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Bleddyn "Sais" Ap CYNFYN, Prince Of Powys

Bleddyn "Sais" Ap CYNFYN, Prince Of Powys[1]

Male Abt 1023 - 1075  (~ 52 years)

Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Bleddyn "Sais" Ap CYNFYN  [2, 3
    Suffix Prince Of Powys 
    Nickname Sais 
    Born Abt 1023  Powys (Montgomeryshire), Cymru (Wales) Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 4
    Gender Male 
    FamilySearch ID L1H5-WPB 
    Titled
    • Prince of Powys
    Titled
    • "Sais" - The Saxon, The Englishman
    Name Bleddyn Ap CYNFYN 
    Name Bleddyn Ap Cynfyn Prince Of North WALES 
    Name Bleddyn Ap MORIEN 
    Name Sais 
    _UID 4B0C506B76024767A9FC69AF2E7830D7A29A 
    Died 1075  [3, 4
    Person ID I2733  Carney Wehofer 2024 Genealogy
    Last Modified 11 Dec 2022 

    Father Cynfyn Ap GWERYSTAN, Prince Of Powys,   b. Abt 982, Powys (Montgomeryshire), Cymru (Wales) Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1023, Montgomery, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 41 years) 
    Mother Angharad Verch MAREDUDD,   b. 982, Deheubarth, Cymru (Wales) Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 May 1058, Castle, Montgomeryshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 76 years) 
    Married Aft 1023  2ND Husband Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 4
    Family ID F5900  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Married 1st Wife Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Last Modified 29 Aug 2016 
    Family ID F1302  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Haer Verch CYNILLIN,   b. Abt 1025, Gest Near Penmorfa, Caernarvonshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aft 1050  (Age ~ 26 years) 
    Married Abt 1044  , Wales Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Iowerth "The Red" Ap Bleddyn Of POWYS,   b. Abt 1045,   d. Bef 1075  (Age ~ 29 years)
     2. Cadwgon Ap BLEDDYN, Of Nannau, King Of Powys,   b. Abt 1050, Nannau, Caernarvonshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1112  (Age ~ 62 years)
     3. Madog Ap Bleddyn Of POWYS,   b. Abt 1052,   d. Yes, date unknown
     4. Rhirid Ap Bladdyn Of POWYS,   b. Abt 1053,   d. Yes, date unknown
     5. Maredudd Ap BLEDDYN,   b. Abt 1055, Monmouthshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1132  (Age ~ 77 years)
     6. Gwenllian Verch BLEDDYN,   b. Abt 1056, Monmouthshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 29 Aug 2016 
    Family ID F1300  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 3 Miss Verch BROCHWEL,   b. Abt 1040, Ynys Mon (Anglesey), Cymru (Wales) Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Married Bef 1058  2ND Wife Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Children 
     1. Efa Verch BLEDDYN,   b. Abt 1058, Montgomeryshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Hunydd Verch Bleddyn Of POWYS,   b. Abt 1067, Montgomeryshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 29 Aug 2016 
    Family ID F1301  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • All of the following information came from Jane Williams Flank, World Connect db=jwflank, rootsweb.com:

      Bleddyn Cynfyn ruled Powys 1063-1075

      _____________________
      From http://homepages.tesco.net/~plk33/plk33/History/KingListBritain:

      By 1063, Blethyn (Bleddyn) rules a mostly united Wales, and Powys is detached from Gwynedd & Deheubarth for, or by, his son.

      _____________________

      Bleddyn and his brother Rhiwallon were half-brothers of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn. Their mother, Angharad, married Cynfyn ap Gwerstan o the death of Llywelyn ap Seisyll. Cynfyn ap Bwerstan may have been a Powys nobleman; there is also some suggestion that he may have been half Saxon. Bleddyn remained a strong supporter of the Mercians in their battles against the Normans.

      Bleddyn and Rhiwallon also had to contend with internal revolution. The sons of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, Maredudd and Idwal, attempted to reestablish their claim to the throne. However, they were also killed in the Battle of Mechain in 1070; Bleddyn now ruled without internal challenge.

      He is reported to having been a generous king, giving to church and populous. He was the first king in over 100 years to revise the laws developed under Hywel Dda.

      Unfortunately, in 1073, the Normans began their advance through north Wales, and defeated Bleddyn in a surprise attack. Weakened, he became vurnerable to his southern neighbor, Rhys ab Owain of Deheubarth. In 1075, Rhys betrayed Bleddyn, leading to his murder. However, Bleddyn's descendents became the main ruling family of Powys. [The Welsh Kings]

      _______________________

      During the later years of the reign of his half-brother, Gruffyd, the English had brought Wales into at least nominal subjection. Gruffyd was killed by the English 5 Aug 1063. Bleddyn and his brother Rhiwallon, having submitted to King Edward, were made rules of Gwynedd and Powys. The Normans who came with William the Conqueror soon encroached upon the Welsh who resisted them and Rhiwallon was slain in battle in 1070. Bleddyn was then the sole Ruler. [The Weaver Genealogy]

      ___________________________

      In 1075, Bleddyn was killed by Rhys, the brother of Maredudd ab Owain, and Rhys in turn was likeed in 1078 by Caradog ap Gruffudd. Bleddyn's kingdom passed to his cousin, Trahaearn ap Caradog, but Trahaearn was killed, along with Caradog ap Gruffudd, in the battle of Mynydd Carn in 1081. [A History of Wales; John Davies]

  • Sources 
    1. [S397] J. K. Loren, J.K. Loren Dec 8 2003.

    2. [S44] Newsgroup: soc.genealogy.medieval, at groups - google.com, Paul Reed (Reedpcgen), 16 Dec 2002 (Reliability: 3).

    3. [S39] jweber.ged.

    4. [S223] jwebergwlad.ged.