Research Notes:

Prince and poet, son of Gruffudd; brother of Madog ap Maredudd, Prince of Powys. In 1149 Madog appointed him under-lord of Cyfeiliog. About 1153 Rhys ap Grufudd attacked this commote, and although Owain was later to marry his daughter, they remained enemies for years. After the death of Madog in 1160, Owain held Cyfeiliog on his own account, and in 1163 he joined with Owain Fychan, to capture and destroy the castle of Carreghofa. In 1165 he is found with other princes of Powys and the other Cymraeg provinces in the great muster under Owain Gwynedd facing Henry II's attack in the Berwyn district. The next year, however, he again joined with Owain Fychan to drive Owain Goch from Mochnant, which they divided between them by a line which still remains as the border between Dinbych and Trefaldwyn. In 1167 he was attacked by Owain Gwynedd and Rhys ap Gruffydd of Deau Cymry who siezed the commote of Caereinion and gave it to Owain Fychan, but Owain Cyfeiliog soon regained it with Saesneg aid.

In 1170 he established the Cistertian Monastery of Strata Marcella. He again supported the English in 1173, and was present at the council of Rhydychen in 1177. He was the only Cymraeg Prince who refused to support the efforts of Archbishop Baldwin and Giraldus Cambriensis in 1188 to preach the crusade, for which he was excommunicated. It would appear that he handed over the reins of government to his son, Gwenwynwyn in 1195, and retired to the monastery of Strata Marcella, where he died in 1197, and where he lies buried. His first wife was Gwenllian, daughter of Owain Gwynedd (mother of Gwenwynwyn), and his second wife was a daughter of Rhys ap Gruffydd.

In the early years of his reign he excelled as a warrior, and it is as such that Cynddelw sings his praises, but at a later date, Gerald is to speak of him as one of the three Princes in Cymru who where conspicuous "for the justice, wisdom, and moderation of thier rule." The later also mentions his eloquent tongue and his sagacity. Yet his fame as a fighter remained, even among the Normans, as can be seen from the "Legende de Fulk Fitz Warin." It is this aspect of his career that the Prince himself in his "Drinking horn of Owain" a poem pattered on the Gododdin, in which a number of fellow soldiers are each addressed in turn as the horn goes round. It is the best portrayal which we have of the campaigning life of a Cymraig Prince, with the close comradeship existing between him and his chosen war band, and the thrill of their life of high adventure. There is also extant (in Myv. Arch,.192 and R.B.H. poetry, 1395-6) a series of englynion sung by the war-band of Owain to their "circuit" of Cymru. The circuit, however, is of Gogledd Cumru only. ²

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Founder of the Cistercian Abbey of Ustrad Marchell. His uncle Madoc ap Maredudd allowed him to rule Cyfeiliog. This rule was to be an appendage to the kingdom of Powys. When Madoc died, Owain was able to keep Cyfeiliog & adjacent areas. Resulted in only northern Powys going to Madoc's son Gruffydd. This split the kingdom of Powys into two petty dominions. Resulted in Powys' loss of status as equal with kingdoms of Gwynedd & Deheubarth. ³

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Owain Cyveiliog or Owain ab Gruffydd (d 1197), prince of Powys, was the son of Gruffydd ap Maredudd, brother of Madog ap Maredudd, prince of Powys. He was, it is said, the offspring of an irregular union of his father with Gwervyl, daughter of Urgan ab Howel. In 1159 Owain and his brother Meurig received from their uncle Madog, then ruling over Powys, the district of Cyveiliog, a region including most of the middle valley of the Dovey, and corresponding to the western portions of the modern Montgomeryshire. Owain remained so closely connected with Cyveiliog that he derived from it his ordinary descriptive name, which effectmaclly distinguished him from his rival, Owain ab Gruffydd, called Owain Gwynedd. Madog died in 1160, and his son Llywelyn being slain immediately afterwards, Owain succeeded to the lordship of all Powys. In the first years of his reign Owain continued his uncle's general policy of alliance with the English against his dangerous neighbour and rival Owain Gwynedd. But the gowing pressure of the Norman marchers, backed up by Henry I, seems to have caused Owain to alter his policy; and in 1165 he joined Owain Gwynedd and the Lord Rhys of South Cymru in their resistance to Henry II's invasion during that summer. Most of the fighting took place in Powys, and Henry II withdrew, beaten by the elements and want of food as much as by the enemy, and never ventured on another Welsh campaign. The alliance between the two Owains was continued for some time. In 1166 they drove out their former ally, Iorwerth Goch, from his territory in Mochnant, and divided that district between them. But in 1167 the allies quarrelled, and Owain Gwynedd joined with Rhys of South Cymru against Owain Cyveiliog, though the prince of Powys ahd married Rhys' daughter. Their joint forces invaded Powys, took possession of Caereineon and Talawern, and put Owain to flight. The lord of Powys now fell back on his old friends the marchers. He soon reappeared in company with a 'French' army, won back the lands he had lost, and destroyed the new castle which his foes had built in Caereineon. War continued between Owain Cyveiliog and Rhys. In 1171 Rhys again invaded Powys, and forced Owain to surrender seven hostages for his good behavior. But a quieter time now followed in Cymru. Davydd, prince of Gwynedd, Owain Gwynedd's son and successor, was Henry II's son-in-law. The Lord Rhys had become the king's 'justice in South Cymru.' Henry found it wisest to leave the Welsh princes pretty much to themselves, and they on their part found it prudent to recognise his supremacy. Power in Cymru was, moreover, so divided that no single Welsh prince had much chance of winning great triumphs over his neighbours. Owain accordingly continued in his dependence on Henry II. Constant intercourse between Owain and his overlord led to a good deal of personal friendliness between them; and Giraldus Cambrensis tells a story how, when dining with the king at Shrewsbury, Owain found means of covertly rebuking his overloard for his habit of keeping benefices long vacant in order to enjoy the custody of their temporalities. In May 1177 he attended the great council at Oxford, at which Henry made his son John lord of Ireland. All the other Welsh chieftains were there, and all of them took oaths of fealty to Henry as their overlord. As Owain grew older his sons Gwenwynwyn and Cadwallon took his place in the plundering forays and other wild enterprises of a Welsh chieftain. The Welsh chronicles make these youths responsible for the treacherous murder of their cousin, Owain ab Madog, in 1186; but Giraldus Cambrensis makes their father directly responsible for this crime. In 1188 Owain alone of the princes of Cymru did not go out with his people to meet Archbishop Baldwin when that prelate, in the course of his crusading tour, approached his dominions. For this negligence he was excommunicated. Owain busied his declining years with the foundation of the Cistercian monastery of Strata Marcella (Ystrad Marchell). There he ultimately took the monastic habit, and there he died in 1197 at a good old age. Gwenwynwyn, who succeeded to his father's dominions, completed the endowment of Owain's foundation of Strata Marcella.

