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Sunday, August 30, 2020

Prince Madog ap Maredudd & Princess Susanna verch Gruffydd

 79958922. Prince Madog ap Maredudd & 79958923. Princess Susanna verch Gruffydd

~1110, Madog born in Wales, s/o §§Lord Maredudd ap Bleddyn ap Cynfyn & Hunydd verch Eunydd.

1116, On the death of Owain ap Cadwgan, Madog’s father Maredudd ap Bleddyn ap Cynfyn came to power in Powys.

~1120, Susanna born in Wales, d/o 159917840. King Gruffydd ap Cynan & 159917841. Angharad verch Owain.

1128, Madog’s brother Gruffudd died.

1132, Madog’s father, lord of all Powys, died; leaving sons Madog and Howel primarily in control.

12/22/1135, Stephen crowned king of England.

[––Madog & Susanna––]

~1138, Madog married Susanna

1138, Madog killed Cynwrig, and illegitimate son of Owain Gwynedd.

1140, Madog’s brother Howel commanded the troops of Powys when Cynfrig, son of Owain, was killed, enhancing the division between the families.

1140-42, Killed or died: Cynfrig, son of Owain; Howel ap Maredudd ap Rhydderch [lord of Cantref Bychan] and his son Maredudd;  Madog, son of Idnerth; Howel [brother of Madog], Howel and Cadwgan [sons of Madog.]

2/2/1141, Madog ap Maredudd led a large contingent of Welsh in support of Ranulf, earl of Chester, at the battle of Lincoln; in which the forces of Empresses Matilda [the Welsh side] defeated the forces of King Stephen, who was captured. The Welsh supported one flank of the English forces. The Welsh were initially engaged and losing against William, earl of Aumale; but turned the tide with support by the Earl of Chester.

1142, Madog’s brother Howel was killed; leaving Madog as the most powerful ruler.

1148, Owain Gwynedd built a castle at Yale, close to the English border. Both Randulf, earl of Chester, and Madog ap Maredudd opposed the construction of the castle.

1149, Madog captured the English lands of Oswestry and Whittington [within 4 miles of the Welsh border]. Madog built a castle at Oswestry, part of the lands of Englishman William fitz Alan. [The English were involved in a civil war in which William fitz Alan was forced to flee Shropshire.] About the same time Owain Gwynedd ap Gruffydd built a castle in his territory at Ial.

1149, Madog gave Cyfeiliog to his nephews Owain Cyfeiliog and Meurig. [Near the end of the year.]

1150, Ranulph, Earl of Chester, allied himself with Madog ap Maredudd of Powys and marched against Owain Gwynedd ap Gruffydd. Owain, by ambush, defeated the combined forces near Colehil [Ewloe].

12/19/1154, Henry II crowned king of England.

1154-5, William fitz Alan regained control of Owestry from Madog. [This apparently was by agreements of payments to Madog.]

1155,Three princes dominated Wales: Owain Gwynedd, Madog of Powys, and Rhys ap Gruffudd of Deheubarth.

1156, Madog built a castle near Cymmer in Caereinion. Madog became more allied with the English against Owain Gwynedd.

1156, Madog got his nephew Meurig ab Gruffydd out of prison.

1156-7, Madog ap Maredudd commanded a part of the King Henry’s fleet when he saild to the island of Mon.

7/1157, After the intial battles of King Henry and Owain Gwynedd ap Gruffydd, Madog ap Maredudd positioned his forces between the opposing groups. In the peace agreement, Madog arranged for Owain’s castle built in Ial to be burned [by Madog’s brother Iorwerth the Red.]

1158-59, Madog ap Maredudd recovered independence from Owain Gwynedd ap Gruffydd through allegiance with the English, but had to pay an annual tribute to King Henry.

1160, Madog, Prince of Powys, died; buried in the precincts of the church of St. Tyssilio at Meifod. [His son Llywelyn was slain soon afterwards.]

(S) The Age of Owain Gwynedd, Barbier, 1908. (S) DNB, 1893, P301.

Family notes:

·         Madog was known as a great patron of poets.

·         Most of the Welsh ‘castles’ were 10-20 feet high, and 25-40 feet across. Essentially a defensive ‘fort’.

Children of Madog and Susanna:

i. Gruffydd Maelor (121696904) born ~1140 in Wales.

ii. Gwenllian ferch Madog,  born ? in Wales.

Gwenllian married Rhys ap Gruffudd of Deheubarth.

iii. Owain Fychan, born ? in Wales.

1186, Owain died.

iv. Marared ferch Madog (39979461), born ~1150 in Wales.

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