Iowerth Goch ap Maredudd
Encyclopedia
Iowerth Goch ap Maredudd (c.1110 - c.1171), a minor Prince of the Kingdom of Powys, was the base son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn
and Cristin ferch Bledrus. The appellation "Goch", meaning red, probably referred to the colour of his hair.
Iowerth married Maud de Manly, who gave him two sons, Gruffydd Vychan(c.1150), and Howellus ap Iowerth He had one brother Hywel ap Maredudd and two half-brothers, Madog ap Maredudd
and Gruffydd ap Maredudd.
Iowerth is known to have taken the castle Tomen y Rhodwydd, Denbighshire
, (built by Owain Gwynedd
in 1149) in 1157 and burnt it down.
The Dream of Rhonabwy in the Mabinogion
mentions Iowerth:
"this brother, Iorwerth son of Maredudd, was extremely agitated and distressed at seeing the honour and power that Madog enjoyed, while he himself had nothing. He sought out his comrades and foster-brothers for advice, and they decided that some of them should go to Madog and ask for maintenance for Iorwerth. Madog offered to make his brother head of his troops, with equal rank, honours, arms and horses..."
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...
and Cristin ferch Bledrus. The appellation "Goch", meaning red, probably referred to the colour of his hair.
Iowerth married Maud de Manly, who gave him two sons, Gruffydd Vychan(c.1150), and Howellus ap Iowerth He had one brother Hywel ap Maredudd and two half-brothers, Madog ap Maredudd
Madog ap Maredudd
Madog ap Maredudd was the last Prince of the entire Kingdom of Powys, Wales and for a time held the Fitzalan Lordship of Oswestry.Madog was the son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn and grandson of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn. He followed his father on the throne of Powys in 1132...
and Gruffydd ap Maredudd.
Iowerth is known to have taken the castle Tomen y Rhodwydd, Denbighshire
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
, (built by Owain Gwynedd
Owain Gwynedd
Owain Gwynedd ap Gruffydd , in English also known as Owen the Great, was King of Gwynedd from 1137 until his death in 1170. He is occasionally referred to as "Owain I of Gwynedd"; and as "Owain I of Wales" on account of his claim to be King of Wales. He is considered to be the most successful of...
in 1149) in 1157 and burnt it down.
The Dream of Rhonabwy in the Mabinogion
Mabinogion
The Mabinogion is the title given to a collection of eleven prose stories collated from medieval Welsh manuscripts. The tales draw on pre-Christian Celtic mythology, international folktale motifs, and early medieval historical traditions...
mentions Iowerth:
"this brother, Iorwerth son of Maredudd, was extremely agitated and distressed at seeing the honour and power that Madog enjoyed, while he himself had nothing. He sought out his comrades and foster-brothers for advice, and they decided that some of them should go to Madog and ask for maintenance for Iorwerth. Madog offered to make his brother head of his troops, with equal rank, honours, arms and horses..."