Powys and FitzEmpress (2)

In the years that followed the campaign of 1157, Henry II continued to show favour to the lineage of Madog ap Maredudd, lord of Powys. In 1158, while Madog was in receipt of English subsidies, the king staged a grand ceremony at Worcester. Here he knighted one of Madog’s sons, as well as the King of the Isles of western Scotland. In the same year Henry forced the submission of Rhys ap Gruffudd of Deheubarth, who was obliged to abandon Ceredigion and Cantref Bychan. Henry’s policy was to create a new order in Wales; an extended Anglo-Norman presence in Deheubarth and friendly relations with Powys and its dependencies.

Madog himself wanted to be friends with everyone. As well as accepting Henry’s overtures, he married one of his daughters to King Cadwallon of Maelienydd, another to Owain Gwynedd’s son Iorwerth, and his son to Owain’s daughter Angharad. He also arranged the marriage of yet another daughter to Rhys ap Gruffudd.

This shrewd man used his relatives in other ways to secure Henry’s friendship. His brother, Iorwerth Goch, was employed as a supplier of horses to the English court, and as a very well-paid castellan of Chirk. He would found a dynasty in Shropshire as well as extensive territories in eastern Powys. One of Madog’s sons, Gruffudd, was subsidised by the king to hold northern Powys against Gwynedd. Another, Owain, also received English subsidies and was later confirmed by royal charter in his lands of Mechain and western Oswestry. The most impressively rewarded of Madog’s sons was Owain of Porkington, who received a constant flow of English cash throughout the 1160s. Finally Madog’s nephew, Owain Cyfeiliog, was noted by Gerald of Wales as being on especially friendly terms with King Henry.

The poet Cynddelw praised Madog as ysgwyd pedeiriaith, which roughly translated as ‘shield/protector of four peoples/cultures/languages’. He and his family had asserted their lordship over Welsh, Anglo-Normans and English, and - via domination of local clergy - those who used Latin. Madog was also celebrated in the opening lines of The Dream of Rhonawby:

‘Madog ap Maredudd ruled Powys from end to end, that is from Porfordd [Pulford near Chester], to Gwanan in the furthest uplands of Arwystli’.

 Now this guy was a player.