Powys Wenwynwyn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Principality of Powys Wenwynwyn
Tywysogaeth Powys Wenwynwyn
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| 1160–1283 | |||||||||
 Banner of Powys Wenwynwyn
 Coat of Arms of Powys Wenwynwyn and successive de la Pole dynasty
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Powys as divided in 1190.
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| Capital | Welshpool | ||||||||
| Common languages | Welsh | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
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• 1160–1195
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Owain Cyfeiliog | ||||||||
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• 1195–1216
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Gwenwynwyn ab Owain | ||||||||
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• 1216–1286
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Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn | ||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||
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• Established
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1160 | ||||||||
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• Abolished by Act of Parliament
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1283 | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Wales | ||||||||
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Powys Wenwynwyn was often known in English as Upper Powys
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Powys Wenwynwyn was a Welsh kingdom that existed during the Middle Ages. It was the southern part of the older Kingdom of Powys. This larger kingdom split in 1160 after the death of Madog ap Maredudd. The northern part became Powys Fadog, and the southern part became Powys Wenwynwyn.
The name Powys Wenwynwyn comes from Prince Gwenwynwyn ab Owain, who was its second ruler. This kingdom and Gwynedd became big rivals. Powys Wenwynwyn often teamed up with England to try and make Gwynedd weaker.
Contents
Rulers of Powys Wenwynwyn
This section tells you about the main leaders of Powys Wenwynwyn. They were called princes.
Owain Cyfeiliog (1160–1195)
Owain Cyfeiliog was the first ruler of Powys Wenwynwyn. He was the son of Madog ap Maredudd. Owain married a daughter of Owain Gwynedd, a powerful Welsh prince. He ruled for many years before giving up his power in 1195.
Gwenwynwyn ab Owain (1195–1216)
Gwenwynwyn ab Owain took over after his father, Owain Cyfeiliog. In 1197, he took control of the area called Arwystli. At this time, he was allied with England.
Later, Gwenwynwyn had many fights with Llywelyn the Great, another strong Welsh prince. In 1212, Gwenwynwyn's old royal home at Mathrafal was destroyed. He was also forced out of his lands.
He then changed his alliance again and got his kingdom back in 1215. He made a new capital city at Welshpool. But in 1216, Llywelyn's forces defeated him in battle. Gwenwynwyn fled to England and died soon after. His son became the next ruler.
Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn (1216–1286)
Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn spent his younger years in England. King Henry III of England supported him. He returned to Wales in 1241 after Llywelyn the Great died. King Henry III then gave him control over several areas, including Arwystli and Cyfeiliog. Gruffydd married a woman named Hawise, from the Le Strange family.
Gruffydd changed his loyalty many times. In 1263, he supported Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, who was then the Prince of Wales. But after 1276, he went back to supporting England. This happened after he tried to plot against Prince Llywelyn with Llywelyn's own brother, Dafydd ap Gruffydd.
During the Welsh War of 1282–1283, Gruffydd's forces fought alongside English soldiers. His son, Owain ap Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn, led these forces. They were involved in the ambush and killing of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Prince of Wales, near Builth in 1282.
The End of the Principality
The kingdom of Powys Wenwynwyn officially ended in 1283. This happened when Owain ap Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn (also known as Owen de la Pole) gave up the principality to King Edward I of England. This event took place at a meeting in Shrewsbury.
In return for giving up the title of "prince," Owen received his lands back from the king. But now, he held them as a Baron of England. This meant he was no longer a Welsh prince but an English lord. Around this time, the ruling family started using the English-sounding last name "de la Pole." This name came from Pool, which is now called Welshpool, their main town.
After the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284, other Welsh princely titles also ended. The English Crown decided not to recognize "prince" or "king" titles for any native Welsh rulers anymore. However, Powys continued to exist as a special type of lordship called a marcher lordship.
The Lordship of Powys
The family of Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn, now known as the de la Pole family, continued to live in the newly built Powis Castle. When Owen de la Pole died in 1293, his son Griffith de la Pole took over.
Griffith de la Pole died in 1309 without children. According to English law, his sister Hawise "Gadarn" (meaning "Hawise the Strong") inherited the lordship. This was different from Welsh law, which would have passed it to male heirs. Hawise was often called "The Lady of Powis."
When Hawise died in 1349, and her husband John Charleton, 1st Baron Cherleton died in 1353, the lordship passed to their children. From then on, the lordship of Powys was no longer held by a native Welsh family.
Marcher Lords of Powys
Here are some of the important Marcher Lords who ruled Powys after it stopped being a principality:
- Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn (died 1286 or 1287)
- Owen de la Pole (died 1293)
- Gruffydd de la Pole (died 1309)
- Hawise Gadarn, Lady of Powys, who married John Charleton, 1st Baron Cherleton (1268–1353)
- John Charleton, 2nd Baron Cherleton (died 1360)
- John Charleton, 3rd Baron Cherleton (1334 – 1374)
- John Charleton, 4th Baron Cherleton (1362–1401)
- Edward Charleton, 5th Baron Cherleton (1371–1421)
After Edward Charleton, the lordship was passed down through his daughters' families. Eventually, it came to the Grey family.
- John Grey, 1st Baron Grey of Powis
- John Grey, 2nd Baron Grey of Powis (1485–1504)
- Edward Grey, 3rd Baron Grey of Powis (died 1551)
Beyond the Marcher Lordship
The Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 changed how Wales was governed. These laws removed the special rights of the Lords of Powys. Most of the territory of the Lordship of Powys became part of the new county of Montgomeryshire.
However, the lordship continued to exist as a large area of land owned by one family.
- Edward Grey, 3rd Baron Grey of Powis (died 1551).
- His son, Edward Grey of London, sold the lordship in 1587 to Sir Edward Herbert.
- Sir Edward Herbert was related to the earlier Charleton family.
- Sir William Herbert was given the title of Baron Powis in 1629.
The estate then continued to be passed down through the family, held by people with titles like Baron Powis, Marquess of Powis, and Earl of Powis.
