View source for Bleddyn ap Cynfyn

{{Short description|King of Gwynedd from 1063 to 1075}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Bleddyn ap Cynfyn
| succession   = [[List of rulers of Gwynedd|King of Gwynedd]]
| reign        = 1063–1075
| predecessor  = [[Gruffydd ap Llywelyn]]
| successor    = [[Trahaearn ap Caradog]]
| succession2  = [[List of rulers in Wales|King of Powys]]
| reign2       = 1063–1075
| predecessor2 = [[Gruffydd ap Llywelyn]]
| successor2   = [[Iorwerth ap Bleddyn]]
| death_date   = 1075
| house        = [[House of Mathrafal|Mathrafal]]
| spouse       = Haer ferch Gillyn
| father       = [[Cynfyn ap Gwerystan]]
| mother       = [[Angharad ferch Maredudd ap Owain]]
}}

[[File:COA Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, Prince of of Gwynedd and Powys.svg|thumb|180px|Coat of arms of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn (Gwynedd and Powys)]]

'''Bleddyn ap Cynfyn''' ({{lang-owl|Bledẏnt uab Kẏn[[ỽ]]ẏn}};{{sfnp|Owen|1841|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=zYZCAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA81 Book II, Ch. XII, §1]}} died 1075),<ref name=Lloyd>{{Cite DWB |last=Lloyd |first=J. E. |year=1959 |id=s-BLED-APC-1025 |title=BLEDDYN ap CYNFYN (died 1075), prince |access-date=23 August 2020}}</ref> sometimes spelled '''Blethyn''', was an 11th century [[list of rulers of Wales|Welsh king]]. King [[Harold Godwinson]] and [[Tostig Godwinson]] installed Bleddyn and his brother, [[Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn|Rhiwallon]], as the co-rulers of [[kingdom of Gwynedd]] on his father's death in 1063, during their destruction of the kingdom of their half-brother, king [[Gruffydd ap Llywelyn]]. Bleddyn became king of [[kingdom of Powys|Powys]] and co-ruler of the Kingdom of Gwynedd with his brother Rhiwallon from 1063 to 1075. His descendants continued to rule Powys as the [[House of Mathrafal]].

== Background ==
Bleddyn was born to a poorly documented Powys nobleman named [[Cynfyn ap Gwerystan]], known only from the late traditional pedigrees reporting Bleddyn's parentage.<ref name=Lloyd /> Cynfyn's claimed father, Gwerstan or Gwerystan, is given contradictory Welsh pedigrees consisting mostly of otherwise unknown names, a possibly spurious derivation since his name perhaps actually represents a rendering of the Anglo-Saxon name Werestan.<ref name=Davies9>Davies, Sean; ''The First Prince of Wales?: Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, 1063–1075'', University of Wales Press, 2016, pp. 9–11</ref>

Cynfyn, likely a supporter of King [[Llywelyn ap Seisyll]], would after the latter's 1023 death marry the widowed queen, Angharad, daughter of [[list of kings of Dyfed|King]] [[Maredudd ab Owain]] of [[Deheubarth|Dyfed]], member of the [[House of Dinefwr]], whose realm had been lost to the Irish pretender [[Rhain the Irishman|Rhain]] before its conquest by Llywelyn.<ref name="lines231">[https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Laws_of_Howel_the_Good/The_Houses_of_Cunedda_and_Rhodri_Mawr The Houses of Cunedda and Rhodri Mawr], Welsh Medieval Law: The Laws of Howell the Good (1909) by Hywel ap Cadell, translated by Arthur Wade Wade-Evans. See: Meredydd (Maredudd) and Owen (King Owain)</ref><ref name="Dinfwr191">Lloyd, J. E.; (1959). [https://biography.wales/article/s-BLED-APC-1025 BLEDDYN ap CYNFYN (died 1075)], prince. Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved 4 March 2024</ref><ref name="Dinefw1">Pierce, T. J.; (1959). [https://biography.wales/article/s-LLYW-APS-1023 LLYWELYN ap SEISYLL (died 1023)], king of Deheubarth and Gwynedd. Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved 4 March 2024</ref><ref>{{Citation |url=https://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/files/20577287/null |year=2013 |publisher=Bangor University |last=Jones |first=Owain |title=Historical writing in medieval Wales |page=253}}</ref><ref name=Davies9 />

Angharad and Cynfyn had at least two sons, Bleddyn and Rhiwallon, probably born in the late 1020s,<ref name="Davies11">Davies, ''The First Prince of Wales?'', pp. 11–12</ref> who were thus maternal half-brothers of [[Gruffydd ap Llywelyn]], Angharad's son by her first husband.<ref>{{Citation |url=https://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/files/20577287/null |year=2013 |publisher=Bangor University |last=Jones |first=Owain |title=Historical writing in medieval Wales |page=253}}</ref><ref name="Dinefw1"/><ref name="Dinfwr191"/> Gruffydd, aged about ten and passed over for succession at the time of his father's death, slowly rebuilt his father's realm, annexing its successor states.

