Madog ap Maredudd

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Madog ap Maredudd (died 1160) was the last prince of the entire Kingdom of Powys.

Madog was the son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn and grandson of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn. He followed his father on the throne of Powys in 1132.

He is recorded as taking part in the Battle of Lincoln in 1141 in support of the Earl of Chester, along with Owain Gwynedd's brother Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd and a large army of Welshmen. In 1149 he is recorded giving the commote of Cyfeiliog to his nephews Owain Cyfeiliog and his brother Meurig. The same year Madog was able to seize Oswestry from William Fitz Alan.

At this time the king of Gwynedd, Owain Gwynedd was exerting pressure on the borders of Powys, despite the fact that Madog was married to Susanna, Owain's sister. Madog made an alliance with Ranulf, Earl of Chester, but Owain defeated them at Coleshill in 1150 and took possession of Madog's lands in Iâl (English="Yale"]. In 1157 when King Henry II of England invaded Gwynedd he was supported by Madog, who was able to regain many of his lands, though he had to return Oswestry to William Fitz Alan.

Madog died in 1160, and was buried in the church of St. Tysilio at Meifod. Madog's eldest son, Llywelyn, was killed soon after his father's death and Powys was shared between a number of sons and nephews. Powys was never subsequently reunited, being separated into two parts Powys Fadog and Powys Wenwynwyn.

Madog's death enabled Owain Gwynedd to annex part of northern Powys. The poet Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr in his elegy on Madog said:

While Madog lived there was no man

Dared ravage his fair borders

Yet nought of all he held

Esteemed he his save by God's might ...

If my noble lord were alive

Gwynedd would not now be encamped in the heart of Edeyrnion

[edit] Children

• Llywelyn ap Madog
• Gruffydd Maelor
• Gwenllian ferch Madog, married Rhys ap Gruffydd, prince of Deheubarth
• Marared ferch Madog, married Iorwerth Drwyndwn and was the mother of Llywelyn the Great

[edit] References

• John Edward Lloyd (1911). A history of Wales: from the earliest times to the Edwardian conquest. Longmans, Green & Co. 

Preceded by Maredudd ap Bleddyn

Prince of Powys 1132–1160

Succeeded by Owain Cyfeiliog Gruffydd Maelor Owain Fychan Owain Brogyntyn