Maelienydd facts for kids
Maelienydd, sometimes spelled Maeliennydd, was a historical area in east central Wales. It was a cantref (a medieval Welsh land division) and a lordship, meaning it was ruled by a local lord. The area stretched from the River Teme to Radnor Forest and included the region around Llandrindod Wells. Today, this mostly hilly area is part of Powys.
During the Middle Ages, Maelienydd was part of a larger region called Rhwng Gwy a Hafren. This Welsh name means "Between the Wye and the Severn". The main administrative center for Maelienydd was Cefnllys Castle.
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History of Maelienydd
Early Welsh Rulers
Long ago, the region between the Wye and Severn rivers was seen as one large area. Old writings call this region by different names, like Ferlix or Fferyllwg. Some historians believe the name Fferyllwg might refer to ironworkers.
Welsh stories say that Ferlix was once part of King Caradoc's lands. After he died, his kingdom was divided. His son, Cawdraf, supposedly received Ferlix. Later, an 8th-century ruler named Tangwydd ap Tegid governed Ferlix.
During the time of Tangwydd's father, Tegid, the Mercians (an Anglo-Saxon kingdom) took parts of Ferlix. They built Offa's Dyke, a large earth barrier, right through the area. Tangwydd also became the ruler of Brycheiniog, a nearby region. This might have happened because the previous king of Brycheiniog only had daughters, so Tangwydd may have gained control through marriage.
Hwgan, Tangwydd's son, tried to attack Mercia. He thought King Edward the Elder would be busy fighting Vikings. But Edward's sister, Æthelflæd, led an army against Hwgan. She defeated him in battle, invaded his lands, and captured his castle in Brycheiniog. She even took his wife prisoner. Hwgan then tried to team up with the Vikings but died soon after while defending the city of Derby from the Saxons.
Norman Influence and New Leaders
Because Hwgan had fought against the Saxons, his son Dryffin had to pay tribute to King Æthelstan. Dryffin was removed from power in Ferlix. In his place, Elystan Glodrydd became the new ruler. Elystan was King Æthelstan's godson. He joined Ferlix with his own lands of Buellt. Dryffin and his family continued to rule only in Brycheiniog.
Elystan was followed by his son, Cadwgan, and then his grandson, Idnerth. A younger son of Cadwgan started the famous Cadogan family, who became important much later.
After the Norman conquest of England in 1066, many Welsh princes helped fight against the Normans. To stop this, the Normans began to take over Wales around 1080. By the end of the century, Norman lords had taken control of many areas. Ranulph de Mortimer conquered the northern parts of Ferlix. He built castles like Dinieithon (near Llandrindod Wells) and Cymaron (between Llanbister and Llangunllo).
Ranulph was later exiled for plotting against the English King. This allowed Idnerth to get his lands back in northern Ferlix. He also made a deal with Philip de Braose, who had conquered southern Ferlix. Idnerth got most of the land back, but Braose kept Buellt and the area around New Radnor.
Idnerth passed his lands to his son, Madog. But when Madog died in 1140, Ferlix was divided among his sons.
The Mortimers Return
Ranulph de Mortimer's family eventually returned to England after a new king, Stephen, came to power. In 1142, Hugh de Mortimer (Ranulph's grandson) invaded northern Ferlix. He killed Hywel and Cadwgan, two of Madog's sons. In 1144, Hugh rebuilt Cymaron Castle. From there, he invaded southern Ferlix two years later, leading to the death of Maredudd, another of Madog's sons.
Eventually, Henry II became king. He was powerful enough to make Hugh surrender his Welsh castles. The two remaining sons of Madog then divided Ferlix again. Cadwallon received the northern half, which became known as Maelienydd. His brother, Einion Clud, ruled the southern half, which became Elfael.
In 1176, Cadwallon founded Cwmhir Abbey. In 1179, Cadwallon visited King Henry II. On his way back, he was killed by some of Roger Mortimer's men. The king was very angry and imprisoned Roger for three years.
Maelgwn and Norman Control
Maelienydd was inherited by Cadwallon's son, Maelgwn ap Cadwallon. However, King Henry took Cymaron castle. He used the money from its lands to pay back debts Cadwallon owed him. When Roger Mortimer was released, he seized much of Maelienydd, including Cymaron. Maelgwn managed to get it back with help from Rhys ap Gruffydd, a powerful Welsh prince. Maelgwn decided to become a vassal (a loyal supporter) of Rhys to better resist Mortimer.
King Henry was followed by Richard the Lionheart. Richard soon left for the Third Crusade. While he was away, Rhys ap Gruffydd became very powerful in Wales. When Richard returned, he wanted to reduce Rhys's power.
Later, a local conflict led to William de Braose (the Sheriff of Hereford) getting involved. When Rhys opposed this, the king had an excuse to weaken Rhys's power. Norman lords were given troops to invade lands controlled by Rhys. Roger Mortimer attacked Maelienydd and conquered it by 1200. That year, Roger granted special rights to Cwmhir Abbey.
Maelgwn and his brother, Hywel, found safety in Gwynedd (North Wales). Maelgwn died there two years later.
Gwynedd's Influence
In 1210, Hywel and Maelgwn's eldest son, Madog, made a deal with Roger Mortimer. But two years later, they committed a crime, and King John had them executed. Maelgwn's other sons, Cadwallon and Maredudd, inherited the land. They became loyal to Gwynedd, which was the most powerful Welsh kingdom at the time, ruled by Llywelyn Fawr.
In 1230, Ralph Mortimer, Roger's son, married Llywelyn's daughter. However, ten years later, Ralph invaded Maelienydd. In 1242, he built Cefnllys Castle at the old site of Dineithon.
In 1247, a peace treaty was signed. Two years later, Maelgwn's grandsons asked the king to get back part of Maelienydd called Ceri. Despite their past support for Gwynedd, they seemed to get their wish.
However, a few years later, the next Gwyneddian prince, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, became unhappy with King Henry III. Llywelyn attacked lands held by Henry's son, Edward. Henry was busy with problems with his own nobles, so Llywelyn took advantage and expanded Gwynedd's power. In 1262, Maelienydd fell to Llywelyn.
In 1275, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd married the daughter of Henry's biggest enemy. King Edward declared Llywelyn a rebel. In 1277, Edward attacked Gwynedd with a huge army. Llywelyn was forced to sign a treaty that limited his power to Gwynedd only. Maelienydd was given to Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Mortimer, Ralph's son. This made Maelienydd a Marcher Lordship, a special area outside of normal English or Welsh law. However, Maredudd's son, Madog, kept control of Ceri, which became its own Marcher Lordship.
In 1282, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd attacked Edward's lands again. He was killed while attacking a castle in Buellt. Since the forces from Ceri had sided with Llywelyn, Ceri was taken away and given to Roger Mortimer.
The End of Maelienydd
By the 15th century, Maelienydd and other parts of the old Ferlix region came under the control of the English Crown. This happened through marriages and inheritances. Eventually, King Henry VIII inherited Maelienydd, Radnor, and Elfael.
Following Henry VIII's Laws in Wales Acts, these areas became the main part of Radnorshire. The name Maelienydd still exists today for the general area.
Subdivisions of Maelienydd
Maelienydd was divided into four smaller areas called commotes:
- Dinieithon
- Ceri
- Rhiwallt
- Buddugre
