Person Page - 1638

     Joshua Boston was born on 20 July 1752 at Worcester Co., Maryland, USA.¹ He married Sarah Williams, daughter of Jacob Williams and Mary Strawbridge, between December 1774 and March 1779.¹

Joshua Boston died between 5 April 1817 and 19 August 1817 at Dividing Creek, Somerset Co., Maryland, USA.¹

     Nest ferch Cadell was born circa 795.² She married Merfyn Frych 'the Freckled" ap Gwriad, son of Gwriad ab Elidir and Esyllt ferch Cynan Dindaethwy, before 820.^5,6,7,2,3

      ; Per Med Lands:
     "MERFYN ap Gwriad "Frych/the Freckled" (-844). The 13th century History of Gruffydd ap Cynan names "Rodri Mawr son of Mervyn Vrych son of Gwryat…"[64]. King of Gwynedd. The Annales Cambriæ record the death in 844 of "Mermin"[65]. The Chronicle of the Princes of Wales records the death in 844 of "Mervyn the Freckled"[66].
     "m [either: ETHYLL of Gwynedd, daughter and heiress of CYNAN [King of Gwynedd] & his wife ---, or: NEST of Powys, daughter of CADELL ap Brochwell King of Powys & his wife ---. [The Gwentian Chronicle records that the mother of "Mervyn the Freckled" was "Nest daughter of Cadell of Derrnllwg, son of Brochwel Ysgithrog", after recording that "[the] daughter [of Cynan Tindaethwy king of all Wales] who was his heir married a chieftain of the name of Mervyn the Freckled"[67].] The alternative marriage to Nest of Powys is now recorded in manuscripts dated no earlier than the later 14th century, although possibly copied from earlier texts[68]. It is impossible to judge which version is preferable. Indeed, it is possible that both Ethyll and Nest were not historical figures at all but were invented to legitimise claims to Gwynedd and Powys, respectively, in the eyes of successor generations of kings and their supporters.]"
Med Lands cites:

Reference: Genealogics cites: Burke's Guide to the Royal Family, London, 1973. 321.²

; This is the same person as ”Nest ferch Cadell” at Wikipedia.⁸

; Per Genealogics:
     “Nest was the daughter of Cadell ap Brochwel, a late 8th century king of Powys. She became the wife of Merfyn Frych 'the Freckled', king of Gwynedd, and mother of Rhodri 'Mawr' (the Great'), king of Gwynedd, Powys and Deheubarth.
     “On the death of her brother Cyngen ap Cadell in 855, authority over the kingdom of Pwys passed to her son Rhodri who had previously inherited the kingdom of Gwynedd on the death of his father in 844 thereby uniting the kingdoms of Powys and Gwynedd.
     “It is unclear why the inheritance of Powys passed through Nest to her son, and not to one of the sons of Cyngen: Elisedd ap Cyngen, Ieuaf ap Cyngen, Aeddan ap Cyngen, and Gruffudd ap Cyngen. The test of Welsh laws which survive were written down no earlier than the 12th century, but they provide no evidence that women were capable of transmitting legal title of kingship or lordship. Equally, although the pedigree in a manuscript in Jesus College Oxford states Nest as the mother of Rhodri 'the Great', another pedigree in a fourteenth century manuscript in the National Library of Wales records his mother as Essyllt ferch Cynan. There are no strong grounds to accept either manuscript as reliable, but it is reasonable to believe that the royal house of Gwynedd promoted the view that the kingdom of Powys had passed to Rhodri through his mother in order to legitimise their control over it. Either way, this possible genealogical manipulation became part of the accepted story of the unification of the two kingdoms.”.² GAV-33.

; Per Med Lands:
     "[NEST . The marriage of Nest of Powys is recorded in manuscripts dated no earlier than the later 14th century, although possibly copied from earlier texts[702]. [On the other hand, the Gwentian Chronicle records that the mother of "Mervyn the Freckled" was "Nest daughter of Cadell of Derrnllwg, son of Brochwel Ysgithrog", after recording that "[the] daughter [of Cynan Tindaethwy king of all Wales] who was his heir married a chieftain of the name of Mervyn the Freckled"[703].] It is impossible to judge which version is preferable. Indeed, it is possible that both Ethyll and Nest were not historical figures at all but were invented to legitimise claims to Gwynedd and Powys, respectively, in the eyes of successor generations of kings and their supporters.
     "m MERFYN ap Gwriad "Frych/the Freckled" King of Gwynedd, son of GWRIAD King of Gwynedd & his wife [Ethyll heiress of Gwynedd] (-844).]"
Med Lands cites:

