Elystan Glodrydd facts for kids
Elystan Glodrydd (sometimes called Elstan Glodrydd) was an important Welsh leader who lived around the year 1000. He was also known as "Æthelstan the Famous" or "The Renowned." According to old Welsh family records, he was the founder of the fifth "Royal Tribe" of Wales.
Elystan was a prince who ruled over areas called Buellt and later Fferreg. After he died, Fferreg split into two smaller regions: Maelienydd and Elfael.
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Who Was Elystan Glodrydd?
Not much is known directly about Elystan himself. However, his family members continued to rule in mid-Wales. They controlled a small principality (a land ruled by a prince) called Ferlix. They also ruled the main part of Rhwng Gwy a Hafren. This name means "the land between the Wye and the Severn" rivers.
Elystan's Family and Lands
An old Welsh family record connects Elystan to a place called Gwrtheyrnion. Other family members from Gwrtheyrnion later ruled in Maelienydd, Elfael, and Cedewain. These lands were mostly in what are now the counties of Radnorshire and southern Montgomeryshire. Today, these areas are part of Powys county in Wales.
One historian, Paul Remfry, has suggested that these areas together formed a larger region called Cynllibiwg. However, this idea is not widely accepted by other historians.
Elystan's Ancestors
According to Welsh family histories, Elystan was the seventh person in a direct family line from Iorwerth Hirflawdd. Iorwerth Hirflawdd likely lived in the middle of the 800s. This shows that Elystan came from a long line of important people in Wales.
Elystan's Family Life
Elystan Glodrydd was married, but historical records differ on who his wife was. Some say he married Gwenllian, who was the daughter of Einon ap Hywel Dda. Hywel Dda was a very famous Welsh king. Other records suggest his wife was Gwladis, the daughter of Rhyn ap Ednowen, who was a prince of Tegengl.
His Descendants
Elystan had a son named Cadwgan. Cadwgan became the lord of Radnor. The important Cadogan family of today traces its family tree back to Cadwgan. This means Elystan Glodrydd's family line continued to be significant for many centuries.
