Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn (c. 1020 – c. 1070) was an 11th-century Welsh King and co-ruler of the kingdoms of Gwynedd and Powys from 1063 to 1070.[1][2] The son of Cynfyn ap Gwerstan and brother of King Bleddyn of Powys. Through his mother Angharad, he was half-brother to King Gruffydd ap Llywelyn as well. Following the 1063 invasion of Wales by Harold and Tostig Godwinson that overthrew Gruffydd, Rhiwallon and Bleddyn jointly received Powys and Gwynedd on condition of faithfully serving Edward the Confessor "everywhere by water and by land".
In August 1067, Rhiwallon and Bleddyn joined Eadric the Wild in an attack upon Herefordshire as part of the Saxon resistance to the recent Norman Conquest of England. In 1070, the two brothers fought in the Battle of Mechain against Gruffydd's sons Maredudd and Idwal. Though victorious, Rhiwallon was slain in battle and left Bleddyn sole prince of North Wales.
Children
| Ancestors of Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn |
|---|
| | | | | | 4. Gwerystan ap Gwaithfoed | | | | | | | | | | | 2. Cynfyn ap Gwerstan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5. Nest ferch Cadell | | | | | | | | | | | 1. Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6. Maredudd ab Owain ap Hywel Dda | | | | | | | | | | | 3. Angharad ferch Maredudd | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7. unknown | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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See also
Notes
- ^ In the Chronicon ex Chronicis written by Florence/John of Worcester, Rhiwallon and his brother Bleddyn are both mentioned as being "Kings of the Welsh".
- ^ Pierce, T. J., (1959). RHIWALLON ap CYNFYN (died 1070), king of Powys. Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved 23 Aug 2020, from https://biography.wales/article/s-RHIW-APC-1070.