     Cadell ap Brochfael King of Powys died in 808.²
     GAV-33 EDV-33. He was King of Powys, [Ashley, p. 155] CADELL AP BROCHFAEL Powys, ?-808. Ruler of Powys during the oppressive reign of the Mercian CENWULF. Cadell died before Cenwulf's main drive into Wales, and he may have benefited from the comparative peace that followed the construction of Offa's Dyke. However, in the last year of Offa's reign, the Mercians penetrated into Rhuddlan, and this was a signal of the fragile relationship that would exist between Welsh and Mercians for the next thirty years. Cadell was succeeded by CYNGEN. circa 800.²

     Cyngen ap Cadell King of Powys died in 855 at Rome, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Lazio, Italy.
     He was King of Powys, [Ashley, pp. 155-156] CYNGEN AP CADELL Powys, c808-853. The last king of the first dynasty of Powys. He succeeded his father, CADELL, at a time when the Mercians under CENWULF and later CEOLWULF were making a concerted drive into Wales. Their efforts were concentrated in North Wales, though they also penetrated as far south as Dyfed. In 823, Beornwulf (penetrating into Gwynedd) captured the Welsh citadel at Deganwy, and claimed that the whole of Powys was in his hands. Beornwulf was killed soon after, and Mercia's power declined under a series of rival claimants until it fell easy prey to the power of EGBERT Of Wessex. From 826 to 830 Mercian energies were directed elsewhere and this would have given Cyngen an opportunity to regain his lands. It was probably at this time that he erected the stone column now called "Eliseg's Pillar" both as a tribute to his own achievement and to that of his forefathers. It was a proud declaration of the antiquity of Powys. It did not last for long. In 830 Egbert sent his army into Powys to subdue Cyngen and, although the record is quiet on the matter, Cyngen may have had to recognize Egbert as overlord. The next twenty years saw the rise in power of RHODRI who succeeded to Gwynedd in 844. Rhodri's mother was Cyngen's sister Nest and, although Cyngen had three sons of his own, it probably became evident in Cyngen's later years that Rhodri had every intention of claiming Powys as his inheritance. In 853 the Mercians under BURGRED, with the help of ATHELWOLF, began a new offensive into Wales, and again overran Powys. Although they were not able to penetrate into Gwynedd, it seems that Rhodri was content to sacrifice Powys whilst defending his own lands. In 853 Cyngen retired and went on a pilgrimage to Rome, where he died two years later. Records suggest he was a sad and embittered man. He was also old, having ruled for forty-five years. It is not clear whether his sons pre-deceased him, or whether they died soon after, for there is no record of them attempting to claim the throne of Powys. Instead Rhodri annexed it to Gwynedd and it remained part of the frontier between England and Wales, constantly changing hands, until the death of BLEDDYN AP CYNFYN in 1075. between 808 and 853.²

     Clydog ap Cadell died in 920.¹

     Elen ferch Llywarch married Hywell Dda "the Good" ap Cadell King of Seisyllwg (King of Wales), son of Cadell ap Rhodri Prince of Deheubarth.¹

      ; Theresa,

Davies, on whom I would usually rely, apparently has a typo. Peter C.
Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies AD 300 - 1400", volume 1, page [20] (this is
in an introductory section - the page numbers start over again in the main
section), has "Elen, d. 929" married "Hywel Dda" as the daughter of
"Llywarch, d. 904". Again on page [42] "Hywel Dda, d. 950" is shown
married to "Elen f. Llywarch, d. 929". (The "f." stands for "ferch", which
is Welsh for "daughter of".) My notes show that these same relationships
are also given in the famous Harleian manuscript 3859, a very nearly
contemporary document. So Leo is right (not surprisingly).

-- PKD [Paul K Davis, pkd-gm@earthlink.net].⁴ GAV-29 EDV-29.

