 Abt 1025 - 1075 (50 years)
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| Name |
Bleddyn "Sais" Ap Cynfyn Of Powys |
| Prefix |
Prince |
| Nickname |
Sais |
| Birth |
Abt 1025 |
Powis, Montgomeryshire, Wales  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Death |
1075 |
| Person ID |
I70829 |
Cecilie Family |
| Last Modified |
2 Mar 2009 |
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| Notes |
- All of the following information came from Jane Williams Flank, World Connect db=jwflank, rootsweb.com:
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, and 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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| Sources |
- [S1484] Ashley, Mike, Ashley (1998), (New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, 1998.), p. 366 (Reliability: 3).
- [S1486] Bartrum, Peter C., Bartrum (1974), (Wales, UK: University of Wales Press.), p. 47 (Reliability: 3).
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