Owain ap Cadwgan
Encyclopedia
Owain ap Cadwgan was a prince of Powys in eastern Wales
. He is best known for his abduction of Nest
, wife of Gerald of Windsor.
Owain was the eldest son of Cadwgan ap Bleddyn
, prince of part of Powys. He is first recorded in 1106, when he killed Meurig and Griffri, the sons of Trahaearn ap Caradog
, who held lands in Arwystli
. In 1109 Owain's father Cadwgan gave a great feast at his court in Ceredigion
, and at this feast Owain was told of the beauty of Nest, whose husband Gerald held the castle of Cenarth Bychan (possibly Cilgerran Castle
). He decided to visit Cenarth Bychan to see for himself, and having done so fell in love with Nest and determined to have her. One night at Christmas 1109 Owain and fifteen companions burrowed underneath the gate to get into the castle then rushed in to abuct Nest and her children and set fire to the castle. Her husband, Gerald, fled through a garderobe. Nest bore Owain two sons, Llywelyn and Einion, before eventually being returned to her husband.
Owain's actions led to his father being confronted with an invasion, as the justiciar
of Shropshire, Richard de Beaumais, promised the members of the cadet branches of the ruling house of Powys extensive lands if they would attack Cadwgan and Owain. Owain fled to Ireland
while Cadwgan surrendered to King Henry I of England
and lost all his lands. Ceredigion was later returned to Cadwgan, under the condition of paying a fine of £100 and promising to have nothing more to do with Owain.
Owain soon returned to Powys from Ireland and made an alliance with Madog ap Rhiryd. The king responded by releasing Owain's uncle, Iorwerth ap Bleddyn
from captivity in 1110 and returning the rule of Powys to him. Owain was driven out of Powys by Iorwerth and retreated to Ceredigion, from where he made raids on Dyfed
, selling his captives in the Irish slave markets. He also killed a prominent member of the Flemish
colony, William of Brabant. King Henry responded by stripping Cadwgan of all his lands and forcing him to live as an exile in England, while Owain again fled to Ireland. However Iorwerth was killed by Owain's ally Madog ap Rhiryd in 1111 and the rule of Powys was returned to Cadwgan, who was allowed to recall Owain. When Cadwgan was also killed by Madog the same year, Owain became ruler of much of Powys. He employed his uncle Maredudd ap Bleddyn
as penteulu (captain of the guard), and in 1113 Maredudd was able to capture Madog ap Rhiryd and sent him to Owain. Owain took vengeance for the killing of his father by blinding Madog.
In 1114 King Henry invaded Wales, an attack mainly aimed against Gruffydd ap Cynan
of Gwynedd
. Owain allied himself with Gruffydd, and retreated with him to Gwynedd. After peace terms had been agreed, Henry took Owain with him when he visited Normandy later that year and knighted him. Owain returned with the king in 1115 and in 1116 took to arms to assist King Henry in putting down the rebellion of Gruffydd ap Rhys
of Deheubarth. Gerald of Windsor, husband of Nest, was fighting on the same side, and took the opportunity for vengeance, attacking Owain when he had only ninety men with him and killing him. Most of Powys now passed to his uncle, Maredudd.
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...
. He is best known for his abduction of Nest
Nest verch Rhys
Nest ferch Rhys was a daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, last King of Deheubarth , by his wife, Gwladys ferch Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn of Powys. She is also known as "Nesta" or "Princess Nesta"....
, wife of Gerald of Windsor.
Owain was the eldest son of Cadwgan ap Bleddyn
Cadwgan ap Bleddyn
Cadwgan ap Bleddyn was a prince of Powys in eastern Wales.Cadwgan was the second son of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn who was king of both Powys and Gwynedd. When Bleddyn was killed in 1075, Powys was divided between three of his sons, Cadwgan, Iorwerth and Maredudd. Cadwgan is first heard of in 1088 when he...
, prince of part of Powys. He is first recorded in 1106, when he killed Meurig and Griffri, the sons of 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...
, who held lands in Arwystli
Arwystli
Arwystli was a cantref in medieval Wales, located in the headland of the River Severn in what is now the county of Powys. It was chiefly associated with the Kingdom of Powys, but was heavily disputed between Powys, Gwynedd, and the Norman Marcher Lords for hundreds of years, and was the scene of...