     Rhodri ap Hywel died in 953.²

     Edwin ap Hywel died in 954.²

     Reference:
Genealogics cites: Burke's Guide to the Royal Family, London, 1973. 321.⁴ GAV-29 EDV-29. Elisedd ab Anarawd was also known as Elizze.⁴

     Hywel ab Ieuaf died in 985.¹
     He was King of Gwynedd, [Ashley, pp. 349-350] HYWEL AB IEUAF Gwynedd, 974-85. The son of Ieuaf ab Idwal, he continued his father's battle against JAGO AB IDWAL in an attempt to gain sole control of the kingdom of Gwynedd. After Ieuaf was imprisoned in 969, Hywel assumed his authority and attended the council called by the English king EDGAR in 973 of all the vassal kings of Britain to acknowledge him as their overlord. Hywel must have spat bile over the ignominy of having to row Edgar along the river Dee along with his fellow kings. In the following year, Hywel succeeded in deposing Iago and driving him out of the kingdom, but the battle continued, each side deploying or purchasing various mercenaries or soldiers as might be available among the English and Vikings. Although Iago re-established himself in 978, Hywel eventually managed to engineer his capture by Viking troops and Iago was imprisoned. Hywel then slew Iago's son Custennin who was attempting to regain the kingdom. Hywel thereby became sole ruler of Gwynedd in 980. His father, Ieuaf, was still alive at this time and it is not clear whether Hywel left him in prison or freed him. Certainly there is no record that Ieuaf either regained the throne or was consulted as any form of authority. Hywel now sought
to capture the southern kingdom of Deheubarth and, in league with Alfhere of Mercia, the senior English ealdorman who had his sights on increased power, Hywel invaded Deheubarth in 983. The battle was inconclusive and, with the death of Alfhere later that year, Hywel lost his support. Thereafter everything went downhill for Hywel and attempts to regain English support went awry in 985 when Hywel was tricked and slain. between 974 and 985.¹

     Cadwallon ab Ieuaf died in 986.¹
     He was King of Gwynedd, [Ashley, pp. 331, 350] CADWALLON AS IEUAF Gwynedd, 985-6. Cadwallon succeeded his brother HYWEL AS IEUAF after the latter's murder in 985. Although Cadwallon's father, Ieuaf ab Idwal was still alive, it is interesting that he did not regain the throne. He would have been old at this time, probably in his sixties and may, through years of imprisonment, have become ill and degenerate, but it may also be indicative of the lust of the royal line of Gwynedd to gain power at whatever cost. Although little had been written about Cadwallon prior to his gaining the throne, we can assume that he took his part in his brother's struggles against his uncle, IAGO AB IDWAL. Cadwallon's control over affairs, however, was short-lived, for within a year he was slain by MAREDUDD AS OWAIN of Deheubarth who avenged the attack by Hywel on his kingdom three years previously. Maredudd united Gwynedd and Deheubarth for the first time since the reign of RHODRI the Great, a century earlier and, for a brief period, sanity returned to the land under a strong rule. Cadwallon's nephew, CYNAN AP HYWEL eventually succeeded to Gwynedd on Mareddud's death. between 985 and 986.¹

     Cynan ap Hywel died in 1005.¹
     He was King of Gwynedd and Deheubarth, [Ashley, p. 350] CYNAN AP HYWEL Gwynedd and Deheubarth, 999-1005. Cynan briefly regained the throne of Gwynedd after the death of MAREDUDD AP OWAIN. He was the son of HYWEL AP IEUAF who had waged a long and debilitating war with IAGO AS IDWAL and between them had brought the kingdom of Gwynedd to its lowest ebb. Its fortunes had been saved briefly by Maredudd and, after the death of Cynan, after an inglorious reign, were further restored by LLYWELLYN AP
5EI5YLL. between 999 and 1005.¹

     Prawst ferch Elisedd married Seisyll ap Prawst, son of Prawst ab Elise.^1,4,2

     Reference:
Genealogics cites: Burke's Guide to the Royal Family, London, 1973. 324.² GAV-28 EDV-28 GKJ-28.

