Mathrafal

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Mathrafal near Welshpool, Wales was the seat of the Kings and Princes of Powys probably from the 9th Century until its destruction in 1212 by Llywelyn ap Iorwerth of Gwynedd.

Mathrafal is located about six miles WNW of Welshpool at the junction of the A495 and B4389 on the banks of the River Banwy.

The site known today as "Mathrafal Castle" is a roughly 100 m square rectangular compound defended by ditches. Little remains of the original walls. This structure probably dates from around the 9th Century and replaces an earlier hill fort, about 1 km away, which probably dates from around 656 at the time of the fall of the neighbouring Kingdom of Pengwern, or perhaps as early as 520 when the capital of Powys was moved from the old Roman town of Viroconium Cornoviorum (Wroxeter). Prince Gwenwynwyn ab Owain of Powys moved his capital from Mathrafal to Welshpool (Y Trallwng) after it was destroyed during warfare between Powys and Gwynedd in 1212.

[edit] House of Mathrafal

The Mathrafal (pronounced Mathraval) dynasty began as a cadet branch off of the Dinefwr dynasty, taking its name from their principal seat of Mathrafal Castle in northern Powys. Members of this family trace their lineage to Rhodri the Great though Princess Anghered (as daughter of King Maredudd of Deheubarth and Powys) and her son Bleddyn ap Cynfyn. After the native Powys dynasty expired in the mid 9th century, Powys was inherited by Rhodri the Great.

However, his grandson Hywel the Good took possession of Powys in 916. Hywl's grandson Maredudd ap Owain ruled as king of Deheubarth and Powys until his death in 999, when it passed to his own grandson Llywelyn ap Seisyll, through his daughter Anghered (with her first husband Seisyll ap Owain). By 1063 however, it was her son Bleddyn ap Cynfyn that would found the line that would continue to rule in Powys until the early 14th century, when they were finely displaced by the Marcher lordship of Mortimer.

Bleddyn ap Cynfyn was able to take possession of Gwynedd whenGruffydd ap Llywelyn died in 1063. From this point forward the family jockeyed with the Dinefwr and Aberffraw dynasties for control of Wales. Their influence was greatest between 1063 to 1081, but lost control of Gwynedd to the resurgent Aberffraw family in the battle of Mynydd Carn. By 1191 Powys was divided between Powys Fadog, which became wholly under the control of Gwynedd, and Powys Gynwynwyn (roughly modern Randorshire), which remained under Mathrafal control. Author John Davies points out that with the division of Powys, the dynasty from 1191 could not be considered as "equal" to that of Aberffraw or Dinefwr. However, the Mathrafal dynasty would continue to exert some influence, eventually to betray Llywelyn the Last during the Edwardian Conquest of 1287.

Members of the Mathrafal Dynasty include Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, Maredudd ap Bleddyn, Gwladys ferch Rhiwallon, Trahaearn ap Caradog, and Gwenwynwyn ap Owain

The other principle royal sites in Wales are Aberffraw for Gwynedd and Dinefwr for Deheubarth.