Prince of Powis Gwenwynwyn ap Owain

• Birth Notes
  • B: 1155
    P: Powys, Cymru

• General Notes
  • Gwenwynwyn, who is so finely portrayed by Sir Walter Scott in his "Betrothed." He married Margaret, daughter of Robert Corbet, feudal baron of Caus. They resumed the arms of his line: Or a lion rampant gules. In 2nd of Henry III, 1218, he appears to have been dead, his widow Margaret living and his heirs under age.
    (Kin of Mellcene Thurman Smith, page 310)
    
    Gwenwynwyn, an only child, Prince of Powis Cyffeillog. The castle of Powis, which was begun by Bleddyn, was continued by Gwenwynwyn, and on completion appeared as a low-roofed edifice of red stone. The castle was captured by the English in 1191, but retaken by Gwenwynwyn in 1197, it contains a vast store of art collections, paintings and statuary, including heroic busts of the twelve Caesors brought from Italy. This Prince, and the Castle of Powis so finely portrayed in the "Betrothed" by Sir Walter Scott, recovered his castle from Archbishop Hubert, who commanded the armies of Richard I against the Welsh. In 1198, ambitious of achieving the independence of his country, he raised a large army, and besieged William Braose in his castle of Payn in Radnor, but was defeated in a battle near the castle. In 1208 he was in arms with Llewellyn, Prince of North Wales, and with other great men of Wales and the two princes drove King John from the country. He later returned his allegiance to King John, and in 1210 Gwenwynwyn was pursued by Llewellyn and driven within the walls of Chester. He was dead by 1218, his widow Margaret living, and his children under age. He married Margaret, daughter of Robert Corbet, feudal baron of Caus. Griffith resumed the arms of his line: Or, a lion Rampant Gules. He had Madoc Goch and his elder son, Griffith.
    (Kin of Mellcene Thurman Smith, page 361)
    
    Gwenwynwyn ab Owain (died c.1216) was the last major ruler of mid Wales before the completion of the English conquest. He was a grandson of Owain Gwynedd and ruled southern Powys from 1195, having taken control following the death of his father Owain Cyfeiliog.
    His possession of Powys Wenwynwyn brought him into conflict with Llywelyn the Great, ruler of Gwynedd, who was keen to extend his own jurisdiction over the whole of Wales. King John favoured Gwenwynwyn until a marriage alliance was made between Llywelyn and John's illegitimate daughter. The two native princes then kept their distance until 1208. As a result of Gwenwynwyn's activities, John confiscated his lands and allowed Llywelyn to steal Ceredigion and Powys. Gwenwynwyn did not get his territory back for two years, but his resentment towards the English led him into an alliance with Llywelyn, which lasted from 1212 until 1216, when John restored some of Gwenwynwyn's property and the two princes fell out again. Llywelyn invaded Powys, and Gwenwynwyn is believed to have died or been killed that same year. He was survived by his son Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn whose actions in 1282 may have led directly to the death of Llywelyn the Great's grandson and the last native Prince of Wales, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd.
    (Wikipedia)