Cynfyn and Rhiwallon first appear in the documentary record in 1063.<ref name="Davies11" /> Bleddyn may have been residing in Powys, where he married Haer ferch Cillyn, daughter of the [[Porthmadog|Lord of Gest]] Cillyn y Blaidd Rudd ("Cillyn the Red Wolf").

== Reign ==
[[File:William the Conqueror after Hastings.png|210px|thumb|[[William the Conqueror]] invades England, engraving of the new king after the [[Battle of Hastings]], 1066.]]

Gruffydd's consolidation of power and alliance with earl [[Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia|Ælfgar]] of [[Mercia]] made him a threat to king [[Harold Godwinson]], [[earl of Hereford]]. Upon Ælfgar's death in 1060, Harold and his brother [[Tostig Godwinson|Tostig]] quickly invaded; the following year, they invaded again and were left in mastery of Wales after traitors among his men killed Gruffydd during a retreat. The south was restored to the Houses of [[House of Dinefwr|Dinefwr]] and [[kings of Morgannwg|Morgan]], but Powys and Gwynedd were given to Gruffydd's half-brothers Bleddyn and [[Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn|Rhiwallon]]. These two submitted to Harold and swore themselves vassals and allies of [[Edward the Confessor]].{{refn|group=n|K. L. Maund is of the opinion that Bleddyn ruled Gwynedd and Rhiwallon Powys.}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Middleton |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R63ACQAAQBAJ&dq=Bleddyn+ap+Cynfyn&pg=PA356 |title=World Monarchies and Dynasties |date=2015-06-01 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-45158-7 |language=en}}</ref>

At the time of the [[Norman Conquest]], Bleddyn was the most powerful king in Wales.<ref>Davies, R. R.; (1987). Conquest, Coexistence and Change: Wales 1063–1415. History of Wales, Vol. 2. Oxford: Clarendon Press, pp. 28–30</ref> Closely allied with Harold, the brothers joined the Saxon resistance to [[William the Conqueror]] following his [[Norman conquest of England|conquest of England]].<ref>[https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofWales/Kings-Princes-of-Wales/ Kings and Princes of Wales, Historic UK, Ben Johnson]</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">The First Prince of Wales?: Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, 1063–1075, Sean Davies, 2016</ref> In 1067, they joined the [[Mercia]]n [[Eadric the Wild]] in their struggle against William and attacked the Normans at [[Hereford]], ravaging the lands as far as the [[River Lugg]].<ref>Lloyd, J. E.; (1959). BLEDDYN ap CYNFYN (died 1075), prince. Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved 16 August 2023, from https://biography.wales/article/s-BLED-APC-1025</ref> In 1068, they joined earls [[Edwin, Earl of Mercia|Edwin of Mercia]] and [[Morcar|Morcar of Northumbria]] in their attacks as well.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> The earls both later submitted to William.

In 1070, King Gruffydd's sons, Idwal ap Gruffydd and Prince [[Maredudd ap Gruffydd]], challenged Bleddyn. Rhiwallon, Idwal and Maredudd all died in the [[Battle of Mechain]]. Bleddyn was the king of both Gwynedd and Powys.

In 1073, [[Robert of Rhuddlan]] stealthily established his forces on the banks of the [[River Clwyd]] and attempted to ambush and capture Bleddyn. He narrowly failed but seized valuable booty in raids further south. Bleddyn was killed in 1075 by [[list of kings of Dyfed|King]] [[Rhys ab Owain]] of [[Deheubarth]], having been betrayed by the lords of [[Ystrad Tywi]].<ref>{{cite ODNB |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/23462 |last1=Lloyd |first1=J. |last2=Thornton |first2=D. |title=Rhys ab Owain (d. 1078), ruler in Wales}}</ref>

When Rhys was later defeated at the 1078 Battle of Goodwick (or Pwllgwdig) by Bleddyn's successor, [[Trahaearn ap Caradog]], and killed by [[Caradog ap Gruffydd]] of [[Kingdom of Gwent|Gwent]] shortly afterwards, this was hailed as vengeance "for the blood of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, his first cousin".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Davies |first1=R. R. |title=The Age of Conquest: Wales 1063–1415 |date=2000 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |page=71 |isbn=978-0-19-820878-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=klauMOoHXK0C&dq=vengeance+for+the+blood+of+Bleddyn+ap+Cynfyn&pg=PA71 |access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref> After his death, Gwynedd was seized by Trahaearn and later recovered for the [[House of Aberffraw]] by [[Gruffudd ap Cynan]]; but in Powys, Bleddyn was the founder of a dynasty which lasted until the end of the 13th century.<ref>{{cite journal |id={{ProQuest|1310492216}} |last1=Jones |first1=Francis |title=Usher, Gwysaney and Owston (Book Review) |journal=Welsh History Review |volume=3 |issue=3 |date=June 1967 |page=299}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
[[File:Cyfraith Hywel Dda, folio 7r (4780062).jpg|thumb|210px|Extract from the [[Brut y Tywysogion|Chronicle of the Princes]] in which Bleddyn is featured during his reign.]]

