Maredudd ap Tudur facts for kids

Maredudd ap Tudur (died around 1406) was a Welsh soldier and an important nobleman. He came from the famous Tudor family of Penmynydd. Maredudd was the youngest of six sons of Tudur ap Goronwy. He was also the father of Owen Tudor, a key figure in English history. In 1400, Maredudd supported his cousin, the Welsh leader Owain Glyndŵr, in a major rebellion. His brothers Rhys ap Tudur and Gwilym ap Tudur also joined him. Maredudd ap Tudur was the great-grandfather of King Henry VII of England. This means he was an ancestor of the powerful Tudor dynasty that ruled England.

Who Was Maredudd ap Tudur's Family?

Maredudd was one of five sons of Tudur ap Goronwy and Marged ferch Tomos. His brothers were Ednyfed, Rhys, Goronwy, and Gwilym. His mother, Marged, was a descendant of Llywelyn Fawr, a famous Welsh prince.

Maredudd's father, Tudur, was a knight. He fought for King Edward III of England in France in 1337. Later, Tudur became a royal officer on the island of Anglesey. He made sure all his sons found similar important jobs. The family was descended from Ednyfed Fychan, a powerful Welsh lord. His son, Goronwy ab Ednyfed, founded the Tudor family of Penmynydd.

Maredudd's Early Responsibilities

Between 1387 and 1395, Maredudd became a rhaglaw (pronounced 'hrag-law'). This was like a local manager or bailiff for the area called a commote in Malltraeth. His brothers Rhys and Goronwy had similar roles in another commote called Dindaethwy. Maredudd also served as an escheator (pronounced 'es-chee-tor') for Anglesey from 1388 to 1391. An escheator was a royal officer who managed lands that went back to the king. This job was usually given to Englishmen, so it was special for Maredudd to hold it.

Why Did Maredudd Join the Welsh Revolt?

When Owain Glyndŵr started a big rebellion against the English king, the surviving Tudur brothers openly supported him. Owain Glyndŵr was their cousin through his mother's side of the family. Sadly, two of Maredudd's brothers, Goronwy and Ednyfed, had drowned in 1382.

Unlike his brothers Rhys and Gwilym, Maredudd received a special pardon in 1401. This pardon was given to people on Anglesey who had supported Owain. However, Maredudd led another group of rebels in 1405. Because of this, the king declared him an "outlaw" a year later. This meant he was outside the protection of the law.

What Happened After the Rebellion?

The king took away Maredudd's lands because of his actions. However, his lands were not given to Gwilym ap Gruffydd, unlike his brothers' lands. The rebellion eventually failed. Rhys, Maredudd's brother, was executed in 1412. Gwilym ap Tudur received a pardon in 1413. Maredudd himself disappears from historical records after 1405. We don't know exactly what happened to him.

How Did Maredudd's Family Become Kings?

Maredudd's son was named Owain. He first used the name Owain ap Maredudd ap Tudur, but later changed it to the more English-sounding Owen Tudor. Owen secretly married Catherine of Valois, who was the widow of King Henry V of England. They had three sons: Owen, Edmund, and Jasper.

Their half-brother, King Henry VI of England, took a special interest in them. He arranged for Edmund to marry Lady Margaret Beaufort. This marriage was very important because it meant their children could inherit the throne of England. During the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars in England, Edmund's son, Henry Tudor, became King Henry VII of England. He was the founder of the famous House of Tudor, which ruled England for over a hundred years. This makes Maredudd ap Tudur the great-great-grandfather of King Henry VIII of England!

Family Tree of the Tudors