Foundations of the House of Nannau

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Foundations of the House of Nannau Nan_chapter_2-correct.qxp_nan_chap_1 07/02/2016 11:24 Page 2 18. right: A Bishop, possibly St. Peblig, wearing a mitre and holding a crosier - Llanbeblig Book of Hours (f.-3v.) 2 1129-1400 FOUNDATIONS OF THE HOUSE OF NANNAU ith the demise of Cadwgan ap Bleddyn, Gwynedd. The death of Maredudd ap Cadwgan in Wales had lost a decisive figure in the 1125, slaughtered by his own brother Morgan, was Wfig ht against the Norman invader. The no doubt precipitated by the family’s loss of lands. Anglo-Saxon Chronicle stated that: Madog ap Cadwgan was now the sole Welsh the Welsh … chose many leaders from among survivor of Cadwgan’s sons. He does not seem to themselves, one of them was called Cadwgan, have taken part in the expulsion of Uchdryd ap who was the finest of them. Edwin from Merioneth in 1116; that seems to have been carried out by his brother Einion and his He was the undisputed leader: and architect of the cousin Gruffudd ap Maredudd. The two cousins rebellion against Norman rule certainly, but less shared Uchdryd’s lands, Einion received ‘formidable’ in his ability to curb the family Merioneth and half of Penllyn. Maredudd received violence that plagued the end of his reign. Cyfeiliog, Mawddwy and the remainder of Penllyn. Upon his death in 1124, Cadwgan’s son Einion had bequeathed Merioneth and parts of Powys to his We now enter a period of family history where the brother Maredudd, but enjoyment of his historical record is very limited and one has inheritance was to be short lived as his uncle to resort to careful scrutiny of the genealogical Maredudd ap Bleddyn aggressively annexed his record in an attempt to follow the intrigue and territory. On hearing of Maredudd ap Bleddyn’s subterfuge. No mention is made of Madog ap actions, Gruffudd ap Cynan dispatched a ‘mighty Cadwgan receiving any portion of the spoils after host’ into Merioneth under the command of his the ejectment of Uchdryd, but he is later styled as sons Cadwallon and Owain Gwynedd. Maredudd ‘Lord of Nannau’, whilst his brother Einion is was decisively weakened, but it would take a few ‘Lord of Merioneth’. This attribution effectively more years before Merioneth and the lordship establishes Madog ap Cadwgan as the first Lord of would be back in the hands of the Princes of Nannau. 17. left: Cymer Abbey - thirteenth century arcade with the north aisle beyond 15.
Recommended publications
  • Princes of Gwynedd Guidebook
    Princes of Gwynedd Guidebook Discover the legends of the mighty princes of Gwynedd in the awe-inspiring landscape of North Wales PRINCES OF GWYNEDD GUIDEBOOK Front Cover: Criccieth Castle2 © Princes of Gwynedd 2013 of © Princes © Cadw, Welsh Government (Crown Copyright) This page: Dolwyddelan Castle © Conwy County Borough Council PRINCES OF GWYNEDD GUIDEBOOK 3 Dolwyddelan Castle Inside this book Step into the dramatic, historic landscapes of Wales and discover the story of the princes of Gwynedd, Wales’ most successful medieval dynasty. These remarkable leaders were formidable warriors, shrewd politicians and generous patrons of literature and architecture. Their lives and times, spanning over 900 years, have shaped the country that we know today and left an enduring mark on the modern landscape. This guidebook will show you where to find striking castles, lost palaces and peaceful churches from the age of the princes. www.snowdoniaheritage.info/princes 4 THE PRINCES OF GWYNEDD TOUR © Sarah McCarthy © Sarah Castell y Bere The princes of Gwynedd, at a glance Here are some of our top recommendations: PRINCES OF GWYNEDD GUIDEBOOK 5 Why not start your journey at the ruins of Deganwy Castle? It is poised on the twin rocky hilltops overlooking the mouth of the River Conwy, where the powerful 6th-century ruler of Gwynedd, Maelgwn ‘the Tall’, once held court. For more information, see page 15 © Princes of Gwynedd of © Princes If it’s a photo opportunity you’re after, then Criccieth Castle, a much contested fortress located high on a headland above Tremadog Bay, is a must. For more information, see page 15 © Princes of Gwynedd of © Princes If you prefer a remote, more contemplative landscape, make your way to Cymer Abbey, the Cistercian monastery where monks bred fine horses for Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, known as Llywelyn ‘the Great’.
