The army of Dyfed

“The army of Dyfed, led by Lord Nicholas Meules and Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn, crossed the River Dywi and passed through most parts of North Wales, with no one hindering or opposing them.”

- Annales Cambriae

In the summer of 1246 Henry III sent Nicholas de Molis, former seneschal of Gascony, to conquer the lands of Maelgwn Fychan in Ceredigion. This was part of the king’s effort to defeat those native princes who had broken their homage and joined with the late Prince Dafydd ap Llywelyn.

Nicholas was joined by Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn, Maredudd ap Rhys Gryg and Maredudd ab Owain. Gruffydd was a consistent crown loyalist, while Maredudd ap Rhys Gryg had sworn homage to Henry, defected to Dafydd and now swung back to the king. Maredudd ab Owain had agreed to come back to the king’s fealty on condition he was granted the lands of Maelgwn Fychan.

The combined ‘army of Dyfed’ ploughed into Maelgwn’s lands and forced him to flee far to the north, into Meirionydd. Nicholas and his allies gave chase. They crosssed the River Dyfi and marched straight through the heart of Wales, driving their enemies through Meirionydd, Ardudwy and the Conwy Valley, until they finally reached Deganwy.

Maelgwn Fychan fled into the mountains of Gwynedd, to beg sanctuary from Llywelyn ap Gruffudd and his brother, Owain Goch. After the death of their uncle Dafydd, these two had seized power in Gwynedd and agreed to divide the patrimony between them.This was done on the advice of ‘prudent men’, to avoid war between the brothers.

While Nicholas was busy in the north, the Marchers formed another army at Cardigan to keep up the pressure on Maelgwn’s lands. These were apparently defended by his elderly steward, whose name nobody bothered to report.