Prince of Gwynedd Gruffydd Ap Cynan Mawr, Brenin of Gwynedd

1055 - 1137  (82 years)

• Name	Gruffydd Ap Cynan Mawr  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17]
  Prefix	Prince of Gwynedd
  Suffix	Brenin of Gwynedd
  Born	1055	Carnarvon, Wales   [6, 18, 19]
  Christened	{Tribe: Gruffudd ap Cynan}
  Gender	Male
  Died	1137	Carnarvon, Wales   [1, 6, 18, 20, 21, 22]
  Buried	Bangor Cathedral, Bangor, Caernarvonshire, Wales, UK   [23, 24, 25]
  Person ID	P44554081	My Genealogy
  Last Modified	17 Dec 2016

  
  

  Father	Prince Of North Wales Cynan Ap Iago Mawr,   b. 1014, Aberffro, Malltraeth, Angelsey, Wales ,   d. 1063  (Age 49 years)
  Mother	Rhanullt O' Olaf,   b. Abt 1031, Dublin, Ireland
  Family ID	F937	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  "The power of Gwynedd was shattered in 1063 when the Saxon earl Harold (later king Harold I), drove his army into north Wales and defeated Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, the last high king of Wales, a defeat which resulted in Llywelyn's death. Gryffydd ap Cynan was still a boy living with his mother in Ireland, and it's likely his father Cynan was also a casualty of the 1063 war. In the chaos that followed the death of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, the Normans made deep advances into north Wales from their base at Chester, building a impressive new motte-and-bailey castle on (or near) the traditional Welsh stronghold at Rhuddlan. In the later 11th century Gruffydd ap Cynan returned from Ireland but had little initial success in asserting his claims to Gwynedd. He was, in fact, imprisoned for a short time. By the early 12th century, however, he had patiently regained much of the territory of ancient Gwynedd, claiming it for the house of Aberffraw, and he was later able to claim additional land below the Conwy. By the time of his death in 1137 he also controlled the western territory of Ceredigion." - From Castles of Wales.com MILITARY: Wars and Battles> 1074, Gruffudd ap Cynan, rightful heir of Gwynedd, set sail from Ireland, where he had been brought up, to try and recover his inheritance. He attacked Cynwrig ap Rhiwallon in Llyn and slew him. Having gain this victoory he marched into the cantref of Meirionydd against Trahaearn ap Caradog, whence a battle commenced called "Y Gwaed Erw" or "The Bloody Acre", in which Trahaearn was defeated. Gruffudd then attacked the combined forces, cavalry and infantry, of the Normans at Rhuddlan Castle, and defeated Robert, the Castellan (nephew of Hugh Lupus). (Lloyd, History of the Princes, the Lords Marcher and the Ancient Nobility of Powys Fadog, vol. 1 p. 74, 75) MILITARY: Wars and Battles> Gruffudd met Trahaearn ap Caradog (and others of Powys) with forces from Môn and Arfon, and Danes and Irish, in a cruel and bloody battle at a placed called Bron yr Erw or Erw yr Allt near Hardlech. Neither party gavve any quarter to the other, but fought it out to the end. Gruffudd was defeated, and being desperately wounded was carried off the field of battle by Gwyn, lord of Môn, to his ships lying in the port of Aber Menai, from whence they sailed to the island of Ynys y Moelrhoneaid (Insula Phocarum, and from there to for Llwch Garmaw in Ireland. (Lloyd, History of the Princes, the Lords Marcher and the Ancient Nobility of Powys Fadog, vol. 1 p. 74, 75) MILITARY: Wars and Battles> 1080, Gruffudd again equipped an army of Danes, Irish, and Britons, in hopes of regaining Gwynedd. He was met by Rhys ap Tudur who ask for assistance against his enemies, who happened to be Gruffudd's enemies. They met Trahaearn ap Caradog and his men, nephews Caradog, Gruffudd, and Meilir, sons of Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn, the army of Powys, and Caradog ap Gruffudd, Brenin of Gwent, near the hills of Mynydd Y Garn. Attacking in the evening, one of the most bloody battles in the annals of Welsh history was fought. Trahaearn was totally defeated, and was pierced through his body, "Gwcharis, an Irishman, made bacon of him like a hog". Also slain were Caradog, Gruffudd and Meilir, sons of Rhiwallon. The army of Trahaearn fled before Gruffudd, and scarcely one of them escaped from the combat to his own country. Gruffudd then marched in to Arwystli, which he devastated by fire and sword, destroyed and massacred the common people, and burnt their houses and carried away the wives and maidens into captivity. From there he marched into Powys, which he devastated in like manner. (Lloyd, History of the Princes, the Lords Marcher and the Ancient Nobility of Powys Fadog, vol. 1 p. 75, 76) TITLES: Accession> to Gwynedd in 1081. (Fryde, Handbook of British Chronology, p. 50) TITLES: King of Gwynedd from 1082-1137. (Lloyd, History of the Princes, the Lords Marcher and the Ancient Nobility of Powys Fadog, vol. 5 p. 45) TITLES: Called the Last King of Wales, 1079-1137. (Griffith, Pedigrees of Anglesey and Carnarvonshire Families, p. 309) TITLES: Prince of Aberffraw and Lord of Snowdon. (Glenn, Family of Griffith of Garn and Plasnewydd in the County of Denbigh, p. 219) ACHIEVEMENTS: Founder of the medieval realm of Gwynedd and ancestor of all its later rulers. DEATH: Age 82 years. (Griffith, Pedigrees of Anglesey and Carnarvonshire Families, p. 309) REMARKS: In 1096 he was forced to flee to Ireland with Cadwgon ap Bleddyn, but they returned in 1097 with an army of Scots and reclaimed their lands. (Lloyd, History of the Princes, the Lords Marcher and the Ancient Nobility of Powys Fadog, vol. 5 p. 49) REMARKS: Gruffudd ap Cynan tried to regain his lands from Hugh, Earl of Chester. Henry sent an army into Powys, which failed miserably. (Lloyd, History of the Princes, the Lords Marcher and the Ancient Nobility of Powys Fadog, vol. 5 p. 52) REMARKS: In Wales till the middle of the 12th century individuals were styled 'Brenin' meaning chief or high one, and 'Arglwydd' meaning lord or master. REMARKS: A elegy for him can be found in 'Lloyd, History of the Princes, the Lords Marcher and the Ancient Nobility of Powys Fadog' volume 1 pages 336-337. (Research) KINSHIP: Conflict/Error> Dwnn's 'Heraldic Visitations of Wales' volume 2 page 107 gives him additional daughters Nest and Morfudd by his wife Angharad ferch Owain. (Research) KINSHIP: Conflict/Error> Dwnn's 'Heraldic Visitations of Wales' volume 2 page 107 gives him an additional son named Rhydderch by his wife [unknown] ferch Llychwy. (Research) KINSHIP: Conflict/Error> Griffith's 'Pedigrees of Anglesey and Carnarvonshire Families' page 309 gives him an additional son named Rhydderch by his wife [unknown] ferch Llychwy, and three additional daughters, Mareda, Nest, and Morfudd, by his wife Angharad ferch Owain. (Research):

  
  

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