    [Show full text]
  • A Welsh Classical Dictionary
    A WELSH CLASSICAL DICTIONARY DACHUN, saint of Bodmin. See s.n. Credan. He has been wrongly identified with an Irish saint Dagan in LBS II.281, 285. G.H.Doble seems to have been misled in the same way (The Saints of Cornwall, IV. 156). DAGAN or DANOG, abbot of Llancarfan. He appears as Danoc in one of the ‘Llancarfan Charters’ appended to the Life of St.Cadog (§62 in VSB p.130). Here he is a clerical witness with Sulien (presumably abbot) and king Morgan [ab Athrwys]. He appears as abbot of Llancarfan in five charters in the Book of Llandaf, where he is called Danoc abbas Carbani Uallis (BLD 179c), and Dagan(us) abbas Carbani Uallis (BLD 158, 175, 186b, 195). In these five charters he is contemporary with bishop Berthwyn and Ithel ap Morgan, king of Glywysing. He succeeded Sulien as abbot and was succeeded by Paul. See Trans.Cym., 1948 pp.291-2, (but ignore the dates), and compare Wendy Davies, LlCh p.55 where Danog and Dagan are distinguished. Wendy Davies dates the BLD charters c.A.D.722 to 740 (ibid., pp.102 - 114). DALLDAF ail CUNIN COF. (Legendary). He is included in the tale of ‘Culhwch and Olwen’ as one of the warriors of Arthur's Court: Dalldaf eil Kimin Cof (WM 460, RM 106). In a triad (TYP no.73) he is called Dalldaf eil Cunyn Cof, one of the ‘Three Peers’ of Arthur's Court. In another triad (TYP no.41) we are told that Fferlas (Grey Fetlock), the horse of Dalldaf eil Cunin Cof, was one of the ‘Three Lovers' Horses’ (or perhaps ‘Beloved Horses’).
    [Show full text]
  • The Earth and Timber Castles of the Llŷn Peninsula in Their
    The Earth and Timber Castles of the Llŷn Peninsula in their Archaeological, Historical and Landscape Context Dissertation submitted for the award of Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology University of Durham, Department of Archaeology James Gareth Davies 2013 1 Contents List of figures 3-5 Acknowledgements 6 Survey Location 7 Abstract 8 Aims and Objectives 9 Chapter 1: Literature review 10-24 1.1: Earth and Timber castles: The Archaeological Context 10-14 1.2: Wales: The Historical Context 15-20 1.3: Study of Earth and Timber castles in Wales 20-23 1.4: Conclusions 23-24 Chapter 2: Y Mount, Llannor 25-46 2.1:Topographic data analysis 25-28 2.2: Topographical observations 29-30 2.3: Landscape context 30-31 2.4: Geophysical Survey 2.41: Methodology 32-33 2.42: Data presentation 33-37 2.43: Data interpretation 38-41 2.5: Documentary 41-43 2.6: Erosion threat 44-45 2.7: Conclusions: 45 2 Chapter 3: Llŷn Peninsula 46-71 3.1: Context 46-47 3.2: Survey 47 3.3: Nefyn 48-52 3.4: Abersoch 53-58 3.5: New sites 59 3.6: Castell Cilan 60-63 3.7: Tyddyn Castell 64-71 Chapter 4: Discussion 72-81 4.1 -Discussion of Earth and Timber castle interpretations in Wales 72-77 4.2- Site interpretation 78 4.3- Earth and Timber castle studies- The Future 79-80 Figure references 81-85 Bibliography 86-91 Appendix 1: Kingdom of Gwynedd Historical Chronology (mid 11th to mid 12th centuries) 92-94 Appendix 2: Excavated sites in Wales 95-96 Appendix 3: Ty Newydd, Llannor- Additional Resources 97-99 Appendix 4: Current North Wales site origin interpretations 100 3 List of figures 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Magnus Barefoot from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
    Magnus Barefoot From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article is about the second Norwegian king named Magnus Olafsson. For the earlier Norwegian king, see Magnus the Good. Magnus Barefoot Drawing of a coin from the reign of Magnus Barefoot (with confused legend)[1] King of Norway Reign September 1093 – 24 August 1103 Predecessor Olaf III Successor Sigurd I, Eystein I and Olaf Magnusson Co-ruler Haakon Magnusson (until 1095) King of Dublin Reign 1102–1103 Predecessor Domnall Gerrlámhach Successor Domnall Gerrlámhach Born 1073 Norway Died 24 August 1103 (aged 29–30) near River Quoile, Downpatrick Ulster, Ireland Burial near St. Patrick's Church, Downpatrick, Ulster, Ireland Consort Margaret of Sweden Eystein I of Norway Issue Sigurd I of Norway Olaf Magnusson of Norway Ragnild Magnusdotter Tora Magnusdatter Harald IV Gille (claimed) Sigurd Slembe (claimed) Magnus Raude (claimed) Full name Magnús Óláfsson House Hardrada Father Olaf III of Norway Mother Tora?; disputed (see below) Religion Roman Catholicism Magnus Olafsson (Old Norse: Magnús Óláfsson, Norwegian: Magnus Olavsson; 1073 – 24 August 1103), better known as Magnus Barefoot (Old Norse: Magnús berfœttr, Norwegian: Magnus Berrføtt),[2] was King of Norway (as Magnus III) from 1093 until his death in 1103. His reign was marked by aggressive military campaigns and conquest, particularly in the Norse-dominated parts of the British Isles, where he extended his rule to the Kingdom of the Isles and Dublin. His daughter, Ragnhild, was born in 1090. As the only son of King Olaf Kyrre, Magnus was proclaimed king in southeastern Norway shortly after his father's death in 1093. In the north, his claim was contested by his cousin, Haakon Magnusson (son of King Magnus Haraldsson), and the two co-ruled uneasily until Haakon's death in 1095.
