Madog ap Maredudd

 

Madog ap Maredudd (died 1160) was the last Prince of the entire Kingdom of Powys and for a time held the Fitzalan Lordship of Oswestry.

Lineage

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.

In Norman Service

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.

Seizing Fitzalan Lands

In 1149 he is recorded giving the commote of Cyfeiliog to his nephews Owain Cyfeiliog and his brother Meurig. The same year Madog was able to seize Oswestry from William Fitzalan.

Defeat by Gwynedd

At this time the King of Gwynedd, between 1149 to 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, Earl of Chester, but Owain defeated them at Coleshill in 1150 and took possession of Madog's lands in Iâl (English="Yale"].

Alliance with Henry II of England

In 1157 when King Henry II of England invaded Gwynedd he was supported by Madog, who was able to regain many of his lands, though he had to return the Lordship of Oswestry to William Fitz Alan.

Death & Burial

Madog died in 1160, and was buried in the church of St. Tysilio at Meifod, the mother church of Powys.

Succession Shared

Madog's eldest son, Llywelyn, was killed soon after his father's death and Powys was shared between a number of sons and nephews. Powys was never subsequently reunited, being separated into two parts Powys Fadog and Powys Wenwynwyn.

Madog's death enabled Owain Gwynedd to annex part of northern Powys. The poet Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr in his elegy on Madog said:

While Madog lived there was no man

Dared ravage his fair borders

Yet nought of all he held

Esteemed he his save by God's might ...

If my noble lord were alive

Gwynedd would not now be encamped in the heart of Edeyrnion

The Mabinogion

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 Iorwerth. His titular dream contrasts his own time with the grandeur of King Arthur's period.^[1]

Children

• Llywelyn ap Madog
• Gruffydd Maelor
• Gwenllian ferch Madog, married Rhys ap Gruffydd, prince of Deheubarth
• Marared ferch Madog, married Iorwerth Drwyndwn and was the mother of Llywelyn the Great

Notes

References

• John Edward Lloyd (1911). A history of Wales: from the earliest times to the Edwardian conquest. Longmans, Green & Co. 

Preceded by Maredudd ap Bleddyn

Prince of Powys 1132–1160

Succeeded by Owain Cyfeiliog Gruffydd Maelor Owain Fychan Owain Brogyntyn

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