     Tewdwr ab Einion died in 994.²

     Hywel ab Edwin King of Deheubarth married Unknown (?)
;
Her 1st husband.²
Hywel ab Edwin King of Deheubarth died between 1043 and 1044.¹
     She was King of Deheubarth, [Ashley, pp. 331, 336] HYWEL AB EDWIN Deheubarth, 1033-44. Hywel was the son of EDWIN AB EINION who had ruled Deheubarth twenty years earlier. Hywel, and his brother Maredudd, succeeded in regaining the kingdom of Deheubarth after they defeated RHYDDERCH AB IESTYN in 1033. The next decade was one of constant border battles. Maredudd was killed in 1035 and Hywel ruled alone. His main foe was GRUFFYDD AP Llywelyn, the powerful ruler of Gwynedd who sought to regain Deheubarth as part of the kingdom ruled by his father, LLYWELYN AP SEISYLL. Hywel, however, proved a particularly strong opponent. A series of skirmishes continued over the years. In 1039 Gruffydd succeeding in claiming Ceredigion, but Hywel remained in control of Dyfed and Ystrad Tywi. The two forces met again in 1041, when again Gruffydd was victorious and this time captured Hywel's wife, but Hywel retained his lands. The next year Hywel had to face a force of Vikings landing in northern Dyfed, whom he succeeded in defeating. Sometime after, probably in late 1043, Gruffydd forced Hywel out of the kingdom, but Hywel soon returned, this time with the support of a Viking fleet. The battle took place at the estuary of the river Towy. Gruffydd was the victor and Hywel was killed. However, no sooner had Gruffydd ap Llywelyn gained control of Deheubarth than he found new opposition from GRUFFYDD AB RHYDDERCH. between 1033 and 1044.¹

     Maredudd ab Edwin died in 1035.¹

     Maredudd ab Owain died in 1072.¹
     He was King of Deheubarth, [Ashley, pp. 336-337] MAREDUDD AB OWAIN AB EDWIN Deheubarth, 1063-72. Unlike his namesake and great grand-uncle, this Maredudd was a rather ineffectual king. He was the nephew of HYWEL AB EDWIN who had been killed in 1044, when he and his brothers had been driven into exile. In 1063, however, after the death of GRUFFYDD AP LLYWELYN, Earl Harold (later HAROLD II) ensured that the new rulers of Wales would be loyal to him and not likely to cause much trouble. Maredudd was restored to his family's patrimony on the basis that he would not raid Saxon territory. Maredudd was happy to accept this, but three years later everything changed as William the Conqueror swept into England. William's men soon made inroads into Gwent, which fell to them by 1070. Because Maredudd had not interfered, he was granted manors in England provided he left well alone. The more fiercely independent of the Welsh princes regarded Maredudd as a weakling and a traitor. In 1072 CARADOG AP GRUFFYDD, who was intent on carving out a kingdom for himself, attacked Maredudd along with a force of Norman soldiers, and killed him at the river Rhymni. Deheubarth passed to Maredudd's brother RHYS. between 1063 and 1072.¹

     Rhys ab Owain was King of Deheubarth, [Ashley, p 337] RHYS AB OWAIN Deheubarth, 1072-78. Brother and successor of MAREDUDD AB OWAIN AB EDWIN. Rhys was a weak king, who was ineffectual in defending Ceredigion from the ravages of the Normans who attacked it in 1073 and 1074. His only retaliation was against the much beloved king, BLEDDYN AP CYNFYN of Gwynedd, whose murder Rhys engineered in 1075, a death that was regarded as an outrage. If Rhys sought to benefit from this death he was misguided. In 1078 TRAHERN AP CARADOG of Gwynedd invaded Dyfed and defeated Rhys at Goodwick. Trahern seems to have taken great delight in hounding Rhys through the rocks and cliffs of Dyfed like a frightened deer. Rhys escaped only briefly with his life for, a few months later, he and his brother Hywel were killed by their nemesis, CARADOG AP GRUFFYDD, who had previously killed their brother Maredudd. Caradog, however, did not succeed to the throne of Deheubarth, which was claimed by Rhys's second cousin, RHYS AP TEWDWR. between 1072 and 1075.¹

     Anarawd ap Gruffydd was born circa 1116.¹
Anarawd ap Gruffydd died in 1143.¹
     He was [Ashley, p. 339] ANARAWD AP GRUFFYDD resistance leader of Deheubarth, 1136-43. Anarawd was the eldest son of Gruffydd ap Rhys, though he was still only a little over twenty when his father was killed. Anarawd had already proved himself in 1137 by slaying the local Flemish tyrant in Dyfed, Letard, which proved a popular killing. The next year Anarawd and his brother CADELL joined forces with OWAIN GWYNEDD and his brothers in their concerted attacks on the Norman castles in Ceredigion. Although a Viking force also came to their assistance, the engagement was stopped by a truce. Nevertheless, by the end of 1138 Anarawd felt safe in his role as leader of the people of Deheubarth in Dyfed and Ystrad Tywi. In 1143 Anarawd was murdered by the men of Owain Gwynedd's brother Cadwaladr, which led to Cadwaladr's expulsion to Ireland. between 1136 and 1143.¹