    [Show full text]
  • The Latin Life of Gruffudd Ap Cynan, British Kingdoms and The
    THE LATIN LIFE OF GRUFFUDD AP CYNAN, BRITISH KINGDOMS AND THE SCANDINAVIAN PAST Emily A. Winkler {John Cowdrey Junior Research Fellow in History,} St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford {Departmental Lecturer in Early Medieval History,} Balliol College, University of Oxford {Teaching Fellow, Department of History,} University College London we only give the institution; and normally only one; however, if your employment is fairly evenly divided among these three institutions, we could put ‘University of Oxford and University College London’ OK—and yes, division relatively even over past couple of years Abstract The article examines the representation and purpose of dynastic struggle in the twelfth- century Latin Life of Gruffudd ap Cynan. Understudied despite the publication of Paul Russell’s edition (2005), the Vita Griffini Filii Conani remains a missing piece of a larger puzzle: the flourishing of Latin historical writing in eleventh- and twelfth-century Britain and northern Europe. This article sets the Vita in its wider British and European context, and assesses the significance of Gruffudd’s Scandinavian heritage against the realities of political experience. It argues that the Vita’s portrayal of dynasty and dynastic conflict, set on the great stage of the North Sea zone, seeks to establish the legitimacy of a ruler who was both an outsider and of Scandinavian descent. The reality of invasion and conquest in the British Isles demanded new Latin histories wherein Scandinavian dynasties could be a key source of legitimacy, and the Vita needs to be read as part of this larger discourse. Winkler 1 The twelfth-century Latin Life of Gruffudd ap Cynan, which was later translated into Welsh, presents us with a unique perspective on the past.1 It tells the story of Gruffudd (d.
    [Show full text]
  • North West Wales Dendrochronology Project
    NORTH WEST WALES DENDROCHRONOLOGY PROJECT DATING OLD WELSH HOUSES - CONWY COED Y FFYNNON Penmachno, Conwy. researched by Gill. Jones with assistance from Tony Scharer Geraldine Thomas Frances Richardson © Crown copyright: Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales: Dating Old Welsh Houses: North West Wales Dendrochronology Project 1 Coed y Ffynnon Bro Machno Conwy 24/4/2012 NGR: 280381, 353028 Grade II* “Coed-y-Ffynnon is one of the best built in the district; its roof is of huge oak beams and decorated, and it stands in one of the loveliest spots in the parish, facing almost due east. From the old Hall can be seen the whole county as far as Plas Iolyn, in Cerrig-y-Drydion and along the face of Hiraethog to Hafodty, home of Lord Penrhyn, in Glan Conway, and the view of it from a distance is excellent. ................ A little lower down we find Pandy, which was formerly called Y Pentre. .......... The slope between Coed y Ffynnon and Pandy is covered with oak trees of gigantic size, and they have reached the beauty of maturity; there is talk of cutting them next Spring and a great pity if so, for old Wales owes to them one of its chief distinctions. We are sure that they many times sheltered and protected Hugh Machno as he composed his intricate poetry. ” (From Gethin Jones' essay on Penmachno written in the mid 19th century.) Owen Gethin Jones (1816-83). He was probably the most prominent person to come from Penmachno after the Bishop Morgan who translated the Bible into Welsh.
