Iorwerth ap Bleddyn, prince of Powys, having been insufficiently rewarded for his actions the previous year, again rebels against Henry I[1] and is arraigned before a royal tribunal at Shrewsbury, convicted and imprisoned, leaving his brother Cadwgan ap Bleddyn as sole ruler of the parts of Powys not already in Norman hands.[4]
Bernard, Bishop of St David's, is present at a second council of Reims. His cathedral at St David's receives a “dedication”, possibly indicating a partial rebuilding.
Monks of Llanthony Priory are forced by persistent attacks from the local population to flee across the English border and establish a daughter cell, Llanthony Secunda.
January - Rebellion breaks out in Ceredigion. Owain Gwynedd and his brother Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd invade the region and take five of its castles, including Aberystwyth.
Owain and his brother Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd ap Cynan complete their conquest of Ceredigion by capturing the castles in the east and south of the region.
Bernard, Bishop of St David's, gives land at Trefgarn to the first Cistercian monks to settle in west Wales.
Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd ap Cynan brings a Danish fleet to Abermenai from his Irish allies; the Danes are driven out by his brother Owain Gwynedd. Cadwaladr is reconciled with Owain and restored to Ceredigion.
Hugh de Mortimer recaptures Maelienydd and Elfael from the Welsh.
Madog ap Maredudd mounts an expedition into England and takes the Fitzalan lordship of Oswestry. He appoints his nephew Owain Cyfeiliog to rule Cyfeiliog on his behalf.
Cadell ap Gruffydd is attacked by Normans while hunting in the forest of Coed Rhath. Although he survives the attack, he is unable to continue his military activities.
King Henry II of England invades Wales, with the support of Madog ap Maredudd, attacking Anglesey by sea. Following a highly successful ambush in Hawarden Woods (led by Owain's sons Dafydd and Cynan) near Ewloe in north-east Wales, Owain Gwynedd repulsed Henry II's army, his forces scattering in disarray and his royal standard was thrown to the ground; a symbol of surrender in those times. The standard bearer was later killed in a judicial duel connected to this humiliating retreat. King Henry escaped with his life but had suffered a humiliating set back. Realising that further confronting the Plantagenet king would be a highly risky affair, the subsequent peace agreement between Henry and Owain saw the latter buy peace with a certain number of cattle and, although he also cedes Tegeingl to Henry; it is recovered into Welsh hands in the late 1160s. Owain is also made to return his brother Cadwaladr to his former position.
Ifor Bach makes a fatal attack on Morgan ab Owain of Caerleon; Morgan is succeeded by his brother Iorwerth. Later in the year, Ifor captures William, Earl of Gloucester, and his family from Cardiff Castle and holds them hostage pending the restoration of his own former lands.
3 June – David FitzGerald, Bishop of St David's, and Nicholas ap Gwrgant, Bishop of Llandaff, assist in the consecration of Thomas Becket as Archbishop of Canterbury.
1163
19 May - David FitzGerald, Bishop of St David's, attends a council of Pope Alexander III at Tours.
Owain Cyfeiliog and his cousin Owain Fychan capture and destroy the royal castle of Carreghofa.
Owain Gwynedd musters an assembly of Welsh leaders at Corwen, in opposition to King Henry II of England, which is attended by Owain's brother Cadwaladr. Cadwallon ap Madog and his brother Einion ap Madog, Owain Cyfeiliog and others. Owain Gwynedd also begins diplomacy with France - the first Welsh ruler known to have done so.
King Henry II of England invades Wales via Oswestry; Owain Gwynedd gathers an army composed of the forces of several of the other native rulers of Wales and camps at Corwen. After a few skirmishes, Henry withdraws up Berwyn mountain for security and eventually felly retreats to England without fighting. Although Henry cites bad weather as the reason for his withdrawal, the Welsh troops, under the same skies, remained in the field; from now on, Owain is considered prince of Wales. This was a signal success for Owain and was recorded as such by contemporary English chronicler, John of Salisbury. Similarly, Owain's successes against Henry are mentioned in the diplomatic messages exchanged with the French king, Louis VII.
Owain Cyfeiliog, having entered into an alliance with the English, loses the commote of Caereinion when he is attacked by joint forces of Owain Gwynedd and Rhys ap Gruffydd.
1170
November - The death of Owain Gwynedd throws his former kingdom into disarray and causes a power struggle in Gwynedd; within weeks, his nominated heir is dead, and his son Dafydd ab Owain assumes power. Dafydd is, however, unable to maintain his father's hold on south Wales, which falls under the aegis of Rhys ap Gruffydd.
Iorwerth ab Owain, having fallen out of favour with King Henry II, loses the lordship of Caerleon.
1172
Philip de Braose is given the “honour” of Limerick, in recognition of his service to the English king in Ireland.
Gerald of Wales completes his studies at the University of Paris and returns to Britain. He is soon commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury to enforce the payment of tithes on wool and cheese in the diocese of St David's. In the same year David Fitzgerald, the bishop, is granted a royal charter confirming all his possessions.
Following the death of his son Owain at the hands of the Earl of Gloucester, Iorwerth ab Owain rebels against Norman rule.
1173
Maelgwn ab Owain Gwynedd, one of the sons of Owain Gwynedd, is driven into exile in Ireland by his brother Dafydd. Dafydd sides with the King of England against the Welsh rebels and seeks the hand of Henry's half-sister Emma of Anjou in return for his assistance.
Iorwerth ab Owain and his son take Caerleon and other castles in Gwent.
1174
Maelgwn ab Owain Gwynedd returns from exile and is imprisoned by his brother Dafydd, who proceeds to eliminate all opposition to his rule in Gwynedd, including his brothers Rhodri, Cynan and Iorwerth Drwyndwn; Cynan and Iorwerth are both believed to have died during this year. Dafydd marries Emma of Anjou during the summer.[14]
Following the death of the last of the sons of Miles de Gloucester, his lands are divided between his daughters, including Bertha, wife of William de Braose. William thus acquires the lordships of Brecon and Abergavenny.
Gerald of Wales accompanies Baldwin, Archbishop of Canterbury, on a journey through Wales to recruit volunteers for the Third Crusade. The only Welsh ruler who refuses to support the visit is Owain Cyfeiliog, who is excommunicated for his failure to cooperate.
^Brut y Tywysogion p. 138. "...there was a great pestilence throughout the island of Britain ... and that tempest killed innumerable people and many of the nobility and many princes, and spared none. That year, four days before May Day, died Rhys ap Gruffydd, Prince of Deheubarth and unconquered head of all Wales."