     Cadell ap Gruffydd was [Ashely, p. 339] CADELL AP GRUFFYDD resistance leader of Deheubarth, 1143-51. Cadell took over as the leader of the peoples of Dyfed and Ystrad Tywi in 1143 after the murder of his brother, ANARAWD. He continued the fight to drive the Normans out of Wales and regain the lands of Deheubarth. His greatest victories were in Dyfed, but he also regained ground in Ceredigion from the rulers of Gwynedd. Cadell seemed poised to make even greater gains when, in 1151 he was caught by surprise whilst hunting by a Norman raiding party. Severely wounded he was left for dead. Although he recovered he was left scarred and crippled and unable to lead his forces. He handed the leadership over to his younger brothers, under the command of MAREDUDD. In 1153 he left for a pilgrimage to Rome and nothing more was heard of him until 1175 when his body was returned to the abbey at Strata Florida for burial. between 1143 and 1151.¹

     Maredudd ap Gruffydd was born circa 1128.¹
Maredudd ap Gruffydd died in 1153.¹
      ; MAREDUDD AP GRUFFYDD ruled parts of Dyfed and Ystrad Tywi, 1151-5. Maredudd was barely twenty when his elder brother CADELL was ambushed and severely wounded and was no longer able to lead the resistance movement against the Normans. Despite his youth, Maredudd led his forces with considerable skill and wisdom. Unlike his elder brothers and his father, Maredudd was also just, not intent on wholesale slaughter. He rapidly earned a reputation for his fairness and clemency. Had he lived long enough he may have proved a remarkable leader. Unfortunately, having regained Ceredigion in 1153, and in the same year recovered lands in Gower and across Carmarthen Bay at Tenby, so that he had virtually rebuilt the old kingdom of Deheubarth, Maredudd died, aged only twenty-five. It is not recorded that he died violently, so we must assume that he died of an illness. He was succeeded by his brother RHYS.¹

     Gwenllian ferch Madog married Yr Arglwydd Rhys ap Gruffydd Prince of Deheubarth, son of Gruffyd Rhys ap Rhys and Gwennlian ferch Gruffudd.^1,2

      ; Leo van de Pas cites: 1. Burke's Guide to the Royal Family London, 1973 , Reference: 324
2. The Ancestors of Richard Vaughan, Bishop of London -1607 2002, William Addams Reitwiesner, Reference: 2063.² GAV-22 EDV-22.

     Catherine (?) married Jean Bureal de Juppleu sn de Besves.¹

     Gruffydd ab Yr Arglwydd Rhys Prince of Deheubarth was born circa 1155.⁴ He married Matilda de Braiose, daughter of William III de Braiose 4th Lord of Bramber and Maud/Mahaut/Mathilde de Saint-Valéry The Lady of Hay, in 1189.⁵

Gruffydd ab Yr Arglwydd Rhys Prince of Deheubarth died on 25 July 1201.^4,6
Gruffydd ab Yr Arglwydd Rhys Prince of Deheubarth was buried after 25 July 1201 at Strata Florida Abbey, Wales.⁴
     GAV-23 EDV-23.

; GRUFFYDD AP RHYS (II) Cantref Mawr, 1197-1201. Born: date unknown, possibly mid-1150s. Died: 25 July 1201, probably in late forties. Buried: Strata Florida Abbey. Married: 1189, Matilda, dau. William de Breos; 2 sons. Gruffydd was the eldest son of RHYS AP GRUFFYDD, "The Lord Rhys", but had little of his father's strength and verve. Inter-filial rivalry had broken out long before Rhys's death, particularly between Gruffydd and his younger brother Maelgwyn. Gruffydd should have been in a strong position on his father's death. He inherited the heartland of Deheubarth, Cantref Mawr in Ystrad Tywi, but he was soon under attack by Maelgwyn who had inherited Ceredigion. Maelgwyn had joined forces with GWENWYNWYN of Powys and within months they had captured and imprisoned Gruffydd. Gruffydd was set free several months later and over the next year succeeded in gaining most of Ceredigion from Maelgwyn. Maelgwyn negotiated with the English King JOHN over ownership of the lands and was restored to most of Ceredigion. In July 1201, Gruffydd's brother, Maredudd, who had inherited Cantref Bychan in Ystrad Tywi, was killed. Gruffydd succeeded in gaining the lands, but he was overcome with a fever and died three weeks later.⁴

     Gwenllian ferch Yr Arglwydd Rhyss ap Gruffudd ap Rhys married Ednyfed Fychan ap Cynwrig ap Iorwerth Senechal of Gwynedd.^5,2,6

      ; Leo van de Pas cites: 1. Burke's Guide to the Royal Family London, 1973 , Reference: 325
2. The Ancestors of Richard Vaughan, Bishop of London -1607 2002, William Addams Reitwiesner, Reference: 1031,1361.² EDV-21.

