Idwal Foel ab Anarawd (883 - abt. 942)

Born 0883 in Aberffro, Anglesey, Wales

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 0942 at about age 59 in Dindaethwy, Anglesey, Wales

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Michelle Brooks [send private message] and Jean Maunder [send private message]

Idwal Foel ab Anarawd is managed by the Wales Project. Join: Wales Project Discuss: wales_project

Biography

883 Birth and Parents

Idwal Foel (the Bald) was the son of Anarawd ap Rhodri Mawr. ^[1]

Idwal "Foel" (the Bald) was the son of Anarawd, the son of Rhodri Mawr, and was different from his uncle, Idwal the son of Rhodri Mawr. ^[2]

It appears that Idwal "Foel/the Bald" was a different person from Idwal, son of King Rhodri, who became King of Gwynedd. This is apparent from the passage in the Gwentian Chronicle which records that "the Welsh gained their freedom…through the bravery and wisdom of Eidwal the Bald and his brother Elisseu…and Idwal son of Rhodri the Great" in 940. ^[2]

Idwal was born in 0883. ^[3]

Conflict of Mothers

Neither Cawley ^[2] nor Boyer ^[1]report the name of a wife for Anarawd.

Idwal's mother is shown either as Cadwr-1 (0887- 0919) or Dyfnwallon-4 (861-0920), no marriage dates. Since he is shown as spouse of a Cadwr (and her birth in 887 would make her too young to be a mother), I went with Dyfnwallon as mother. (Bairfield-1 08:11, 30 May 2014 (EDT))

Marriages

Cawley states that the name of Idwal´s wife is not known.

Boyer reports that Idwal married Mareddon ferch Cadwr ap Cadwr Wenwyn ab Idnerth ab Iorwerth Hirflawdd ap Tegonwy ap Teon ap Gwineu Deufreuddwyd ap Bywyr Lew ap Bywdeg ap Rhun rhudd Baladr ap llary ap Casnar Wledeg, who was perhaps the same as Casanauth Wledig. ^[1]

Willoughby ^[4] reports that Idwal Foel married Avandreg ferch Merfyn, born Gwynedd 891. Idwal Voel, by his cousin Avendreg, daughter of Mervyn, left with other issue, Meurig.

An unknown source also reports a marriage to Unknown Verch Genedawc, born Glamorgan, 908 ^{[citation needed]} - this was most likely caused by conflation of Iago ap Gwyndog and Iago ap Ieuan, leading to their families being mixed up. Østenstad-1 20:43, 4 April 2021 (UTC)

916 Ruler of Gwynedd

The Gwentian Chronicle records that "Eidwal the Bald son of Anarawd son of Rhodri the Great became king of Aberfraw" in 913 after his father died] ^[2]

He was also King of Aberfraw. ^[2]

In 916 he became ruler of Gwynedd, and later accepted the West Saxon monarchy as being his overlord, ruling until he died. ^[1]

942 Death

Idwal Foel was killed 941/943 ^[2]

Idwal Foel died in 942 during an unsuccessful revolt against the English. ^[1]

The Chronicle of the Princes of Wales records that "Idwal son of Rhodri, and his brother Elised were killed by the Saxons" in 941. ^[2]

During the late 10th century, wars for control of Gwynedd took place between the sons and grandsons of Idwal Foel. ^[5]

Issue

Cawley recognizes that Idwal Foel & his wife had one child, Idwal Fychan. ^[2] Boyer recognizes 6 children, listed by Bartrum. ^[1]

1. Iago ab Idwal , living 979. Llisted by Bartrum, cited by Boyer ^[1] Wolcott proposes the scenario that in the wars for control of Gwynedd, Iago ap idwal was expelled from Gwynedd in 974 by his nephew Hywel ap Ieuaf. Wolcott suggests that Iago took his sons, Custinnen and Owain, and fled to Chester. ^[5]
2. Rhodri ap Idwal, born 925 in Gwynedd. Rhodri died 967 ^[6] Rhodri ab Idwal, d. 968. Llisted by Bartrum, cited by Boyer ^[1]
3. Idwal ap Idwal, born 919, Gwynedd. Idwal Fychan, killed by his nephew, Howel ap Iefan^[7]Idwal-8|Idwal "Fychan" (the Little) ab Idwal was killed [978/79]). ^[8] left six sons ^[9]: The Gwentian Chronicle records that "Idwal Vychan son of Idwal the Bald" was killed in 978[. The Chronicle of the Princes of Wales records that "Idwal was slain" in 979. ^[2] Idwal Fychan, d. 980. Llisted by Bartrum, cited by Boyer ^[1]
4. Ieuaf ab Idwal, died in captivity 988, imprisoned and deprived of his territory about 969 by his brother Iago [DWB, 409]. Llsted by Bartrum, cited by Boyer ^[1] Ieuaf ap Idwal. born 918, Gwynedd. Iefan, blinded by brother Iago c. 969^[10]
   1. Howel (d. 985) (blinded his uncle Meurig after 0972)
   2. Cadwallon (d. 986) ^[11]
5. Cynan ap Idwal, born 920 in Gwynedd. Cynan Cynan ab Idwal. Llisted by Bartrum, cited by Boyer ^[1]
6. Meurig ap Idwal, born 907 Aberffro. Meurig the eldest, being set aside as unworthy^[12] Meurig, d. 986. Llisted by Bartrum, cited by Boyer ^[1]
   1. Ionfal^[13], died 984.^[14]
   2. Idwal^[14]
7. Iago ap Idwal, born 908 Gwynedd. Iago
   1. Custinnen
   2. Owain

