Medieval Powys: Kingdom, Principality and Lordships, 1132-1293 (Studies in Celtic History, 35)

Powys, extending over north-east and central Wales, was one of three great medieval Welsh polities, along with Gwynedd to the north and Deheubarth (south-west), occupying nearly a quarter of the country. However, it has been somewhat neglected by historians, who have tended to dismiss it as a satellite realm of England, and viewed its leaders as obstacles to the efforts of Gwynedd leaders to construct a 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 face of pressure from Welsh rivals and the problems of internal fragmentation; and that, paradoxically, co-operation with the English and intermarriage with marcher families underlay a desire to regain lands to the east lost in earlier centuries. Dr David Stephenson is an Honorary Research Fellow in the School of History, Welsh History and Archaeology, Bangor University. Table of Contents Introduction: The problem of medieval Powys: Historiography and sources. The re-emergence of Powys The age of eminence: Madog ap Maredudd. Crisis and renewal: 1160 and its aftermath The ascendancy and fall of Gwenwynwyn Eclipse: the supremacy of Gwynedd Survival: the case of Gruffudd, lord of Bromfield Survival: the case of Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn The persistence of Powysian lordship: Owain ap Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn and the descendants of Madog ap Maredudd Powysian Polities I: aspects of governance Powysian Polities II: secular dynamics; fragmentation and integration Powysian Polities III: the ecclesiastical dimension Some Powysian perspectives: fears and aspirations Appendix I. The Combermere charters: a new analysis and some implications Appendix II. Two alleged charters of Elise ap Madog Appendix III. 'Powys Fadog' and 'Powys Wenwynwyn' Appendix IV. The date of composition of Breuddwyd Rhonabwy Select Bibliography Frontcover 1 Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Acknowledgements 11 Abbreviations 13 Introduction: The problem of medieval Powys: historiography and sources 24 Part I: Powysian polities in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries: a political narrative 44 1. The re-emergence of Powys 46 2. The age of eminence: Madog ap Maredudd 62 3. Crisis and renewal: 1160 and its aftermath 81 4. The ascendancy and fall of Gwenwynwyn 98 5. Eclipse: the supremacy of Gwynedd 120 6. Survival: the case of Gruffudd, lord of Bromfield 138 7. Survival: the case of Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn 156 8. The persistence of Powysian lordship: Owain ap Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn and the descendants of Madog ap Maredudd 182 Part II: Characteristics of the Powysian polities: structures, fault-lines and political culture 202 9. Powysian polities I: aspects of governance 204 10. Powysian polities II: secular dynamics; fragmentation and integration 238 11. Powysian polities III: the ecclesiastical dimension 271 12. Some Powysian perspectives: fears and aspirations 297 Appendices 316 Appendix I. The Combermere charters: a new analysis and some implications 316 Appendix II. Two alleged charters of Elise ap Madog 323 Appendix III. ‘Powys Fadog’ and ‘Powys Wenwynwyn’ 325 Appendix IV. The date of composition of Breuddwyd Rhonabwy 329 Select bibliography 334 Index 350 First full-scale account of the medieval realm of Powys. Powys, extending over north-east and central Wales, was one of three great medieval Welsh polities, along with Gwynedd to the north and Deheubarth (south-west), occupying nearly a quarter of the country. However, it has been somewhat neglected by historians, who have tended to dismiss it as a satellite realm of England, and viewed its leaders as obstacles to the efforts of Gwynedd leaders to construct a 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 face of pressure from Welsh rivals and the problems ofinternal fragmentation; and that, paradoxically, co-operation with the English and intermarriage with marcher families underlay a desire to regain lands to the east lost in earlier centuries. Dr David Stephenson is anHonorary Research Fellow in the School of History, Welsh History and Archaeology, Bangor University. "Powys, extending over north-east and central Wales, was one of three great medieval Welsh polities, along with Gwynedd to the north and Deheubarth (south-west), occupying nearly a quarter of the country. However, it has been somewhat neglected by historians, who have tended to dismiss it as a satellite realm of England, and viewed its leaders as obstacles to the efforts of Gwynedd leaders to construct a 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 face of pressure from Welsh rivals and the problems of internal fragmentation; and that, paradoxically, co-operation with the English and intermarriage with marcher families underlay a desire to regain lands to the east lost in earlier centuries."--Page 4 of cover Powys, extending over north-east and central Wales, was one of three great medieval Welsh polities, along with Gwynedd to the north and Deheubarth (south-west), occupying nearly a quarter of the country. However, it has been somewhat neglected by historians, who have tended to dismiss it as a satellite realm of England, and viewed its leaders as obstacles to the efforts of Gwynedd leaders to construct a principality of Wales. This work provides the first full, authoritative history of Powys in the 12th and 13th centuries