     Maelgwn ab Yr Arglwydd Rhys was born circa 1170.¹
Maelgwn ab Yr Arglwydd Rhys was buried in 1230 at Strata Florida Abbey, Wales.¹
Maelgwn ab Yr Arglwydd Rhys died in 1230 at Llannerch Aeron, Wales.¹
      ; MAELGWYN AP RHYS Ceredigion, 1199-1230. Born: c1170. Died: late in 1230 at Llannerch Aeron, aged about 60. Buried: Strata Florida Abbey. The sixth son of RHYS AP GRUFFYDD Maelgwyn was a violent and aggressive youth whose actions contributed towards the dissolution of the south Welsh kingdoms after his father's death. Maelgwyn initially rallied to the Cross in 1188 and was overcome with crusader zeal, but this enthusiasm soon waned and shifted instead to fighting against his brothers for territorial gain. He was imprisoned by his father in 1189 and subsequently passed by his brother Gruffydd to the Anglo-Norman lord William de Breos. When released in 1193, Maelgwyn sought revenge upon Gruffydd and, in the process captured and imprisoned his own father. As a result, in 1194, Maelgwyn was banished into exile, but he returned promptly upon his father's death in 1197 to claim Ceredigion as his inheritance. Although Maelgwyn initially defeated and imprisoned Gruffydd, with the aid of GWENWYNWYN of Powys, Gruffydd was able to turn the tables and in 1198 drove Maelgwyn out of Ceredigion, apart from a couple of castles. Maelgwyn turned to King JOHN of England for support and, by treaty, John confirmed Maelgwyn as lord of Ceredigion in 1199. In effect Maelgwyn had sold Ceredigion to John for the privilege of being its lord.
Over the next few years Maelgwyn benefited from the deaths of his brothers Maredudd and Gruffydd, and he engineered the death of a third brother Hywel Sais. With the death of Gruffydd, Maelgwyn laid claim to Ystrad Tywi and, with the aid of Gwenwynwyn, captured the castles at Dinefwr, Llandovery and Llangadock in 1203. At that stage Maelgwyn could claim to rule much of the lands of his father. However, this all soon began to crumble. In 1204 his brother RHYS GRYG and his nephews Rhys and Owain, the sons of Gruffydd, drove Maelgwyn out of Ystrad Tywi. Later that year he was expelled from Dyfed by William Marshal, earl of Pembroke. In 1208 Maelgwyn faced a further threat as events elsewhere in Wales led to the fall from power of Gwenwynwyn and the rise of Llywelyn THE GREAT. Maelgwyn now lost the northern territories of Ceredigion to his nephews Rhys and Owain, who were supported by Llywelyn, and Maelgwyn was forced into the lands south of the river Aeron. Maelgwyn continued to support whichever side might benefit him. In 1211 he supported John in his war against Llywelyn, but gained nothing from this so shifted his support to Llywelyn. Llywelyn continued to distrust Maelgwyn, but at the Council of Abderdovey in 1216 he did receive the lands of northern Dyfed and parts of Ystrad Tywi, in addition to his lands in Ceredigion. After the death of his nephew Rhys in 1222, Maelgwyn was allotted part of his lands in northern Ceredigion.
In these latter years Maelgwyn ceased to force territorial claims, seeming relatively content with his lot and remaining loyal to Llywelyn. Although Maelgwyn mellowed, his life was indelibly stamped by the rash aggression of his youth, which showed him as a treacherous opportunist liable to make more enemies than friends. That he reached old age is more a sign of his abilities to back the right side at the right time.
His son, Maelgwyn Fychan (the Younger), who succeeded him as lord of Ceredigion, died in 1257 and was in turn succeeded by his grandson, Rhys Ieuanc. Despite their titles they were lords of small commotes in northern Ceredigion, subject to the overlordship of Gwynedd. Rhys Ieuanc (also known as Rhys Fychan) surrendered to EDWARD I in 1277, thus escaping imprisonment, but was dispossessed of all title, and spent the rest of his days serving in the English army. He died in 1302.¹