Bleddyn's legacy in the ''[[Brut y Tywysogion|Chronicle of the Princes]]'' was that of a benevolent ruler:

{{Blockquote|"The most lovable 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... the mildest and most clement of kings... [he] did injury to none, save when insulted... openhanded to all, terrible in war, but in peace beloved".}}

Bleddyn was also responsible for a revision of the [[Welsh law]] which continued in force in his dynasty's domain of Powys. [[Kingdom of Gwynedd|Gwynedd]]'s Venedotian Code noted that he changed the legal composition of the [[Welsh units|homestead]] (''{{lang|cy|tyddyn}}'') for purposes of inheritance etc., varying its size depending on the social status of the owner. The homestead of a nobleman (''{{lang|owl|uchelwr}}'') was 12 Welsh acres, that of a [[Serfdom|serf]] (<small>{{abbr|Medieval Welsh}}</small> ''{{lang|owl|eẏllt}}'', <small>{{abbr|Modern Welsh}}</small> ''{{lang|cy|aillt}}'') had 8, and that of a bondsman or slave (<small>Medieval</small> ''{{lang|owl|godaẏauc}}'') had 4. (The text, however, notes the uncommonness of this division and says it was generally understood as 4 acres regardless of status.){{sfnp|Owen|1841|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=zYZCAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA81 Book II, Ch. XII, §1]}}

== Children ==
[[File:Image from page 402 of "Annals and antiquities of the counties and county families of Wales" (1872).jpg|thumb|Llanrhaiadr Hall, seat of the Parrys of Llwynynn, from an estate inherited from Bleddyn ap Cynfyn<ref>Annals and antiquities of the counties and county families of Wales, (1872), p. 402</ref>]]

Bleddyn had at least five children:<ref name=Lloyd/>
* [[Maredudd ap Bleddyn|Maredudd]] (d. 1132), king of Powys;
* [[Cadwgan ap Bleddyn|Cadwgan]] (d. 1111), prince of Powys;
* Madog;
* [[Rhiryd ap Bleddyn|Rhirid]] (1049–1088), king of Powys;
* [[Iorwerth ap Bleddyn|Iorwerth]] (d. 1111), prince of Powys.

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=n}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|20em}}

== Sources ==
* {{Citation |last=Maund |first=Kari |author-link=K. L. Maund |title=The Welsh Kings: Warriors, Warlards and Princes |publisher=The History Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-7524-2973-1}}.
* {{Citation |last=Davies |first=R. R. |author-link=R. R. Davies |title=The age of conquest: Wales 1063–1415 |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1991 |isbn=0-19-820198-2}}.
* {{Citation |editor-last=Jones |editor-first=Thomas Jones |date=1952 |title=Brut y Tywysogyon: Peniarth MS. 20 version |publisher=University of Wales Press}}.
* {{Citation |editor-last=Owen |editor-first=Aneurin |date=1841 |title=Ancient Laws and Institutes of Wales; Comprising Laws Supposed to be Enacted by Howel the Good, Modified by Subsequent Regulations under the Native Princes prior to the Conquest by Edward the First: And Anomalous Laws, Consisting Principally of Institutions which by the Statute of Ruddlan were Admitted to Continue in Force: With an English Translation of the Welsh Text, to which are Added A few Latin Transcripts, Containing Digests of the Welsh Laws, Principally of the Dimetian Code |contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zYZCAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA90 |contribution=The Venedotian Code |location=London |publisher=Commissioners on the Public Records of the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Kingdom]]}}, {{in lang|cy}} and {{in lang|en}}
* {{cite ODNB |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/48537 |last1=Pryce |first1=Huw |title=Bleddyn ap Cynfyn (d. 1075), king of Gwynedd and of Powys}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[House of Mathrafal]]||Unknown||1075}}
{{s-reg}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Gruffydd ap Llywelyn]]|}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of rulers of Wales|King of Gwynedd and Powys]]|years=1063–1075}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Trahaearn ap Caradog]] (Gwynedd)<br>[[Iorwerth ap Bleddyn]] (Powys)}}
{{end}}

{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bleddyn Ap Cynfyn}}

[[Category:1075 deaths]]
[[Category:Monarchs of Gwynedd]]
[[Category:Monarchs of Powys]]
[[Category:House of Mathrafal]]
[[Category:11th-century Welsh monarchs]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]