Maredudd ap Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd facts for kids

Maredudd ap Cynan (born around 1150 – died 1212) was an important Welsh nobleman. He was the grandson of Owain Gwynedd, a powerful king who ruled much of Wales in the 1100s. Maredudd's father, Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd, was known as the "Lord of Meirionnydd", which meant he was a local ruler in that area.

Maredudd's Early Life and Battles

Maredudd was involved in many conflicts to gain power and influence. In 1170, he fought alongside his brother Gruffudd against their uncle Hywel. Later, between 1194 and 1197, Maredudd supported his cousin Llywelyn ab Iorwerth. They worked together to remove another uncle, Dafydd, from power.

Gaining Land and Power

It is believed that Maredudd received his father's title, "Lord of Meirionnydd", as a reward for helping Llywelyn ab Iorwerth. Llywelyn became the new ruler of Gwynedd and is now famous as Llywelyn the Great. This shows how important Maredudd's support was in the political changes of the time.

Supporting Religious Groups

Maredudd also showed his support for religious groups. He gave land and buildings to both the Augustinian and Cistercian monastic orders. These were groups of monks and nuns who lived and worked in monasteries. At one point, Maredudd seems to have lost his lands for a time due to some action he took.

Maredudd's Legacy

After Maredudd's death, a special poem called an elegy was written about him in the Welsh language. This poem praised his fighting skills and even compared him to the legendary King Arthur. Maredudd's lands and titles were passed on to his two sons, Llywelyn Fawr (meaning 'Llywelyn the Elder') and Llywelyn Fychan (meaning 'Llywelyn the Younger'). Both of his sons continued to support Llywelyn the Great, just as their father had done.