Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd

Military campaigns

Hywel's father Owain Gwynedd and uncle Cadwaladr came to blows in 1143 when Cadwaladr was implicated in the murder of Prince Anarawd ap Gruffydd of Deheubarth, Owain's ally and future son-in-law, on the eve of Anarawd's wedding to Owain's daughter.^{[1][page needed][a][2][b]} Owain followed a diplomatic policy of binding other Welsh rulers to Gwynedd through dynastic marriages, and Cadwaladr's border dispute and murder of Anarawd threatened Owain's efforts and credibility.^[2][c]

As ruler of Gwynedd, Owain stripped Cadwaladr of his lands assigning them to Hywel in 1139 and dispatched Hywel to the Kingdom of Ceredigion where he burned Cadwaladr's castle at Aberystwyth, Hywel drove his uncle out in 1143.^[3][1] Cadwaladr fled to Ireland and hired a Norse fleet from Dublin, bringing the fleet to Abermenai to compel Owain to reinstate him.^[1] Taking advantage of the brotherly strife, and perhaps with the tacit understanding of Cadwaladr, the marcher lords mounted incursions into Wales.^[2] Realizing the wider ramifications of the war before him, Owain came to terms and reconciled, with Cadwaladr restored to his lands in 1144.^[3][1][2] Hywel and Cadell ap Gruffydd of Deheubarth joined forces against the Normans in West Wales, they took Carmarthen, Llansteffan, and Wiston castles. Peace between the brothers held until 1147 when an unrecorded event occurred which led Owain's sons Hywel and Cynan to drive Cadwaladr out of Meirionnydd and Ceredigion,^[3] with Cadwaladr retreating to Môn.^[1] Meanwhile Hywel took Llanrhystud capturing Cadwaladr's son Cadfan in 1150.^[3] Again an accord was reached, with Cadwaladr retaining Aberffraw until a more serious breach occurred in 1153 when he was forced into exile in England,^[3] where his wife was the sister of Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of Hertford and the niece of Ranulf de Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester.^[1][2] In 1157 Hywel is with his father, Owain Gwynedd on a campaign against Henry II of England in Basingwerk. Then in 1159, Hywel accompanies a Norman force from Carmarthen castle against Lord Rhys of Deheubarth, and then afterwards, Hywel goes into revolt against Henry II. These actions seemed to be promoted by Owain Gwynedd and also a desire to keep on good terms with the Crown.^[3]

Heir of Gwynedd

In 1146, news reached King Owain Gwynedd that his favoured eldest son and heir, Rhun, died. Owain was overcome with grief, falling into a deep melancholy from which none could console him until news reached him that Mold castle in Tegeingl (Flintshire) had fallen to Gwynedd, "[reminding Owain] that he had still a country for which to live", wrote historian Sir John Edward Lloyd.^[1][d]

As the eldest son, Hywel succeeded his father in 1170 as King of Gwynedd in accordance with Welsh law and custom.^[1][e][4][f] He was immediately confronted by a coup instigated by his step-mother Cristin, dowager Princess of Gwynedd.^[g] The dowager princess plotted to have her eldest son Dafydd usurp the throne of Gwynedd from Hywel, and with Gwynedd divided between Dafydd and her other son Rhodri.^[1] The speed with which Cristin and her sons acted suggest that the conspiracy may have had roots before Owain's death. Additionally, the complete surprise of the elder sons of Owain suggests that the scheme had been a well kept secret.

Within months of his succession, Hywel was forced to flee to Ireland, returning later that year with a Hiberno-Norse army and landing on Môn, where he may have had Maelgwn's support.^[1][5] It is difficult to date Hywel's death with certainty. His father died in 1170 on the feast of Pope Clement I (23 November), and while the chronicles record his death in the same year, the new year could be reckoned from Lady Day in the twelfth century, so Hywel may have died in what would be considered 1171 today.^[6] Dafydd himself landed his army on the island and caught Hywel off guard at Pentraeth, defeating his army and killing Hywel.^[1][5] At least three of Hywel's foster-brother were also killed while fighting with him in this battle. The occasion was commemorated in three poems attributed to one of the foster-brothers, Peryf ap Cedifor:

Following Hywel's death and the defeat of his army, the surviving sons of Owain came to terms with Dafydd. Iorwerth was apportioned the commotes of Arfon and Arllechwedd, with his seat at Dolwyddelan, with Maelgwn retaining Ynys Môn, and with Cynan receiving Meirionnydd.^[1] Maelgwn secured himself on Ynys Môn following his father's death, and was strong enough to retain the island following Hywel's defeat by Dafydd. Maelgwn may have also been instrumental in supporting his full brother Iorwerth in keeping Arfon and Aellechwedd, for once Maelgwn was captured Iorwerth escaped into exile in Powys, at his wife's kinsmen's court.^[1][h][i] However, by 1174, Iorwerth and Cynan were both dead and Maelgwn and Rhodri were imprisoned by Dafydd, who was now master over the whole of Gwynedd.^[1][j]

Poetry

Hywel was an accomplished poet and eight of his poems have been preserved, and are printed in The Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales.^[3] The best known is probably Gorhoffedd Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd in which he praises his father's kingdom of Gwynedd, both its natural beauties and its beautiful women. Other poems include the earliest known love poetry in the Welsh language and may show a French influence.