Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd

Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd († February 29, 1172 ) was a Welsh Prince of Gwynedd and ruler of Ceredigion.

Life

Youth and rule in Ceredigion

Alliance with the Earl of Chester and break with Owain Gwynedd

Cadwaldr and his warriors are next to Madog ap Maredudd of Powys and Owain Morgan from Caerleon to the " terrible Welsh mob ", the Earl of Chester Ranulph support, in February 2nd, 1141 Lincoln. The city is plundered it and King Stephen captured. By his marriage with Alice de Clare, daughter of Richard de Clare FitzGilbert, a niece of Chester Ranulphs Cadwaladr strengthened its position in Ceredigion. A serious crime led in 1143 to a break with his brother Owain Gwynedd. He allowed his followers, treacherous Anarawd ap Gruffyd to assassinate the Prince of Deheubarth. Anarawd had been engaged with Owains daughter, and Owain ordered his son Hywel to drive Cadwaladr from Ceredigion. Cadwaladr fled to Ireland, where he led the military support of the Danes of Dublin secured. The Danes took him in 1144 with a fleet to Anglesey, so that he was able to recover his dominion again, but he broke with the Danes and fled to his brother, with whom he reconciled himself. Nevertheless, his position remained uncertain in Gwynedd. 1147 sold him his nephew Hywel and Cynan from Meirionydd by putting together, one from the north, one invaded from the south in the cantref and besieged the castle of Cynfail and conquered. 1149 handed Cadwaladr his rule in Ceredigion to his son Cadfan. This, however, was besieged by Hywel in the new castle Llanrhystud and eventually captured after their conquest. 1152 drove him his brother from the island of Anglesey, his last dominion.

During the next five years Cadwaladr lived in exile in England with his in-laws, where he appeared as nordwalisischer king. Earl Ranulf helped him continue because his possessions were in North East Wales threatened by the conquests of Owain Gwynedd. King Henry II rewarded Cadwaladrs support during the Civil War by awarding the reign Ness in Shropshire. 1157 Cadwaladr took in the campaign of the king of North Wales in part, and Henry II demanded as a condition for peace with Owain Gwynedd that this resumed his brother and returned to him his lands.

Follower of Owain Gwynedd

From now on, supported Cadwaladr loyal his brother. Together with his nephew, Hywel and Cynan and five English Earls in 1159, he undertook a futile campaign against Rhys ap Gruffydd of Deheubarth. In the great assembly of the Welsh princes and chiefs stood in 1165 in Corwen he stood at his brother's side, and then fought against Henry II, as this led another campaign against Wales. In 1167 he assisted his brother in the conquest of the castles of Rhuddlan and Prestatyn. He survived his brother by 15 months, and was buried next to him in the cathedral of Bangor.

Gerald of Wales praised his extraordinary generosity. Cadwaladr promoted the Augustinian pin of Haughmond in Shropshire and established a daughter church of Nefyn on the Lleyn Peninsula.