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AP MAREDYDD Madog
Birth: 1091 of Montgomeryshire, Wales
Death: 1160 Winchester, Hampshire, England
Burial: St. Tysilio, Meifod, Montgomeryshire, Wales
Notes
Chart of the Lords of the Manor of Deytheur, in "Collections Historical and
Archaeological Relating to Montgomeryshire, vol 28"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madog_ap_Maredudd
Madog ap Maredudd (Middle Welsh: Madawg mab Maredud, Madawc mab Maredut;
died 1160) 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. He is recorded as taking part in
the Battle of Lincoln in 1141 in support of the Earl of Chester, along with Owain
Gwynedd's brother Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd and a large army of Welshmen. In 1149 he
is recorded giving the commote of Cyfeiliog to his nephews Owain Cyfeiliog and
Meurig. The same year Madog was able to rebuild Oswestry Castle, a fortress of
William Fitzalan. It would seem likely that he had gained both the fortresses of
Oswestry and Whittington in 1146.
Defeat by Gwynedd[edit]
At this time the King of Gwynedd, between 1149 and 1150, Owain Gwynedd was
exerting pressure on the borders of Powys, despite the fact that Madog was married to
Susanna, Owain's sister. Madog made an alliance with Ranulf de Gernon, 4th Earl of
Chester, but Owain defeated them at the Battle of Ewloe (Coleshill) in 1150 and took
possession of Madog's lands in Iāl (English: Yale). In 1157 when King Henry II of
England invaded Gwynedd he was supported by Madog, who was able to regain many
of his Welsh lands. Even so, he retained the lordships of Oswestry and Whittington. In
1159 Madog would seem to have been the Welsh prince who accompanied King Henry
II in his campaign to Toulouse which ended in failure. Returning home to Wales
Madog died about 9 February 1160 in Whittington Castle. He was buried soon
afterwards in the church of St Tysilio at Meifod, the mother church of Powys.
Succession Shared[edit]
Madog's eldest son, Llywelyn, was killed soon after his father's death in 1160, Powys
was then shared between Madog's sons Gruffydd Maelor, Owain Fychan and Owain
Brogyntyn, his nephew Owain Cyfeiliog and half-brother Iorwerth Goch.[1] Powys was
never subsequently reunited, being separated into two parts; Powys Fadog (Lower
Powys) and Powys Wenwynwyn (Upper Powys). Madog's death enabled Owain
Gwynedd to force the homage of Owain Brogyntyn, Madog's youngest son, and
effectively annex part of northern Powys.
The poet Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr in his elegy on Madog said:
While Madog lived there was no manDared ravage his fair bordersYet nought of all he
heldEsteemed he his save by God's might ...If my noble lord were aliveGwynedd would
not now be encamped in the heart of Edeyrnion
Edeyrnion (or Edeirnion) was a commote inherited by Owain Brogyntyn and had been
the home of his mother (who was not married to his father). Owain may also have been
raised there. It was annexed to Gwynedd during Owain's time.
The Mabinogion[edit]
The Mabinogion tale The Dream of Rhonabwy is set during Madog's reign. The central
character, Rhonabwy, is one of Madog's retainers sent to bring in Madog's rebellious
brother Iowerth Goch ap Maredudd. His titular dream contrasts his own time with the
grandeur of King Arthur's period.[2]
Children[edit]
Llywelyn ap Madog, died 1160
Gruffydd Maelor ap Madog, died 1191
Owain Fychan ap Madog, c. 1125-1187
Owain Brogyntyn ap Madog (illegitimate)
Gwenllian ferch Madog, married Rhys ap Gruffydd, prince of Deheubarth
Marared ferch Madog, married Iorwerth ab Owain Gwynedd and was the mother of
Llywelyn the Great
Efa ferch Madog, married Cadwallon ap Madog ap Idnerth, prince of Maelienydd
Fiction[edit]
Madog's intervention in the Battle of Lincoln in 1141 forms an important plot element
in the detective novel Dead Man's Ransom, part of the Brother Cadfael chronicles by
Edith Pargeter (writing as Ellis Peters).
Parents
AP BLEDDYN Maredudd (ABT 1047 - 9 Feb 1132)
VERCH EINUDD Hunydd (ABT 1063 - )
Siblings
AP MAREDYDD Madog (1091 - 1160)
AP MAREDUDD Gruffydd (ABT 1095 - )
Marriage To VERCH GRUFFYDD Susanna (1095 - )
m.
Notes
Parents
AP CYNAN Gruffydd (1055 - 1137)
VERCH OWAIN Angharad (ABT 1065 - 1162)
Children by VERCH GRUFFYDD Susanna 1095 -
VERCH MADOG Margred (ABT 1129 - )
VERCH MADOG Gwenllian (ABT 1131 - )
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