On the death of Hywel Dda, his sons fought against the sons of Idwal Foel, who were trying to free the North from the control of the South. The sons of Idwal Foel were successful in this, and although the North soon collapsed into civil war between the sons of Idwal, the South did not try to intervene there for some years.
Owain’s brother Rhodri died in 953 and his brother Edwin died in 954. As his brothers had left no heirs, Owain was the sole heir of Cadell ap Rhodri as well as the representative of the line of Dyfed (through his mother). This put him in a strong position, and Owain was able to rule Deheubarth unchallenged until his death. The chronicle and the genealogies in Harleian MS. 3859 were first compiled in the reign of Owain. Their primary purpose was probably to cement Owain’s claim to rule, the chronicles, based on annals kept at St David’s, providing support to the genealogies.
From 960 into the 980s, Owain and his sons engaged in raids on Morgannwg, in one of which Owain’s son Einion was killed. Owain’s son Maredudd conquered Gwynedd in 986, reuniting the North and South. (Lloyd 1:344-345)
Events
Date of Birth: about 900.
The estimated date is given by Bartrum (EVWG [42]).
Date of Death: 988.
The date is given by Lloyd (1:344) and by Thornton (ODNB). Annales Cambriæ (Williams p. 21) gives 988, and Brut y Tywysogion (Williams pp. 30-31) gives 987.
Relationships
Father: Hywel Dda ap Cadell ap Rhodri Mawr (about 870 - 950).
This relationship is shown by Bartrum (EVWG [42]), and given by Lloyd (1:344-345), by Maund, and by Thornton (ODNB). It is recorded in Brut y Tywysogion (Williams pp. 22-31), Annales Cambriæ (Williams p. 21), and the genealogies given in Harleian MS. 3859 (EWGT pp. 9-10).
Mother: Elen ferch Llywarch ap Hyfaidd (died 929).
This relationship is shown by Bartrum (EVWG [42]) and given by Thornton (ODNB). It is recorded in the genealogies given in Harleian MS. 3859 (EWGT pp. 9-10).
(supposed) Spouse: Angharad ferch Llywelyn ap Merfyn.
This relationship is shown by Bartrum (EVWG [42]). Bartrum in EWGT (p. 141) notes that later genealogists asserted this relationship as a way to give Bleddyn ap Cynfyn a claim to the rule of Powys through descent from Merfyn ap Rhodri Mawr, who was supposedly allotted Powys in the division of the realm of Rhodri Mawr.
(supposed) Spouse: Efa ferch Cynwrig ap Padric.
This relationship is shown by Bartrum (EVWG [42]). I am not sure what degree of credence we should give it.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. Most information below comes from Bartrum.)
Maredudd (about 930 - 999).
Cadwallon (died 966).
Llywarch (living 987).
Einion (about 940 - 984).
Rhys.
Iestyn.
References
Bartrum, Peter C (ed.) Early Welsh Genealogical Tracts. (Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1968).
The sources Bartrum gives for Owain are:
Harleian MS. 3859 -- dated to the reign of Owain ap Hywel Dda (“[O]uen map [H]iguel map Catell map Rotri map Mermin map Etthil merch [fo. 193v] Cinnan map Rotri map Iutguaul map Catgualart map Catgollaun map Catman map Iacob map Beli map Run map Mailcun map Catgolaun Iauhir map Eniaun girt map Cuneda map Ætern map Patern pesrut map Tacit map Cein map Guorcein map Doli map Guordoli map Dumn map Gurdumn map Amguoloyt map Anguerit map Oumun map Dubun map Brithguein map Eugein map Aballac map Amalech, qui fuit Beli magni filius, et Anna, mater eius, quam dicunt esse consobrina Mariae uirginis, matris Domini nostri Iesu Christi” and “[O]uein map Elen merc Ioumarc map Himeyt map Tancoyslt merc Ouein map Margetiut map Teudos map Regin map Catgocaun map Cathen map Cloten map Nougoy map Arthur map Petr map Cincar map Guortepir map Aircol map Triphun (map) Clotri map Gloitguin map Nimet map Dimet map Maxim gulecic (map) Protec (map) Protector (map) Ebiud map Eliud (map) Stater (map) Pincr misser map Constans map Constantini et Helen luicdauc que de Britannia exiunt ad crucem Christi querendam usque ad Ierusalem, et inde attulit secum usque ad Constantinopolin, et est ibi usque in hodiernum diem”);
Mostyn MS. 117 -- dated to the last quarter of the 13th century (“Rys m. Gruffudd m. Rys m. Tewdwr m. Kadell m. Eynon m. Owein m. Hywel da m. Kadell m. Rodri mawr m. Meruyn vrych”);
Jesus College MS. 20 -- dated to the last part of the 14th century (“Rees gryc m. Rees mwynuawr m. Gruffudd m. Rees m. Tewdwr m. Cadell m. Einyawn m. Ewein m. Howel da m. Kadell m. Rodri mawr”;
Achau Brenhinoedd a Thywysogion Cymru (“Plant Ewein m. Howel dda: Maredudd ag Eyniawn”, “Plant Einyawn m. Ewein: Tewdwr, [Cadell]”, “Rrys ap Gruffudd ap Rrys ap Tewdwr [ap Cadell] ap Eynon ap Ewein ap Howel dda ap Kadell ap Rhodri.”);
Brut y Tywysogion.
Bartrum, Peter C.,“[42]” in An Electronic Version of Welsh Genealogies AD 300-1500. [The source Bartrum cites for Owain is his own Early Welsh Genealogical Tracts]
Guy, Ben. Medieval Welsh Genealogy. (The Boydell Press, 2020).
From Guy’s attempted recreation of the St David’s recension of the Gwynedd collection of genealogies as it might have existed in the tenth century, based on the Harleian genealogies:
1. [O]uen map [H]iguel map Catell map Rotri map Mermin map Etthil merch Cinnan map Rotri map Iutguaul map Catguala[tr] map Catgollaun map Catman map Iacob map Beli map Run map Mailcun map Catgolaun [L]auhir map Eniaun Girt map Cuneda map Ӕtern map Patern Pesrut map Tacit map Cein map Guorcein map Doli map Guordoli map Dumn map Guordumn map Amguoloyt map Amguerit map <Oumiud> map Dubun map Brithguein map Eugein map Aballac map Amalech, qui fuit Beli Magni filius et Anna mater eius, quam dicunt esse <consobrinam> Mariae uirginis matris Domini nostri Iesu Christi.
2. [O]uein map [H]elen merc [L]oumarc map Himeyt map Tancoys[tl] merc Ouein map Margetiut map Teudos map Regin map Catgocaun map Cathen map Cloten map Nougoy map Arthur map Petr map Cincar map Gourtepir map Aircol map Triphun map Clotri map Gloitguin map Nimet map Dimet map Maxim Gule[t]ic map Protec map Protector map Ebiud map Eliud map Stater map Pincr Misser map Constans map Constantini magni map Constantii et Helen Lui[t]dauc, que de Brittania exuit ad crucem Christi querendam usque ad Ierusalem, et inde attulit secum usque ad Constantinopolin, et est ibi usque in hodiernum diem.
Lloyd, John Edward, A History of Wales. 2 volumes (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1911-1912).
Maund, Kari. The Welsh Kings (Tempus, 2000).
Thornton, David E. “Owain ap Hywel (b. before 929, d. 988)” in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004).
Williams ab Ithel, John (ed.). Annales Cambriæ (London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts; 1860).
Williams ab Ithel, John (ed.). Brut y Tywysogion; or, The Chronicle of the Princes (London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts; 1860).