ap Cadwallon, Maelgwn Gwynedd 1a

Birth Name ap Cadwallon, Maelgwn Gwynedd
Nick Name The Tall
Gender male
Age at Death 67 years

Narrative

The historical Maelgwn king of Gwynedd and one of the most influential rulers of 6th century Britain. He became one of the most famous (or infamous) leaders in Welsh history. He is one of five British kings castigated for their sins by the contemporary Christian writer Gildas (who referred to him as Malgocunus, meaning 'Great Hound') in De Excidio Britanniae. Maelgwn, described as "the island dragon", possibly a reference to his power base on Anglesey, is the most powerful of the five kings "... you the last I write of but the first and greatest in evil, more than many in ability but also in malice, more generous in giving but also more liberal in sin, strong in war but stronger to destroy your soul ...".

Gildas accuses Maelgwn of having driven his uncle from power by force 'while still a youth. He then, says Gildas, repented of his sins and vowed to become a monk, but his repentance did not last and he returned to his previous ways. He is accused of having murdered his wife and his nephew in order to be able to marry his nephew's widow.
He was also said to be a great patron of the arts and a skilled lawgiver, although some attribute this reputation to Maelgwn's own propaganda. He established court at Deganwy, and surrounded himself with an entourage of bards and artisans who wrote glowingly of his achievements. Gildas takes a dim view of this, accusing him of listening to his own praise instead of praising God. By the time of his death, Maelgwn had established himself as the preeminent ruler of the region, and his sons Rhun and Brude would inherit control over both Gwynedd and the lands of the Picts in southern Britain. He is recorded in the Annales Cambriae as dying in the "yellow plague" of 547.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

 

Events

Event Date Place Description Sources
Birth 480 North Wales   2
Death 547     2

Age: 67y

Parents

Relation to main person Name Birth date Death date Relation within this family (if not by birth)
Father ap Einion, Cadwallon460534
Mother verch Maeldaf, Meddyf446
         ap Cadwallon, Maelgwn Gwynedd 480 547

Families

Family of ap Cadwallon, Maelgwn Gwynedd and verch Afallach, Gwallwen
Married Wife verch Afallach, Gwallwen ( * 471 + ... )
   
Event Date Place Description Sources
Marriage 523      
  Children
Name Birth Date Death Date
verch Maelgwn
ap Maelgwn, Rhun492586

Family of ap Cadwallon, Maelgwn Gwynedd and of the Picts
Unknown Partner of the Picts ( * 508 + ... )
  Children
Name Birth Date Death Date
of the Picts, Bridei I523585

Source References

  1. RCKarnes: http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=arciek&id=I09919 Carrie's Family Tree
      • Source text:

        ID: I09919
        Name: *Maelgwn Gwynedd "the Tall" Ap CADWALLON
        Sex: M
        Name: Maelgwn Hir ap CADWALLON
        Name: Maelgwn GWYNEDD
        Birth: ABT 480 in North Wales 1
        Death: ABT 547 1
        Occupation: King of Gwynedd 1
        Note:
        The historical Maelgwn king of Gwynedd and one of the most influential rulers of 6th century Britain. He became one of the most famous (or infamous) leaders in Welsh history. He is one of five British kings castigated for their sins by the contemporary Christian writer Gildas (who referred to him as Malgocunus, meaning 'Great Hound') in De Excidio Britanniae. Maelgwn, described as "the island dragon", possibly a reference to his power base on Anglesey, is the most powerful of the five kings "... you the last I write of but the first and greatest in evil, more than many in ability but also in malice, more generous in giving but also more liberal in sin, strong in war but stronger to destroy your soul ...".

        Gildas accuses Maelgwn of having driven his uncle from power by force 'while still a youth. He then, says Gildas, repented of his sins and vowed to become a monk, but his repentance did not last and he returned to his previous ways. He is accused of having murdered his wife and his nephew in order to be able to marry his nephew's widow.
        He was also said to be a great patron of the arts and a skilled lawgiver, although some attribute this reputation to Maelgwn's own propaganda. He established court at Deganwy, and surrounded himself with an entourage of bards and artisans who wrote glowingly of his achievements. Gildas takes a dim view of this, accusing him of listening to his own praise instead of praising God. By the time of his death, Maelgwn had established himself as the preeminent ruler of the region, and his sons Rhun and Brude would inherit control over both Gwynedd and the lands of the Picts in southern Britain. He is recorded in the Annales Cambriae as dying in the "yellow plague" of 547.
        (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

         

        Father: *Cadwallon "Lawhir" Ap EINION b: ABT 460 in Wales
        Mother: *Meddyf Verch MAELDAF b: ABT 446 in Nanconwy, Arllechwedd, Caernarvonshire, Wales

        Marriage 1 *Gwallwen Verch AFALLACH b: ABT 471 in North Wales
        Children
        Verch MAELGWN
        Bridei I of the PICTS
        *Rhun "the Tall" ap MAELGWN b: ABT 492 in Wales

      • Citation:

        arciek@juno.com

  2. RCKarnes: http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=PED&db=arciek&id=I09915&style=TABLE Carrie's Family Tree