    [Show full text]
  • From Footnotes to Narrative
    1 INTRODUCTION LANGUISHING IN THE FOOTNOTES: WOMEN AND WELSH MEDIEVAL HISTORIOGRAPHY The era known as the high Middle Ages, in particular the thirteenth century, was an epochal period for Wales. While the high Middle Ages was a period of cultural transformation in all of western Europe, in Wales it was also a time of great upheaval and complete change, which was to have a greater impact on Welsh society than was experienced by most other medieval societies. In fact, for some, the effects of this upheaval and change in Wales may be described as catastrophic. The thirteenth century has been called the ‘age of the Welsh Princes’. Under the leadership of the rulers of the house of Gwynedd, the Welsh achieved some measure of independence from their English overlords during this century. For a time the native Welsh princes were able to mitigate their characteristic unrelenting internal conflict and factionalism and unite against their Anglo-Norman oppressors.1 Fundamental changes which were to have an overwhelming effect on Wales took place in England during this period. For example, the end of the twelfth and beginning of the thirteenth centuries saw the gradual introduction of the English common law into England, much of which is still in use to this day. The ascension to the English throne in 1272 of Edward I, who unlike his two predecessors was a strong king, was another factor in this upheaval and change which took place in Wales. 1 K. Stokes, The Myth of Wales: Constructions of Ethnicity 1100-1300 (Monash: Monash Publications in History: 27, 1999), p.15.
    [Show full text]
  • Battle Name: Mynydd Carn (1081)
    MEYSYDD BRWYDRO HANESYDDOL HISTORIC BATTLEFIELDS IN WALES YNG NGHYMRU The following report, commissioned by Mae’r adroddiad canlynol, a gomisiynwyd the Welsh Battlefields Steering Group and gan Grŵp Llywio Meysydd Brwydro Cymru funded by Welsh Government, forms part ac a ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru, yn of a phased programme of investigation ffurfio rhan o raglen archwilio fesul cam i undertaken to inform the consideration of daflu goleuni ar yr ystyriaeth o Gofrestr a Register or Inventory of Historic neu Restr o Feysydd Brwydro Hanesyddol Battlefields in Wales. Work on this began yng Nghymru. Dechreuwyd gweithio ar in December 2007 under the direction of hyn ym mis Rhagfyr 2007 dan the Welsh Government’sHistoric gyfarwyddyd Cadw, gwasanaeth Environment Service (Cadw), and followed amgylchedd hanesyddol Llywodraeth the completion of a Royal Commission on Cymru, ac yr oedd yn dilyn cwblhau the Ancient and Historical Monuments of prosiect gan Gomisiwn Brenhinol Wales (RCAHMW) project to determine Henebion Cymru (RCAHMW) i bennu pa which battlefields in Wales might be feysydd brwydro yng Nghymru a allai fod suitable for depiction on Ordnance Survey yn addas i’w nodi ar fapiau’r Arolwg mapping. The Battlefields Steering Group Ordnans. Sefydlwyd y Grŵp Llywio was established, drawing its membership Meysydd Brwydro, yn cynnwys aelodau o from Cadw, RCAHMW and National Cadw, Comisiwn Brenhinol Henebion Museum Wales, and between 2009 and Cymru ac Amgueddfa Genedlaethol 2014 research on 47 battles and sieges Cymru, a rhwng 2009 a 2014 comisiynwyd was commissioned. This principally ymchwil ar 47 o frwydrau a gwarchaeau. comprised documentary and historical Mae hyn yn bennaf yn cynnwys ymchwil research, and in 10 cases both non- ddogfennol a hanesyddol, ac mewn 10 invasive and invasive fieldwork.
    [Show full text]
  • Celtic-Norse Relationships in the Irish Sea in the Middle Ages 800–1200 the Northern World
    Celtic-Norse Relationships in the Irish Sea in the Middle Ages 800–1200 The Northern World North Europe and the Baltic c. 400–1700 A.D. Peoples, Economics and Cultures Editors David Kirby (London) Jón Viðar Sigurðsson (Oslo) Ingvild Øye (Bergen) Piotr Gorecki (University of California at Riverside) Steve Murdoch (St. Andrews) Volume 65 The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/nw Celtic-Norse Relationships in the Irish Sea in the Middle Ages 800–1200 Edited by Jón Viðar Sigurðsson and Timothy Bolton LEIDEN • BOSTON 2014 Cover illustration: Hiberno-Norse silver penny (Phase IVb, Facing Bust), struck 1055–1065 in Dublin. Reproduced with the kind permission of the Department of Coins and Medals, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Celtic-Norse relationships in the Irish Sea in the Middle Ages 800–1200 / edited by Jón Viðar Sigurðsson and Timothy Bolton. pages cm. — (The northern world, ISSN 1569–1462 ; volume 65) The genesis of this volume was in a conference held in Oslo University on 3–6 November 2005. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-90-04-25511-1 (hardback : acid-free paper) — ISBN 978-90-04-25512-8 (e-book) 1. Irish Sea Region—History—To 1500—Congresses. 2. Vikings—Irish Sea Region—Congresses. 3. Ireland—Relations—Scandinavia—Congresses. 4. Scandinavia—Relations—Ireland— Congresses. 5. Vikings—Ireland—Congresses. I. Jón Viðar Sigurðsson, 1958– II. Bolton, Timothy. DA990.I77C45 2013 941.101—dc23 2013035066 This publication has been typeset in the multilingual “Brill” typeface. With over 5,100 characters covering Latin, IPA, Greek, and Cyrillic, this typeface is especially suitable for use in the humanities.
