Trahaearn ap Caradog

Trahern (also Trahaearn ) ap Caradog († 1081 ) was a king of the Welsh Kingdom of Gwynedd.

He was a son of Caradog ap Gwyn ap Collwyn and a cousin of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn and Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn and ruler of the rule Arwystli. After the death Bleddyns 1075 he seized control of Gwynedd, but Gruffydd ap Cynan, a grandson of 1039 deposed King Iago ap Idwal now returned from the Irish exile and struck with military aid of the Anglo-Norman lords Robert of Rhuddlan Trahern in a battle of Dyffryn Glyngin in Meirionydd. As Gruffydd but now turned against his former ally, Robert of Rhuddlan, Trahern could beat him even in 1075 at the Battle of Bron -vr - heated at Clynnog and then force them to retreat to Ireland. Trahern consolidated his rule over Gwynedd and led a campaign in 1078 to South Wales, where he from Owain, Rhys struck the king of Deheubarth in a Battle of Goodwick. Rhys ap Owain was killed in the same year by Caradog ap Gruffydd of Gwent. Thereupon Rhys allies from Owains successor Rhys ap Gruffydd ap Cynan and Tewdwr against Trahern. Their combined armies met in 1081 at Mynydd Carn in southern Ceredigion to the troops Traherns, who was supported by Meilyr, the son of his cousin Rhiwallon and Caradog ap Gruffydd. The battle ended with a clear victory of Gruffydd ap Cynan and Rhys ap Tewdwr, Trahern, Meilyr and Caradog ap Cynan Gruffydd had fallen and could be Traherns successor as King of Gwynedd.

Trahern left four sons, Owain, Llywarch, Meurig and Griffri who grew up after his death with his cousin Idnerth ap Cadwgan in Maelienydd. His sons Owain and Llywarch took control of Arwystli, his son married a daughter Llywarch Idnerths. Llywarchs daughter Gwladus the first wife of Owain Gwynedd was. The two younger sons of Meurig and Griffri were killed in 1106 by her distant cousin Owain ap Cadwgan.