Maredudd ap Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd

Maredudd ap Cynan (c. 1150 – 1212)[1] was the grandson of Owain Gwynedd, a king of Gwynedd and ruler of most of Wales in the 12th century.[2]

Maredudd is known to have fought alongside his brother Gruffudd against his uncle Hywel in 1170 and later fought on the side of his cousin Llywelyn ab Iorwerth between 1194–1197 in a campaign to depose another uncle Dafydd. It seems likely that Maredudd inherited his father's title in Meirionydd as a reward for his support from Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, the new ruler of Gwynedd, who would become known to posterity as Llywelyn the Great. Maredudd supported both the Augustinian and Cistercian monastic orders with grants of land and buildings.[3] At some point he seems to have been deprived of his lands for an act of treachery.[2]

An elegy written in the Welsh language after Maredudd's death compared him to King Arthur for his battle skills.[4] His territories were inherited by his two sons, Llywelyn the Elder ap Maredudd ap Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd, known as "Llywelyn Fawr", and Llywelyn the Younger ap Maredudd ap Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd, known as "Llywelyn Fychan", who both continued to support Llywelyn the Great.[5]

References
  1. Graham C. G. Thomas (1997). The Charters of the Abbey of Ystrad Marchell. National Library of Wales. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-907158-99-8.
  2. Thomas Jones Pierce. "Maredudd ap Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd (died 1212), lord of Eifionydd, part of Ardudwy, and Merioneth and co-founder of the Cistercian house of Cymmer". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  3. Caernarvonshire Historical Society (1963). Transactions: (Trafodion). p. 61.
  4. Nerys Ann Jones (12 July 2019). Arthur in Early Welsh Poetry. MHRA. p. 90. ISBN 978-1-78188-908-4.
  5. Thomas Jones Pierce. "Llywelyn Fawr and Llywelyn Fychan (fl. early 13th century). lords of Merioneth". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
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