There is another story, that Strata Marcella was founded by Madog ap Gruffydd Maelor in about 1200. But this seems to be a confusion between Strata Marcella and Valla Crucis in Yale. The 'charter of foundation' printed in Dugdales 'Monasticon' seems really to refer to the latter rather than the former foundation.

Giraldus Cambransis includes Owain Cyvailiog with Owain Gwynedd and Maredudd ab Gruffydd ab Rhys of South Cymru as the three Welshmen who in his days were conspicuous for their justice, prudence, and moderation as rullers. HIs lavish hospitality - 'There was drinking without regret, without refusal, and without any kind of want' - is celebrated by Dynddelw. Owain Cyveiliog was also specially distinguished for the rediness of his tongue. He was also a poet of some merit, his best-known production being some verses on Y Gylchan Cymru (the circuit through Cymru), and a longer song on the Hirlas horn. There are printed in the 'Myvyrian Archaiology of Cymru,' pp 190-2. There are also printed in the same collection two poems of Cynddalw celebrating the praises of Owain. ⁴

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Owain Cyfeiliog (c. 1130-97), prince and poet, son of Gruffudd, brother of Madog ap Maredudd, prince of Powys. In 1149 Madog appointed him under-lord of Cyfeiliog. About 1153 Rhys ap Gruffydd attacked this commote, and although Owain was later to marry his daughter, they remained enemies for years. After the death of Madog in 1160, Owain held Cyfeiliog on his own account, and in 1163 he joined, with Owain Fychan, to capture and destroy the royal castle of Carreghofa. In 1165 he is found with other princes of Powys and the other Welsh provinces in the great muster under Owain Gwynedd facing Henry II's attack in the Berwyn district. The next year, however, he again joined with Owain Fychan to drive Owain Goch from Mochnant, which they divided between them by a line which still remains as the border of Denbighshire and Montgomeryshire. In 1167 he reverted to Madog ap Maredudd's policy of friendship with England, and remained fairly constant to it for the remainder of his life. In 1167 he was attacked by Owain Gwynedd and Rhys ap Gruffydd of South Cymru who seized the commote of Caereinion and gave it to Owain Fychan, but Owain Cyfeiliog soon regained it with English aid.

In 1170 he established the Cistercian monastery of Strada Marcella. He again supported the English in 1173, and was present at the Council of Oxford in 1177. He was the only Welsh prince who refused to support the efforts of archbishop Baldwin and Giraldus Cambrensis in 1188 to preach the Crusade, for that he handed over the reins of government to his son, Gwenwynwyn, in 1195, and retired to the monastery of Strata Marcella, where he d. in 1197, and where he lies buried. His first wife was Gwenllian, daughter of Owain Gwynedd (mother of Gwenwynwyn), and his second wife was a daughter of Rhys ap Gruffydd.

In the early years of his reign he excelled as a warrior, and it is as such that Cynddelw sings his praises, but at a later date, Gerald is to speak of him as one of the three princes in Cymru who were conspicuouc 'for the justice, wisdom, and moderation of their rule.' The latter also mentions his eloquent tongue and his sagacity. Yet his fame as a fighter remained, even among the Normans, as can be seen from the "Legende de Fulk Fitz Warin.' It is this aspect of his career that the prince himself reveals in his 'Drinking-horn of Owain' - a poem patterned on the 'Gododdin,' in which a number of fellow-soldiers are each addressed in turn as the horn goes round. It is the best portrayal which we have of the campaigning life of a Welsh prince, with the close comradeship existing between him and his chosen war-band, and the thrill of their life of high adventure. There is also extant a series of englynion sung by the war-band of Owain to their 'circuit' of Cymru. The circuit, however, is of North Cymru only. ⁵