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Powys, extending over north-east and central Wales, was one of three id
great medieval Welsh polities, along with Gwynedd to the north and s Medieval Powys
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Deheubarth (south-west), occupying nearly a quarter of the country. e
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However, it has been somewhat neglected by historians, who have h
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tended to dismiss it as a satellite realm of England, and viewed its n
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leaders as obstacles to the efforts of Gwynedd leaders to construct a n lordshiPs, 1132-1293
principality of Wales.
This book provides the first full, authoritative history of Powys
in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. It argues in particular that
the Powysian rulers were dogged and resourceful survivors in the
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face of pressure from Welsh rivals and the problems of internal i
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fragmentation; and that, paradoxically, co-operation with the English g
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and intermarriage with marcher families underlay a desire to regain
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lands to the east lost in earlier centuries. M
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Dr David Stephenson is an Honorary Research Fellow in the c m
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School of History, Welsh History and Archaeology, Bangor University. P
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Cover image: The cover design is based on the arms of Gruffudd ap tv
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Gwenwynwyn, lord of southern Powys 1240-86, recorded as ‘Or, a lion
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rampant Gules’ in St George’s Roll ca.1280. n
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Studies in Celtic History o
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GENERAL EDITORS: Dauvit Broun, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Huw Pryce dy
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david stephenson
Studies in Celtic History XXXV
MEDIEVAL POWYS
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STUDIES IN CELTIC HISTORY
ISSN 0261-9865
General editors
Dauvit Broun
Máire Ní Mhaonaigh
Huw Pryce
Studies in Celtic History aims to provide a forum for new research into all
aspects of the history of Celtic-speaking peoples throughout the whole of
the medieval period. The term ‘history’ is understood broadly: any study,
regardless of discipline, which advances our knowledge and understanding of
the history of Celtic-speaking peoples will be considered. Studies of primary
sources, and of new methods of exploiting such sources, are encouraged.
Founded by Professor David Dumville, the series was relaunched under
new editorship in 1997. Proposals or queries may be sent directly to the
editors at the addresses given below; all submissions will receive prompt and
informed consideration before being sent to expert readers.
Professor Dauvit Broun, Department of History (Scottish), University of
Glasgow, 9 University Gardens, Glasgow G12 8QH
Dr Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, St John’s College, Cambridge CB2 1TP
Professor Huw Pryce, School of History, Welsh History and Archaeology,
Bangor University, Gwynedd LL57 2DG
For titles already published in this series
see the end of this volume
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MEDIEVAL POWYS
KINGDOM, PRINCIPALITY AND
LORDSHIPS, 1132–1293
DAVID STEPHENSON
THE BOYDELL PRESS
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© David Stephenson 2016
All Rights Reserved. Except as permitted under current legislation
no part of this work may be photocopied, stored in a retrieval system,
published, performed in public, adapted, broadcast,
transmitted, recorded or reproduced in any form or by any means,
without the prior permission of the copyright owner
The right of David Stephenson to be identified
as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with
sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
First published 2016
The Boydell Press, Woodbridge
ISBN 978-1-78327-140-5
The Boydell Press is an imprint of Boydell & Brewer Ltd
PO Box 9, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 3DF, UK
and of Boydell & Brewer Inc.
668 Mt Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620-2731, USA
website: www.boydellandbrewer.com
A catalogue record of this publication is available
from the British Library
The publisher has no responsibility for the continued existence or accuracy of URLs for
external or third-party internet websites referred to in this book, and does not guarantee that
any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate
This publication is printed on acid-free paper
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To Jan
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CONTENTS
List of Illustrations ix
Acknowledgements x
Abbreviations xii
Introduction: The problem of medieval Powys: historiography and sources 1
PART I: POWYSIAN POLITIES IN THE TWELFTH AND
THIRTEENTH CENTURIES: A POLITICAL NARRATIVE
1. The re-emergence of Powys 23
2. The age of eminence: Madog ap Maredudd 39
3. Crisis and renewal: 1160 and its aftermath 58
4. The ascendancy and fall of Gwenwynwyn 75
5. Eclipse: the supremacy of Gwynedd 97
6. Survival: the case of Gruffudd, lord of Bromfield 115
7. Survival: the case of Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn 133
8. The persistence of Powysian lordship: Owain ap Gruffudd ap
Gwenwynwyn and the descendants of Madog ap Maredudd 159
PART II: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POWYSIAN POLITIES:
STRUCTURES, FAULT-LINES AND POLITICAL CULTURE
9. Powysian polities I: aspects of governance 181
10. Powysian polities II: secular dynamics; fragmentation and integration 215
11. Powysian polities III: the ecclesiastical dimension 248
12. Some Powysian perspectives: fears and aspirations 274
vii
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Contents
Appendices
Appendix I. The Combermere charters: a new analysis and some
implications 293
Appendix II. Two alleged charters of Elise ap Madog 300
Appendix III. ‘Powys Fadog’ and ‘Powys Wenwynwyn’ 302
Appendix IV. The date ofcomposition of Breuddwyd Rhonabwy 306
Select bibliography 311
Index 327
viii
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ILLUSTRATIONS
MAPS
1. Powys in geographical context xiv
2. Powys: main politico-administrative divisions xv
3. The lands of Powys and neighbouring territories, ca 1201 xvi
4. The Powysian lands: distribution of castles xvii
GENEALOGICAL TABLES
1. Descendants of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn and Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn in the
first and second generations xviii
2. Madog ap Maredudd king of the Powysians 1132–60 and his
immediate successors xix
3. Descendants of Gruffudd ap Madog ap Maredudd (northern Powys) xx
4. Descendants of Gruffudd ap Maredudd (southern Powys) xxi
5. The dynasty of Mechain: descendants of Owain Fychan ap Madog xxii
ix
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