    [Show full text]
  • Historical Writing in Medieval Wales
    Bangor University DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Historical writing in medieval Wales Jones, Owain Award date: 2013 Link to publication General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal ? Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 01. Oct. 2021 HISTORICAL WRITING IN MEDIEVAL WALES OWAIN WYN JONES Dissertation submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Bangor University 2013 I SUMMARY This study focusses on the writing of history in medieval Wales. Its starting-point is a series of historical texts in Middle Welsh which, from the second quarter of the fourteenth century, begin to appear together in manuscripts to form a continuous history, termed the Welsh Historical Continuum. The central component of this sequence is a translation of Geoffrey of Monmouth’s influential history of the Britons. The main questions of the first part of the thesis are when and why these historical texts were first combined, and to what degree this Welsh historiographical phenomenon reflects broader European trends.
    [Show full text]
  • Downloaded from ORCA, Cardiff University's Institutional Repository
    This is an Open Access document downloaded from ORCA, Cardiff University's institutional repository: http://orca.cf.ac.uk/119115/ This is the author’s version of a work that was submitted to / accepted for publication. Citation for final published version: Foster Evans, Dylan 2018. Welsh traitors in a Scottish chronicle: Dafydd ap Gruffudd, Penwyn and the transmission of national memory. Studia Celtica 52 (1) , pp. 137-155. 10.16922/SC.52.8 file Publishers page: https://doi.org/10.16922/SC.52.8 <https://doi.org/10.16922/SC.52.8> Please note: Changes made as a result of publishing processes such as copy-editing, formatting and page numbers may not be reflected in this version. For the definitive version of this publication, please refer to the published source. You are advised to consult the publisher’s version if you wish to cite this paper. This version is being made available in accordance with publisher policies. See http://orca.cf.ac.uk/policies.html for usage policies. Copyright and moral rights for publications made available in ORCA are retained by the copyright holders. Welsh Traitors in a Scottish Chronicle: Dafydd ap Gruffudd, Penwyn and the Transmission of National Memory1 DYLAN FOSTER EVANS Cardiff University Abstract The focus of this article is the capture and execution of Dafydd ap Gruffudd of Gwynedd in 1283. Various texts found in medieval and Early Modern manuscripts (including a notabe example from Scotland) show a continuing interest in these events, including the identification of an individual blamed for Dafydd’s betrayal. The article will consider the veracity of these texts and also consider the repeated tendency to relate Dafydd’s execution to the events of the Glyndŵr rebellion of the early fifteenth century.
    [Show full text]
  • Neil Mcguigan Phd Thesis
    NEITHER SCOTLAND NOR ENGLAND: MIDDLE BRITAIN, C.850-1150 Neil McGuigan A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of St Andrews 2015 Full metadata for this item is available in Research@StAndrews:FullText at: http://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/ Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10023/7829 This item is protected by original copyright This item is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence Neither Scotland nor England: Middle Britain, c.850–1150 Neil McGuigan This thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of PhD at the University of St Andrews 26-01-2015 1. Candidate’s declarations: I, Neil McGuigan, hereby certify that this thesis, which is approximately 105,700 words in length, has been written by me, and that it is the record of work carried out by me, or principally by myself in collaboration with others as acknowledged, and that it has not been submitted in any previous application for a higher degree. I was admitted as a research student in September 2008 and as a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Mediaeval History in September 2008; the higher study for which this is a record was carried out in the University of St Andrews between 2008 and 2015. Date ……………….. signature of candidate …………………………… 2. Supervisor’s declaration: I hereby certify that the candidate has fulfilled the conditions of the Resolution and Regulations appropriate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Mediaeval History in the University of St Andrews and that the candidate is qualified to submit this thesis in application for that degree.
    [Show full text]