwel Ysgithrog and after a long reign as king of Powys went on a pilgrimage to Rome and died there in 855...
of Powys when he died on pilgramage to Rome (claiming the throne through his marriage to Cyngen's sister). The former ruling family were either exiled or reduced to the level of minor land owners (see Sir Gruffudd Vychan
Sir Gruffudd Vychan
Sir Gruffudd Vychan was a Welsh knight who supported the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr against the English, captured the Lollard John Oldcastle and was finally executed after the murder of Sir Christopher Talbot.-Family:...
.
Rhodri's grandson Hywel Dda
Hywel Dda
Hywel Dda , was the well-thought-of king of Deheubarth in south-west Wales, who eventually came to rule Wales from Prestatyn to Pembroke. As a descendant of Rhodri Mawr, through his father Cadell, Hywel was a member of the Dinefwr branch of the dynasty and is also named Hywel ap Cadell...
took possession of Powys in 916. His grandson Maredudd ab Owain ruled as king of Deheubarth and Powys until his death in 999, when it passed through conquest to his own grandson Llywelyn ap Seisyll
Llywelyn ap Seisyll
Llywelyn ap Seisyll was a King of Gwynedd and of Deheubarth in north-west and south-west Wales, also called King of the Britons by the Annals of Ulster. Also called Llywelyn ap Seisyllt- Lineage :...
, through his daughter Angharad (with her first husband Seisyll ab Owain). By 1063 however, it was their son Bleddyn ap Cynfyn
Bleddyn ap Cynfyn
Bleddyn ap Cynfyn was a Prince of the Welsh Kingdoms of Gwynedd and of Powys.- Lineage :Bleddyn was the son of Princess Angharad ferch Maredudd with her second husband Cynfyn ap Gwerstan, a Powys Lord, about whom little is now known...
that would found the line known as the House of Mathrafal that would continue to rule in Powys until the early 14th century (see Powys Wenwynwyn
Powys Wenwynwyn
Powys Wenwynwyn or Powys Cyfeiliog was the southern portion of the former princely state of Powys which split following the death of Madog ap Maredudd of Powys in 1160...
), when they were finely displaced by the Marcher lordship of Mortimer
Mortimer
Mortimer is a popular English name, used both as a surname and a given name.- Norman origins :The origin of the name is almost certainly Norman, but the details are disputed....
.
Bleddyn ap Cynfyn was able to take possession of Gwynedd when Gruffudd ap Llywelyn died in 1063. From this point forward the family jockeyed with the Dinefwr and Aberffraw
House of Aberffraw
The House of Aberffraw is a historiographical and genealogical term historians use to illustrate the clear line of succession from Rhodri the Great of Wales through his eldest son Anarawd....
dynasties for control of Wales. Their influence was greatest between 1063 to 1081, but lost control of Gwynedd to the resurgent Aberffraw family in the battle of 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....
. By 1191 Powys was divided between a northerly Powys Fadog
Powys Fadog
Powys Fadog or Lower Powys was the northern portion of the former princely realm of Powys which split in two following the death of Madog ap Maredudd of Powys in 1160...
, which became a loyal vassal of Gwynedd, and a southerly Powys Wenwynwyn
Powys Wenwynwyn
Powys Wenwynwyn or Powys Cyfeiliog was the southern portion of the former princely state of Powys which split following the death of Madog ap Maredudd of Powys in 1160...
(roughly modern Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire, also known as Maldwyn is one of thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. Montgomeryshire is still used as a vice-county for wildlife recording...
), which remained frequently at logger heads with Gwynedd. Historian John Davies points out that with the division of Powys, the dynasty from 1191 could not be considered as "equal" to that of Aberffraw or Dinefwr. Indeed, Mathrafal Castle was utterly destroyed by Gwynedd in 1212 reducing the realm to one entirely dependent on England for its survival. However, the Mathrafal dynasty would continue to exert some influence, undermining and eventually betraying Llywelyn the Last
Llywelyn the Last
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd or Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf , sometimes rendered as Llywelyn II, was the last prince of an independent Wales before its conquest by Edward I of England....
during the Edwardian Conquest of 1282-3. They exchanged their royal pretences for an English lordship at the Parliament of Shrewsbury in 1283.
Members of the Mathrafal Dynasty include Bleddyn ap Cynfyn
Bleddyn ap Cynfyn
Bleddyn ap Cynfyn was a Prince of the Welsh Kingdoms of Gwynedd and of Powys.- Lineage :Bleddyn was the son of Princess Angharad ferch Maredudd with her second husband Cynfyn ap Gwerstan, a Powys Lord, about whom little is now known...
, Maredudd ap Bleddyn
Maredudd ap Bleddyn
Maredudd ap Bleddyn was a prince of Powys in eastern Wales.Maredudd was the son of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn who was king of both Powys and Gwynedd...
, Gwladys ferch Rhiwallon, 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...
, Gwenwynwyn ab Owain
Gwenwynwyn ab Owain
Gwenwynwyn ab Owain Cyfeiliog was the last major ruler of mid Wales before the completion of the Norman English invasion.- Lineage :...
Cyfeiliog, Griffith and Owen de la Pole
Owen de la Pole
Owen de la Pole , also known as Owain ap Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn, was the heir presumptive to the Welsh principality of Powys Wenwynwyn until 1283 when it was abolished by the Parliament of Shrewsbury. He became the 1st Lord of Powis after the death of his father Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn c...
.
The other principal royal sites in Wales are Aberffraw
Aberffraw
Aberffraw is a small village and community on the south west coast of the Isle of Anglesey , in Wales, by the west bank of the River Ffraw, at . The UK postcode begins LL63. Access by road is by way of the A4080 and the nearest rail station is Bodorgan. In the early Middle Ages Aberffraw was the...
for Gwynedd and Dinefwr
Dinefwr
Dinefwr was a local government district of Dyfed, Wales from 1974 to 1996. It was named after Dinefwr Castle which was the royal capital of the Principality of Deheubarth and one of the three principal royal courts of Wales....
for Deheubarth.