Gruffydd Maelor I

Gruffydd Maelor (died 1191) was Prince of Powys Fadog in Wales.

Arms of Gruffydd Maelor

He is known as Gruffydd Maelor I to distinguish him from his grandson, Gruffydd Maelor II, Lord of Dinas Bran. He married into the House of Stanley later Earls of Derby.

Lineage

He was a son of Prince Madog ap Maredudd by Susanna, daughter of King Gruffudd ap Cynan of the House of Aberffraw. He was to be the founder of the principal ruling family of northern Powys during the 13th century.

Inheritance

On his father's death in 1160 Powys was divided between his three sons (Gruffydd, Owain Brogyntyn and Owain Fychan), a nephew (Prince Owain Cyfeiliog) and a half-brother (Prince Iorwerth Goch ap Maredudd).

Gruffydd received the Lordship of Maelor (also known as Bromfield) and the Lordship of Iâl (also known as Yale), as his allotted portion of Powys.[1] These lordships later merged and became the Lordship of Bromfield and Yale, belonging to John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey, who was later defeated at the Battle of Stirling Bridge by William Wallace.[2][3]

Gruffydd later added Nanheudwy, Cynllaith Owain and Mochnant Is Rhaeadr after the death of his half-brother Owain Fychan in 1187.

Unification of northern Powys

His inherited and acquired lands in effect unified and reunited most of northern Powys forming what became known as Powys Fadog after it was inherited by his son.

Marriage

He married Princess Angharad, his cousin and daughter of Owain Gwynedd, King of Gwynedd.

Death and issue

He died in 1191, leaving issue:

Madog, who succeeded his father.
Owen, joint ruler with his brother, died 1197.

References and sources

Prof. T Jones Pierce MA FSA, The History of Wales (Aberystwyth)
Lloyd, History of Wales

Specific

GRUFFYDD ap MADOG or GRUFFYDD MAELOR I (died 1191), Dictionary of Welsh Biography, Professor Thomas Jones Pierce, (1905 - 1964)
John de Warenne, earl of Surrey, lord of Bromfield and Yale, and his niece Eleanor, The National Archives
The baronage of England, or, An historical account of the lives and most memorable actions of our English nobility in the Saxons time to the Norman conquest, University of Michigan, Dugdale, William, Sir, 1605-1686.

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[1] GRUFFYDD ap MADOG or GRUFFYDD MAELOR I (died 1191), Dictionary of Welsh Biography, Professor Thomas Jones Pierce, (1905 - 1964)

[2] John de Warenne, earl of Surrey, lord of Bromfield and Yale, and his niece Eleanor, The National Archives

[3] The baronage of England, or, An historical account of the lives and most memorable actions of our English nobility in the Saxons time to the Norman conquest, University of Michigan, Dugdale, William, Sir, 1605-1686.