SECOND POWYS DYNASTY
CHART II
735
Tegonwy ap Teon[1,2]
_______________l______________
l
l
765 Caenog
765 Iorwerth Hirflawdd
l
l
795 Corf
795 Idnerth
l
________________l_____
l
l
l 830
825 Ceido Cynog Mawr 825
Gwenwyn
l
l
l
855
Lles Llydog Bleddri 855
Cadwr 865
l
l
l
885 Gwynnog Farfsych
Bleddyn 885 Seferys
900
l
l
l
915
Gwaethfoed Endowain 915
Ifor 930
l l
l
965 Nest vz==Gwerystan Collwyn 945
Cuhelyn 960
Cadell [3]
l 950 l
l 990
CHART III
l Gwyn 975
Elystan Glodrydd
l CHART IV
CHART V
l___________________________
l 985
l
wife 1===Cynfyn===wife 2
daughter 990
l [4,5] l
=
1018 Efa
Bleddyn[6] 1025 Gwyn ap Collwyn 975
=
CHART IV
Llewelyn Aurdorchog 1005
CHART I
The Charts cross-referenced above can be seen by clicking on the appropriate
links which follow the notes below
NOTES:
[1] This family descended from the Carnovii tribe of Celts whose lands
comprised much of Shropshire and Herefordshire. An early marriage with a lady of the 1st Powys Dynasty, whose lands
were adjacent and north of them, resulted in their combined lands being called Powys.
[2] By the era of Tegonwy, the Saxons had taken most of the land which
now lies east of Offa's Dyke. The ancestors of Gwerystan held land in Tegeingl granted them in the early 10th century
for clearing it of Danish squatters. Cynog Mawr was Lord of Arwystli, while Gwenwyn was Lord of Buillt and Fferlys....all
lands within the original tribal territory. Fferlys was taken from them by the ruler of neighboring Brychieniog, but
that land was recovered by force by Elystan Glodrydd
[3] Nest ferch Cadell was the only child of Powys king Cadell ap Brochwel
ap Aeddon. Her husband obtained no claim to the kingdom by marrying her
[4] The first wife of Cynfyn was probably an Irish lady who bore him at
least two daughters but died before 1023. His second wife was Angharad ferch Maredudd ap Owain, king of Deheubarth (southwest
Wales); she was the widow of Powys king Llewelyn ap Seisyllt by whom she had a single son, Gruffudd. By Cynfyn, she
had sons Rhiwallon and Bleddyn and probably a daughter.
[5] Cynfyn became interim king of Powys in 1023 when Llewelyn ap Seisyllt
died because the latter had no sons or nephews yet old enough to become king. He was considered because he was a maternal
grandson of former King Cadell and because he married the mother of Gruffudd ap Llewelyn; Gruffudd was then about 12 years
old and was designated as the next rightful king when he attained "full" age.
[6] When Gruffudd ap Llewelyn was killed in 1063, his sons were about 22
years old and too young to be king. The eldest son of Cynfyn, Rhiwallon, claimed the kingship of Powys in the right
of his father, while Bleddyn ap Cynfyn took the kingship of Gwynedd which Gruffudd had also held. The remaining Welsh
kingdoms had been conquered by Gruffudd, but reverted to their own dynastic families in 1063. In 1069, the sons of Gruffudd
came of full age and did battle for their birthright at Mechain. They killed Rhiwallon, but both of Gruffudd's sons
died leaving Bleddyn in control of both Gwynedd and Powys. His descendants held Powys until the 1282 conquest of Wales
by England's Edward I, and no successful claims were ever made by other branches of the 1st Powys dynasty although several
such families were extant
SOURCES:
[1] ABT 1b; Mostyn Ms 117: for the ancestry of Bleddyn
ap Cynfyn
[2] ABT 13 for the ancestry of Gwyn ap Collwyn
[3] ABT 11 for the ancestry of Elystan Glodrydd
