Owain ap Hywel Dda facts for kids
Owain ap Hywel was a powerful king in south Wales who lived around the 900s. He ruled a kingdom called Deheubarth. He might have also controlled another kingdom called Powys.
Owain was one of the three sons of a very famous king named Hywel the Good. When King Hywel died in 948, Owain and his brothers, Rhodri and Edwin, shared their father's lands. This was done according to the laws of Wales at the time. However, they couldn't keep control of Gwynedd, which was a northern kingdom. The sons of Idwal Foel took Gwynedd back for their own family.
Early Challenges and Battles
In 950, two sons of Idwal Foel, Iago and Ieuaf, attacked the southern lands. They went as far as Dyfed. Owain and his brothers fought back. In 954, they invaded the north. They reached the Conwy valley but were defeated in a battle near Llanrwst. They had to go back to Ceredigion.
Owain's brother Rhodri died in 953. His other brother, Edwin, died in 954. This meant Owain became the only ruler of Deheubarth.
Expanding His Kingdom
In 958, Owain attacked an area called Gorwennydd. From there, he moved into Euas and Ergin. He took these lands from Morgan the Great, who was the King of Glamorgan.
In 959, Owain also entered the monastery of Llan Illdud in Gorwennydd. He caused damage to the monastery of Catwg in Nant Garvan.
In 962, Owain promised to pay a yearly tribute to King Edgar the Peaceful of England. This meant he recognized Edgar as a more powerful ruler.
Later Years and His Sons
Owain did not try to take Gwynedd again. Instead, he and his son Einion turned their attention east. They attacked the kingdom of Morgannwg (which is now called Glamorgan) in 960, 970, and 977.
Owain was getting older, so it seems his son Einion started to rule the kingdom for him. In 984, during another raid to the east, Einion was killed by some noblemen from Gwent.
After Einion's death, Owain's second son, Maredudd, took over. In 986, Maredudd successfully went north and took control of Gwynedd. He removed Cadwallon, who was Ieuaf's son, from power.
Owain died in 988. Maredudd then became the king of Deheubarth as well. Later, Maredudd agreed to share his kingdom with Einion's sons, Edwin and Cadell.
It is believed that an important historical record called the Annales Cambriae was put together because Owain wanted it.
Owain's Children
Owain had several children:
