CMYK PMS 156+5mm 19mm 156+5mm d a v 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 t Deheubarth (south-west), occupying nearly a quarter of the country. e p However, it has been somewhat neglected by historians, who have h e KingdoM, PrinciPality and tended to dismiss it as a satellite realm of England, and viewed its n s o 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 K face of pressure from Welsh rivals and the problems of internal i n fragmentation; and that, paradoxically, co-operation with the English g d and intermarriage with marcher families underlay a desire to regain o lands to the east lost in earlier centuries. M , 2 PM 3 r 4 i + n e 6 Dr David Stephenson is an Honorary Research Fellow in the c m d i m School of History, Welsh History and Archaeology, Bangor University. P ai le i Cover image: The cover design is based on the arms of Gruffudd ap tv ya Gwenwynwyn, lord of southern Powys 1240-86, recorded as ‘Or, a lion al rampant Gules’ in St George’s Roll ca.1280. n P d o l Studies in Celtic History o w r GENERAL EDITORS: Dauvit Broun, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Huw Pryce dy s hs i P s , 1 1 3 2 - 1 2 9 3 david stephenson Studies in Celtic History XXXV MEDIEVAL POWYS 9781783271405.indd 1 04/07/2016 14:14 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 9781783271405.indd 2 04/07/2016 14:14 MEDIEVAL POWYS KINGDOM, PRINCIPALITY AND LORDSHIPS, 1132–1293 DAVID STEPHENSON THE BOYDELL PRESS 9781783271405.indd 3 04/07/2016 14:14 © 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 9781783271405.indd 4 04/07/2016 14:14 To Jan 9781783271405.indd 5 04/07/2016 14:14 9781783271405.indd 6 04/07/2016 14:14 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 9781783271405.indd 7 04/07/2016 14:14 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 9781783271405.indd 8 04/07/2016 14:14 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 9781783271405.indd 9 04/07/2016 14:14