Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Maredudd ap Bleddyn
MAREDUDD ap BLEDDYN (d. 1132), prince of Powys, was the son of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn (d. 1075), founder of the last native dynasty of Powys. During his earlier years he played only a subordinate part in Welsh affairs, being overshadowed by his brothers lorwerth [q. v.] and Cadwgan (d. 1112) [q. v.] He joined them in the support which they gave to their over-lord, Earl Robert of Shrewsbury, in his rebellion against Henry I (1102), but lorwerth soon went over to the king and, while making his peace with Cadwgan, consigned Maredudd to a royal prison. In 1107 Maredudd escaped and returned to Powys. He remained, however, without territory for several years. Even when Iorwerth and Cadwgan were slain in succession in 1112 he did not improve his position. According to 'Brut y Tywysogion' (Oxford edit. p. 291), he was in 1113 'penteulu' (captain of the guard) to Owain ap Cadwgan, an office specially reserved by Welsh custom for landless members of the royal family (Ancient Laws of Wales, ed. 1841, i. 12). In that year, however, Owain divided with him the forfeited domains of Madog ap Rhiryd. Though the gift seems to have been resumed, Maredudd recovered it on Owain's death in 1116, and henceforward appears regularly among the princes of Powys. In 1118 he took part in the feud between Hywel of Rhos and Rhufoniog and the sons of Owain ab Edwin. In 1121 he was leader of the resistance offered by Powys to the invasion of Henry I. During the few remaining years of his life his power grew apace; in 1123 his nephew, Einon ap Cadwgan, bequeathed him his territory; in 1124 a second son of Cadwgan, Maredudd, was murdered; and in 1128 a third, Morgan, died on pilgrimage. Two other enemies to his progress his nephew, Ithel ap Rhiryd, and his great-nephew, Llywelyn ab Owain Maredudd himself removed, the former by murder, the latter by mutilation. Thus at his death in 1132 he was lord of all Powys [see Madog ap Maredudd].
[Annales Cambriae, Rolls ed.; Brut y Tywysogion, Oxford edit. of Red Book of Hergest.]