8 - The persistence of Powysian lordship: Owain ap Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn and the descendants of Madog ap Maredudd

Summary

By the time of the death of Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn in 1286 a sort of stability had been established in the territories of Powys. The imposition of Edward I's rule over much of Wales was one factor in that stability, as it meant that southern Powys was no longer menaced by Venedotian aggression. The same period saw the death of many of the lords of northern Powys and the division of their lands amongst several newly created English Marcher lordships. It also witnessed the continued fragmentation of Edeirnion among descendants of Owain Brogyntyn, and the final absorption of Mechain by the rulers of southern Powys. All these factors combined to ensure the survival and ascendancy of the dynasty of Owain Cyfeiliog.

Northern Powys

In the northern lordship the dynasty of Madog ap Maredudd had come close to disappearing. In the political crisis of the principality of Wales in 1276–7 the sons of Gruffudd of Bromfield had made accommodations with Edward I with varying degrees of enthusiasm and promptness. The first to do so was Llywelyn Fychan ap Gruffudd, who was received into Edward I's peace in December 1276. It is possible that Prince Llywelyn's intervention in northern Powys in favour of his brother-in-law Madog ap Gruffudd had stirred Llywelyn's resentment. The apportionment of Gruffudd of Bromfield's lands that was made under Prince Llywelyn's supervision apparently gave to Madog Maelor Gymraeg and Maelor Saesneg, and half of Glyndyfrdwy; to Llywelyn Fychan went Nanheudwy, part of Cynllaith, part of Mochnant and Carreg Hofa; Gruffudd Fychan received part of Glyndyfrdwy and Iâl, while to Owain went Bangor Is Coed and part of Cynllaith. And Madog's primacy amongst the brothers was perhaps underlined in the record of the Dolforwyn proceedings of 1274: while Madog, Llywelyn and Gruffudd, sons of Gruffudd, all witnessed the document that recorded the conditions by which Owain ap Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn was to be held hostage by the prince, only Madog Fychan, lord of Bromfield witnessed the main record of the trial. It is quite clear that the power of the prince of Wales was made very apparent in those territories; when the four sons of Gruffudd of Bromfield gathered at Dinas Brân in 1270 to confirm their father's grants to their mother Emma, it was reported that the proceedings were in turn confirmed by the prince.