Powys

The current area

Powys has a surface of: 5196 km and recovers the traditional areas of Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire and Brecknockshire. It was created at the time of the governmental reform of Wales of 1974 and comprised in the beginning the districts of Montgomery, Radnor and Brecknock. In 1996 it became a unit and sudden authority a light modification of borders in the North-East.

The old kingdom of Powys

The kingdom of Powys was founded on the territory of the old city of the Ordovices, Breton people ancient. Formerly Powys included/understood the Shropshire and the Worcestershire of today which belong to the valleys Severn and Tern. In the Welsh literature, this area is called “the paradise of Powys”.

Until 1212, the capital of Powys was Mathrafal then it was moved with Welshpool. One thinks that in more moved back times it could have been with Pengwern, then still before of Wroxeter (ancient chief town of the Cornovii).

Towards 656 the kings Merciens conquered the Eastern fringe of Powys. The king Offa made these conquests permanent by ordering the construction of the Digue of Offa. In the centuries which followed, sudden Powys of many Anglo-Saxon attacks.

The kingdom of Powys was dissolved when Merfyn with the Tasks of Redness, the king of Gwynedd married Nest, the sister of king Cyngen because with died this last their son Rhodri Large the inherited the kingdom which was thus absorbed in Gwynedd.

Powys nevertheless was recreated as a kingdom in 1075 in order to give a field to a branch of the royal family of Gwynedd. But their leaders did not have any more the title of king but that of prince.

List kings de Powys

Princes de Powys

Maredudd ap Bleddyn (1075 - 1132)
Madog ap Maredudd (1132 - 1160)

Powys was divided into two starting from 1160: Powys Wenwynwyn (southernmost) and Powys Fadog (septentrional)

Princes of southernmost Powys

Owain Cyfeiliog (1160 - 1195)
Gwenwynwyn ab Owain (1195 - 1216)
Llywelyn ab Iorwerth ( Loelin Large the ) (1216 - 1240)
Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn ( Griffon of the Pole ) (1240 - 1286)
Owain ap Griffith of the Pole (1286 - 1293)
Sir William of the Pole (1293 - 1329)

Princes of septentrional Powys

Gruffydd Maelor I (1160 - 1191)
Madog ap Gruffydd (1191 - 1236)
Gruffydd Maelor II (1236 - 1269)
Madog ap Gruffydd II (1269 - 1277)

Madog ap Gruffydd II is killed at the time of a war against the Gwynedd. Its heirs become the vassal ones of Llywelyn the Last

Gruffydd Fychan I (1277 - 1289)
Madog Cripell (1289 - 1304)
Gruffydd Fychan II (1304 - 1360?)

In 1400, Owain ap Gruffydd, known as Owain Glyndwr, lord of Glyndyfrdwy, heir to septentrional Powys and last Welsh prince reigning, rebels against the English exactions and releases Wales. The Welsh proclaim it Prince de Galles. But it will be overcome by the English and with him the last aspirations in free Wales will finish.

Owain ap Gruffydd (1360 - 1416?)
Maredudd ab Owain Glyndwr (1416 -?) did not reign.

Prince de Galles

Owain ap Gruffydd (1404 - 1409)

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