Cadwallon ap Madog

Cadwallon ap Madog was the son of Madog ab Idnerth who had died in 1140, while Idnerth was a grandson of Elystan Glodrydd who had died in around 1010 and had founded a dynasty in the Middle Marches of Wales, in the area known as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren.

Ruler of Maelienydd

Cadwallon is first mentioned in 1160 when he fell out with his brother, Einion Clud of Elfael. His elder brothers had all been killed much earlier, Cadwgan ap Madog and Hywel ap Madog in 1142 and Maredudd ap Madog in 1146. Cadwallon seems to have conquered Maelienydd in the late 1150s or earlier. In the summer of 1175 he followed Rhys ap Gruffudd to Gloucester where he made a peace treaty with King Henry II, buying recognition from the king for his holding the land of Maelienydd. He also seems to have been responsible for building or fortifying several castles in the Middle Marches. He fought at least one battle at Ednol and was 'the renowned possesser of Cymaron' and its castle. It seems he built Castell Crug Eryr and brought destruction to the English Marches of Herefordshire and Shropshire. In 1176 he profited most from the death of his brother Einion Clud when he annexed his brother's lands. The next year he was described as "king" of Elfael by an English court official.

His Death

In September 1179 he appeared in the royal court to answer charges of waging war against the king's peace. In this he appears to have been successful, but on returning home to Elfael he was met by men owing allegiance to Roger Mortimer of Wigmore and was cut down and killed on 22 September. The king was outraged as Cadwallon was under a royal safe conduct. Mortimer was imprisoned in Winchester for two years and his associates who did the killing were in turn hunted down, some turning to outlawry, others to exile and some being executed.

His descendants

Ancient pedigrees show Efa ferch Madog, the daughter of Madog ap Maredudd of Powys as his wife. She was living in 1176. By her he appears to have had at least five children, Joan ferch Cadwallon, Maelgwn ap Cadwallon (d.1197), Hywel ap Cadwallon (d.1212), Llywelyn ap Cadwallon (mutilated), Owain Cascob ap Cadwallon (d.1198).

References

* Remfry, P.M., "The Political History of Abbey Cwmhir, 1176 to 1282 and the Families of Elystan Godrydd, Mortimer and the Princes of Gwynedd" (ISBN 1-899376-47-X)
* Remfry, P.M., The "Native Welsh Dynasties of Rhwng Gwy a Hafren, 1066 to 1282" [M.Phil Thesis, Aberystwyth, 1989]

External links

* [http://www.castles99.ukprint.com/Essays/cymaron.html Cymaron Castle]