Owain ap Bleddyn ap Tudur

Events

Date of Birth: unknown.

Bartrum’s generational dating scheme implies a birth date of, very approximately, 1130.

Date of Death: about 1200.

This estimate is given by Mostyn (p. 11).

Relationships

Father: Bleddyn ap Tudur ap Rhys Sais.

This relationship is shown by Bartrum (Tudur Trefor 2), and given by Mostyn (p. 11), by Dwnn (2:307), by Lloyd (1:312), by Carr (p. 6), and by the Visitation of Shropshire (p. 261). There does not appear to be contemporary evidence for it.

Mother: Annes ferch Llywelyn ab Idnerth.

This relationship is shown by Bartrum (Tudur Trefor 2), and given by Mostyn (p. 11), by Dwnn (2:307), by Lloyd (1:312), and by the Visitation of Shropshire (p. 261). There does not appear to be contemporary evidence for it.

Spouse: Efa ferch Madog Gôch ap Iorwerth Gôch.

This relationship is shown by Bartrum (Tudur Trefor 10, Bleddyn ap Cynfyn 40). Dwnn (2:307) and Lloyd (1:312) give Efa ferch Madog Gôch ap Gwenwynwyn. Mostyn (p. 11) notes that various MS. pedigrees give Efa ferch Madog Gôch ap Gwenwynwyn, but there are chronological problems with this. He suggests that Owain’s wife may have been a different Efa ferch Madog Gôch, which seems to fit in with Bartrum’s suggestion.

Children:

(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)

Cynwrig

Iorwerth married Angharad ferch Gruffudd ap Meilir Eutun ab Elidir.

Thomas

Owain Fychan

Elen married Ieuan ap Llywelyn Fychan ap Llywelyn ap Madog.

References

Bartrum, Peter C., “Tudur Trefor 2”, “Tudur Trefor 10” and “Bleddyn ap Cynfyn 40” in An Electronic Version of Welsh Genealogies AD 300-1500. [The sources Bartrum cites for Owain are: Peniarth 131 (103, 126) -- a MS written about 1480 by Gutun Owain; Peniarth 129 (42, 68) -- a copy made about 1500 of a MS written about 1497 by Gutun Owain; Peniarth 137 (21) -- a MS written in the early 1500s by ‘Syr’ Thomas ap Ieuan ap Deiews.]

Carr, Antony David. The Mostyn Family and Estate, 1200-1643 (PhD thesis, University of Wales, 1975).

Dwnn, Lewys, and Samuel Rush Meyrick. Heraldic visitations of Wales and part of the marches between the years 1586 and 1613 by Lewys Dwnn. (Llandovery: William Rees, 1846).

Lloyd, Jacob Youde William. The History of the Princes, the Lords Marcher and the Ancient Nobility of Powys Fodog and the Ancient Lords of Arwystli, Cedewen and Meirionydd. (London: T. Richards, 1881-1887).

Mostyn, the Right Hon. Lord, and T. A. Glenn. History of the Family of Mostyn of Mostyn (London: Harrison and Sons, Ltd., 1925).

Oman, Sandra. “Owain ap Bleddyn” in Tree: Wales. Welsh Medieval Database Primarily of Nobility and Gentry.

Treswell, Robert. The Visitation of Shropshire taken in the Year 1623 (London, 1889).

Commentary

There doesn’t seem to be any evidence for Owain’s existence except for genealogies from a few centuries later. It is not clear with what degree of confidence we should accept the relationships given on this page. It is true that property held by men given as Owain’s ancestors by the genealogies later ended up in the hands of men given as his descendants.

Mostyn (p. 11) notes that Lloyd (1:312) incorrectly refers to Owain as “Lord of Chirk, Nantheudwy, and Maelor Isaf.” He notes that “Owain and his descendants, indeed, held extensive possessions in these regions, and as uchelwyr and chieftains would be and were accorded by the Welsh the title of “lord”; but the actual lordships of Nanheudwy and Maelor Saesneg, and all adjacent territory rested, at this time, in the House of Northern Powys.”