General Notes

Bleddyn ap Cynfyn (d 1075) , prince, was the son of Cynfyn ap Gwerstan, otherwise known, and Angharad, widow of Llywelyn ap Seisyll (d 1023), and mother of the famous Gruffudd ap Llywelyn (d 1063). Late authorities supply Gwerstan with a distinguished pedigree, but the name has the air of being a derivative of the English Werestan. As half-brothers of Gruffudd, Bleddyn and his brother Rhiwallon succeeded to his domains, but no longer in independence, but as vassals and allies of Edward the Confessor. They continued Gruffudd's policy of alliance with Mercia and aided the Mercians in their struggle with William the Conqueror, supporting Edric the Wild in 1067, when they ravaged Herefordshire as far as the Lugg, and Edwin and Morcar in 1068. In 1070 they had to meet a threat nearer home; two sons of Gruffudd challenged their power in the battle of Mechain, and encounter in which Bleddyn proved victor and the only survivor of the four. He was now threatened by the advance of the Normans into North Wales; in 1073, Robert of Rhuddlan established himself on the banks of the Clwyd and shortly afterwards surprised Bleddyn in a stealthy attack, in which the Welsh leader lost much booty and narrowly escaped capture. His career was cut short in 1075, when Rhys ab Owain and the nobles of Ystrad Tywi contrived his death. The tragedy was much deplored in Mid Wales, and when his cousin, Trahaearn ap Caradog, defeated Rhys (1078) in the battle of Goodwich and drove him into headlong flight, it was held to have been signally avenged.

High praise is bestowed upon Bleddyn by the chronicle which was now kept at Llanbadarn. His virtues were those of the ideal prince-clemency, kindness, affability, liberality to the weak and defenceless, respect for the rights of the Church. Some colour is given to this eulogy by the fact that Bleddyn is one of the few princes who appear has having made amendments in the laws of Hywel the Good. To later generations he was best known as the ancestor of all later princes of Powys, for, within a few years after his death, his sons had established themselves as ruler throughout the whole of this provence. [Dictionary of Welsh Biography 40-41]

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Bleddyn Cynfyn ruled Powys 1063-1075

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From http://homepages.tesco.net/~plk33/plk33/History/KingListBritain:

By 1063, Blethyn (Bleddyn) rules a mostly united Wales, an Powys is detached from Gwynedd & Deheubarth for, or by, his son.

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Bleddyn and his brother Rhiwallon were half-brothers of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn. Their mother, Angharad, married Cynfyn ap Gwerstan o the death of Llywelyn ap Seisyll. Cynfyn ap Bwerstan may have been a Powys nobleman; there is also some suggestion that he may have been half Saxon. Bleddyn remained a strong supporter of the Mercians in their battles against the Normans.

Bleddyn and Rhiwallon also had to contend with internal revolution. The sons of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, Maredudd and Idwal, attempted to reestablish their claim to the throne. However, they were also killed in the Battle of Mechain in 1070; Bleddyn now ruled without internal challenge.

He is reported to having been a generous king, giving to church and populous. He was the first king in over 100 years to revise the laws developed under Hywel Dda.

Unfortunately, in 1073, the Normans began their advance through north Wales, and defeated Bleddyn in a surprise attack. Weakened, he became vurnerable to his southern neighbor, Rhys ab Owain of Deheubarth. In 1075, Rhys betrayed Bleddyn, leading to his murder. However, Bleddyn's descendents became the main ruling family of Powys. [The Welsh Kings]

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During the later years of the reign of his half-brother, Gruffyd, the English had brought Wales into at least nominal subjection. Gruffyd was killed by the English 5 Aug 1063. Bleddyn and his brother Rhiwallon, having submitted to King Edward, were made rules of Gwynedd and Powys. The Normans who came with William the Conqueror soon encroached upon the Welsh who resisted them and Rhiwallon was slain in battle in 1070. Bleddyn was then the sole Ruler. [The Weaver Genealogy]

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In 1075, Bleddyn was killed by Rhys, the brother of Maredudd ab Owain, and Rhys in turn was likeed in 1078 by Caradog ap Gruffudd. Bleddyn's kingdom passed to his cousin, Trahaearn ap Caradog, but Trahaearn was killed, along with Caradog ap Gruffudd, in the battle of Mynydd Carn in 1081. [A History of Wales; John Davies]
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Bleddyn is said in the Brut y Tywysogion to have been a benevolent ruler:
     "the most loveable and the most merciful of all kings...he was civil to his relatives, generous to the poor, merciful to pilgrims and orphans and widows and a defender of the weak...." and:
     "the mildest and most clement of kings" and he "did injury to none, save when insulted..openhanded to all, terrible in war, but in peace beloved."
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Ancestry/Jane Williams Flank
Ancestry - Isiaha Lee
wikipedia.org (Cadwgan ap Bleddyn)
wikipedia.org (Bleddyn ap Cynfyn)
Ancestry - TC Renehan