. In 1109 Owain's father Cadwgan gave a great feast at his court in Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
, and at this feast Owain was told of the beauty of Nest, whose husband Gerald held the castle of Cenarth Bychan (possibly Cilgerran Castle
Cilgerran Castle
Cilgerran Castle is a 13th-century ruined castle located in Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire, Wales, near Cardigan.The castle is a National Trust property, in the guardianship of Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments Executive Agency....
). He decided to visit Cenarth Bychan to see for himself, and having done so fell in love with Nest and determined to have her. One night at Christmas 1109 Owain and fifteen companions burrowed underneath the gate to get into the castle then rushed in to abuct Nest and her children and set fire to the castle. Her husband, Gerald, fled through a garderobe. Nest bore Owain two sons, Llywelyn and Einion, before eventually being returned to her husband.
Owain's actions led to his father being confronted with an invasion, as the justiciar
Justiciar
In medieval England and Ireland the Chief Justiciar was roughly equivalent to a modern Prime Minister as the monarch's chief minister. Similar positions existed on the Continent, particularly in Norman Italy. The term is the English form of the medieval Latin justiciarius or justitiarius In...
of Shropshire, Richard de Beaumais, promised the members of the cadet branches of the ruling house of Powys extensive lands if they would attack Cadwgan and Owain. Owain fled to Ireland
Ireland
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...
while Cadwgan surrendered to King Henry I of England
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
and lost all his lands. Ceredigion was later returned to Cadwgan, under the condition of paying a fine of £100 and promising to have nothing more to do with Owain.
Owain soon returned to Powys from Ireland and made an alliance with Madog ap Rhiryd. The king responded by releasing Owain's uncle, Iorwerth ap Bleddyn
Iorwerth ap Bleddyn
Iorwerth ap Bleddyn was a prince of Powys in eastern Wales.Iorwerth was the son of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn who was king of both Powys and Gwynedd. When Bleddyn was killed in 1075, Powys was divided between his three of his sons, Iorwerth, Cadwgan and Maredudd.Iorwerth, Cadwgan and Maredudd held their...
from captivity in 1110 and returning the rule of Powys to him. Owain was driven out of Powys by Iorwerth and retreated to Ceredigion, from where he made raids on Dyfed
Dyfed
Dyfed is a preserved county of Wales. It was created on 1 April 1974 under the terms of the Local Government Act 1972, and covered approximately the same geographic extent as the ancient Principality of Deheubarth, although excluding the Gower Peninsula and the area west of the River Tawe...
, selling his captives in the Irish slave markets. He also killed a prominent member of the Flemish
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
colony, William of Brabant. King Henry responded by stripping Cadwgan of all his lands and forcing him to live as an exile in England, while Owain again fled to Ireland. However Iorwerth was killed by Owain's ally Madog ap Rhiryd in 1111 and the rule of Powys was returned to Cadwgan, who was allowed to recall Owain. When Cadwgan was also killed by Madog the same year, Owain became ruler of much of Powys. He employed his uncle 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...
as penteulu (captain of the guard), and in 1113 Maredudd was able to capture Madog ap Rhiryd and sent him to Owain. Owain took vengeance for the killing of his father by blinding Madog.
In 1114 King Henry invaded Wales, an attack mainly aimed against 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...
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...
. Owain allied himself with Gruffydd, and retreated with him to Gwynedd. After peace terms had been agreed, Henry took Owain with him when he visited Normandy later that year and knighted him. Owain returned with the king in 1115 and in 1116 took to arms to assist King Henry in putting down the rebellion of Gruffydd ap Rhys
Gruffydd ap Rhys
Gruffydd ap Rhys was Prince of Deheubarth, in Wales. His sister was the Princess Nest ferch Rhys.-Early life:Following the death of Gruffydd's father Rhys ap Tewdwr in 1093, Deheubarth was taken over by the Normans, and Gruffydd spent much of his early years in exile in Ireland.In 1113 Gruffydd...
of Deheubarth. Gerald of Windsor, husband of Nest, was fighting on the same side, and took the opportunity for vengeance, attacking Owain when he had only ninety men with him and killing him. Most of Powys now passed to his uncle, Maredudd.