MADOC AP GRUFFYDD MAELOR
b.c. 1165, d. 1236
F in Welsh Madoc Dynasties: Kingdom of Powys”
This Prince
Madoc came to power upon the death in 1191 of his father, Gruffydd Maelor, and
soon thereafter consolidated all his father’s possessions and built Dinas/Castle
Bran, becoming it’s first lord. Madoc ruled Powys Fadog, the upper half of
the larger kingdom of Powys, Fadog being a variation of Madog. He married Isota and lived where his father
did near Ruabon/Rhiwabon, in today’s Denbigshire near the Shropshire
border. His ancient residence just
south of Wrexham was called Wattstay, but later Wynnstay.
In 1194, a Welsh historian said,
“As I can bear witness, the Welsh pay greater respect than any other people to
their churches, to men in orders, the relics of the saints, holy books and the
Cross itself” (Descriptio Kambriae)
One of Prince Madoc’s accomplishments was the founding Valle Crucis
Abbey for Cistercian monks. This Abbey
was established in 1201 during his rule and through his benevolence for
white-robed “choir monks” who also had extensive farms they cultivated themselves. See http://www.llangollen.com/valle.html and www.wrexham.gov.uk/.
He died in 1236, and was buried at Valle Crucis Abbey, a church
which still stands, one half mile north of Llangollen in Denbighshire,
Wales.
His children were Guffydd Maelor
II, Gruffydd Lal, Maredudd, Hywel, Madoc Fychan, and Angharad. Madoc Fychan died in 1269, the same year as brother
Gruffydd Maelor II ap Madoc who has succeeded their father as ruler of Powys.