Maelienydd
Encyclopedia
Maelienydd, sometimes spelt Maeliennydd, was a cantref and lordship in east central Wales
covering the area from the River Teme
to Radnor Forest
and the area around Llandrindod Wells
. The area, which is mainly upland, is now in Powys
. During the Middle Ages it was part of the region known as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren
, or "Between the Wye
and the Severn
".
Originally an independent kingdom, Maelienydd became an area of great strategic importance after the Norman conquest of England
, due to its position. It appears to have come under Norman control before 1093, but during the 12th century became a battleground between the Welsh Princes of the area, notably Cadwallon ap Madog
ap Idnerth ab Elystan Glodrydd
, and the Mortimer family. In 1179 Prince Cadwallon was killed by the retainers of Roger Mortimer
when he was returning from the court of king Henry II of England
. Mortimer was imprisoned by the king for this and Maelienydd was inherited by Cadwallon's son, Maelgwn ap Cadwallon, not to be confused in any way with Maelgwn Gwynedd, who lived centuries before. On Roger Mortimer's release from prison he seized much of the lordship, though Maelgwn was later able to recover it with the help of Rhys ap Gruffydd
of Deheubarth. In March 1188, Gerald of Wales records the visit to Maelgwn's castle of Crug Eryr, during Gerald's journey through Wales with the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was raising an army for the crusades; Maelgwn 'took the cross' just as his cousin Einion o'r Porth, Prince of Elfael had done at Radnor Castle just a few days earlier, along with Einion's father in law, Rhys ap Gruffudd ("The Lord Rhys"), Prince of Deheubarth. After Rhys' death the Mortimers again took possession.
The struggle for the rule of Maelienydd continued during the 13th century, involving the kings of England and Llywelyn the Great
and Llywelyn the Last
of Gwynedd
. A number of castles were built here, notably Cefnllys Castle and Cymaron Castle. One of the main versions of Welsh law
, the Cyfnerth Redaction, is thought to originate from Maelienydd when it was in the sphere of influence of Rhys ap Gruffudd, Prince of Deheubarth in the second half of the 12th century.
Maelienydd was one of the cantrefs brought together to form Radnorshire
. The name survives for the general area.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
covering the area from the River Teme
River Teme
The River Teme rises in Mid Wales, south of Newtown in Powys, and flows through Knighton where it crosses the border into England down to Ludlow in Shropshire, then to the north of Tenbury Wells on the Shropshire/Worcestershire border there, on its way to join the River Severn south of Worcester...
to Radnor Forest
Radnor Forest
Radnor Forest is a rock dome in Mid Wales, and a forest only in the mediæval sense of an unenclosed area used for hunting . The highest point is Great Rhos or Rhos Fawr, a broad featureless plateau which reaches , and a similar plateau adjoining to the east, Black Mixen is the only Nuttall to...
and the area around Llandrindod Wells
Llandrindod Wells
Llandrindod Wells , colloquially known locally as "Llandod", is a town and community in Powys, within the historic boundaries of Radnorshire, mid Wales, United Kingdom. It was developed as a spa town in the 19th century, with a boom in the late 20th century as a centre of local government. Before...
. The area, which is mainly upland, is now in Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
. During the Middle Ages it was part of the region known as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren
Rhwng Gwy a Hafren
Rhwng Gwy a Hafren was a region of medieval Wales, located in the Welsh Marches between Powys to the north and Brycheiniog to the south. It was bounded by the rivers Wye and Severn , hence its name. It covered approximately the same territory as Radnorshire, now part of the county of Powys...
, or "Between the Wye
River Wye
The River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:...
and the Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
".
Originally an independent kingdom, Maelienydd became an area of great strategic importance after the Norman conquest of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, due to its position. It appears to have come under Norman control before 1093, but during the 12th century became a battleground between the Welsh Princes of the area, notably Cadwallon ap Madog
Cadwallon ap Madog
Cadwallon ap Madog was the son of Madog ab Idnerth who had died in 1140, while Idnerth was a grandson of Elystan Glodrydd who had died in around 1010 and had founded a dynasty in the Middle Marches of Wales, in the area known as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren .-Prince of Maelienydd:After the death of Madog ab...
ap Idnerth ab Elystan Glodrydd
Elystan Glodrydd
Elystan Glodrydd was, according to Welsh genealogical tracts, the founder of the fifth Royal Tribe of Wales....
, and the Mortimer family. In 1179 Prince Cadwallon was killed by the retainers of Roger Mortimer
Roger Mortimer of Wigmore
Roger de Mortimer was a medieval marcher lord, residing at Wigmore Castle in the English county of Herefordshire.He was the son of Hugh de Mortimer and Matilda Le Meschin. He was born before 1153.-Early life:...
when he was returning from the court of king Henry II of England
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
. Mortimer was imprisoned by the king for this and Maelienydd was inherited by Cadwallon's son, Maelgwn ap Cadwallon, not to be confused in any way with Maelgwn Gwynedd, who lived centuries before. On Roger Mortimer's release from prison he seized much of the lordship, though Maelgwn was later able to recover it with the help of Rhys ap Gruffydd
Rhys ap Gruffydd
Rhys ap Gruffydd or ap Gruffudd was the ruler of the kingdom of Deheubarth in south Wales. He is commonly known as The Lord Rhys, in Welsh Yr Arglwydd Rhys, but this title may not have been used in his lifetime...
of Deheubarth. In March 1188, Gerald of Wales records the visit to Maelgwn's castle of Crug Eryr, during Gerald's journey through Wales with the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was raising an army for the crusades; Maelgwn 'took the cross' just as his cousin Einion o'r Porth, Prince of Elfael had done at Radnor Castle just a few days earlier, along with Einion's father in law, Rhys ap Gruffudd ("The Lord Rhys"), Prince of Deheubarth. After Rhys' death the Mortimers again took possession.
The struggle for the rule of Maelienydd continued during the 13th century, involving the kings of England and Llywelyn the Great
Llywelyn the Great
Llywelyn the Great , full name Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, was a Prince of Gwynedd in north Wales and eventually de facto ruler over most of Wales...
and Llywelyn the Last
Llywelyn the Last
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd or Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf , sometimes rendered as Llywelyn II, was the last prince of an independent Wales before its conquest by Edward I of England....
of Gwynedd
Kingdom of Gwynedd
Gwynedd was one petty kingdom of several Welsh successor states which emerged in 5th-century post-Roman Britain in the Early Middle Ages, and later evolved into a principality during the High Middle Ages. It was based on the former Brythonic tribal lands of the Ordovices, Gangani, and the...
. A number of castles were built here, notably Cefnllys Castle and Cymaron Castle. One of the main versions of Welsh law
Welsh law
Welsh law was the system of law practised in Wales before the 16th century. According to tradition it was first codified by Hywel Dda during the period between 942 and 950 when he was king of most of Wales; as such it is usually called Cyfraith Hywel, the Law of Hywel, in Welsh...
, the Cyfnerth Redaction, is thought to originate from Maelienydd when it was in the sphere of influence of Rhys ap Gruffudd, Prince of Deheubarth in the second half of the 12th century.
Maelienydd was one of the cantrefs brought together to form Radnorshire
Radnorshire
Radnorshire is one of thirteen historic and former administrative counties of Wales. It is represented by the Radnorshire area of Powys, which according to the 2001 census, had a population of 24,805...
. The name survives for the general area.