Bleddyn ap Cynfyn Prince of Powys

  General Notes:

~Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales, Vol. II, Pedigree Chart on p. 792, wife
's name is Haer, two sons are given Meredydd ap Bleddyn and Cadwgan ap Bleddyn, 3rd son, first ruled South Wales, living at the time of Rufus, built Powys Castle, and d. 1100. ⁷⁶⁹

~The History of the Princes, the Lords Marcher, Vol. I, Pedigree of the Princes of Powys Wenwynwyn, p. 347-348, given as Bleddyn ab Cynvy, Prince of Powys, Ob. 1072, married to Haer, daughter and co-heir of Cyllin ab Blaidd Rhudd, of Gest, in Eivionydd.⁹²⁶

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ⁷⁶⁹
Rhodri the Great managed to to unite his country under his sole rule, and at his death in 876, divided his dominions between his three sons, Gwynedd, Ebbeubarth and Merfyn. After a few generations of turmoil and division, the line of Merfyn terminated in a heiress, whose son, Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, became a prince worthy of his illustrious ancertor Rhodri the Great. He not only consolidated Powys, but he succeeded bring North Wales under his rule, and only nominally, South Wales. He established Powysian dynasty which lasted until the conquest of Wales by Edward I.

~Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales, Vol. II, pp. 791-792

• Background Information. ⁹²⁶
Gryffydd ab Llewelyn died in 1062, leaving his half brothers, Bleddyn and Rhiwallanwn as sovereigns of Gwynedd and Powys, throught the influence of the Saxon King Edward. Rhiwallawn was killed in the Battle of Mechain, and Bleddyn became the sole ruler of both. He was the son of Cynvyn ab Gwrystand, Lord of Cibwyr in Gwent.

Bleddyn married four times. First, to Haer, daughter and co-heir of Cynillon ab Y Blaidd, Rhudd, Lord of Gest in Eivionydd and his wife Dinodig, widow of Cynfyn Hirdreg, Lord of Nevyn. By Haer, Bleddyn had a son, Maredudd ab Bleddyn, his sucecessor. Bleddyn ab Cynfyn was killed in battle, in 1072, by Rhys ab Owain ab Edwyn ab Einion ab Owain ab Howel Dda, and was succeeded in the principalities of Powys and Gwynedd by Trahaiarn ab Caradawg, and Crywrig ab Rhiwallon, Lord of Maelor Grymraeg.

~The History of the Princes, the Lords Marcher, Vol. I, pp. 87-89

• Background Information: Dictionary of Welsh Biography, Bleddyn ap Cynfyn . ¹⁰¹²
Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, was the son of Cyfyn ap Gwerstan, otherwise unknown, and Angharad, widow of Llywelyn ap Seisyll and the mother of the famous Gruffydd ap Llywelyn.

Bleddyn married Haer verch Cillin, daughter of Cillin ap Blaidd Rydd of Gest and Unknown.⁷²¹