Wars of Children After Idwal's Death

Fight for control

948. And Howel the Good, son of king Cadell, chief and glory of all the Britons, died. And Cadwgan, son of Owain, was killed by the Saxons. And then the action of Carno ^[15] took place between the sons of Owain, son of Howel, and the sons of Idwal.

950 Nine hundred and fifty was the year of Christ, when Iago and Ieuav, sons of Idwal, ravaged Dyved twice; and Dunwallon was slain by their men. ^[15]

951. And then Dyvnwal and Rhodri, sons of Howel, died.^[15]

952. And then, a year after that, a great slaughter took place been the sons of Idwal and the sons of Howel, in the action of Conwy at Llanrwst. And Hirmawr and Anarawd were killed by the Pagans; they were sons of Gwriad. And after that Ceredigion was devastated by the sons of Idwal. And Edwin, son of Howel the Good, died.^[16]

974 During the late 10th century wars for control of Gwynedd between the sons and grandsons of Idwal Foel, Iago ap Idewal Foel had been expelled from Gwynedd in 974 by hiw hephews Hwell ap Ieuaf. Iago took his sons, Custinnen and Owain, and fled to Chester. Iago was nearing age 60 and his sons were then about 22 and 14 respectively. They were received by Leofwine I, Earl of Mercia, to whom Iago gave his oath of fealty, preferring that his sons grow up to fight real enemies than their own kin. ^[17]

In the contests maintained for the sovereignty of Wales between the sons of Hywel Dda and those of Edwal Voel, the former, assembling their forces in South Wales, laid waste the territory of North Wales, as far as the river Conway, on the banks of which they were encountered by the latter at Llanrwst, where, after a sanguinary conflict, the sons of Edwal Voel were victorious, pursuing their enemies into South Wales, and retaliating upon their territories the evils which had been inflicted on their own.^[18]

IDWAL "Foel/the Bald" (-killed [941/43]). [The Gwentian Chronicle records that "Eidwal the Bald son of Anarawd son of Rhodri the Great became king of Aberfraw" in 913 after his father died[91].] King of Aberfraw. It appears that Idwal "Foel/the Bald" was a different person from Idwal, son of King Rhodri, who became King of Gwynedd (see below). This is apparent from the passage in the Gwentian Chronicle which records that "the Welsh gained their freedom…through the bravery and wisdom of Eidwal the Bald and his brother Elisseu…and Idwal son of Rhodri the Great" in 940[92]. [The Chronicle of the Princes of Wales records that "Idwal son of Rhodri, and his brother Elised were killed by the Saxons" in 941[93].] m ---. The name of Idwal´s wife is not known. Idwal & his wife had [one child]:^[19]

Idwal ap ANARAWD (aka “Idwal Foel” - Idwal the Bald), King of North Wales. Born 883 in Aberffro, Malltraeth, Anglesey, Wales, died 942 in Aberffro, Malltraeth, Anglesey, Wales.

He married Mereddon verch CADWR, in Aberffraw Castle, Anglesey, Wales, born 887 in Gwynedd, Caernarvonshire, Wales, died 942. Children:

Meurig ap IDWAL, born 917.^[20]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11} Carl Boyer 3rd. Medieval Welsh Ancestors of Certain Americans. By the Author: Santa Clarita, California, 2004. Idwal Foel is #5 on page 283.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8} Charles Cawley, Medieval Lands: A Prosopography of Medieval European Noble and Royal Families, Medieval Lands Database. Idwal Foel Accessed 2/15/2019 jhd
3. ↑ Entered by Katherine Wall, Tuesday, September 10, 2013.
4. ↑ Hon. Elizabeth Sophia Heathcote Drummond Willoughby, Chronicles of the House of Willoughby de Eresby, p. 205 (Google eBook). Nichols & sons, 1896
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Darrell Wolcott, Ancient Wales Studies:The Malpas Family in Cheshire. Wolcott's special contribution is review of older genealogies from the perspective of chronological plausibility and to propose revisions when necessary. Accessed 2/21/2019 jhd
6. ↑ Jane Williams, p. 155
7. ↑ Jane Williams, p. 158-9
8. ↑ Ashley, Idwal Foel, The Mammoth Book of English Kings and Queens.
9. ↑ Jane Williams, A History of Wales: Derived from Authentic Sources, p. 151. (Google eBook). Longmans, Green, and Company, 1869 - Wales (retrieved 2014-05-30, amb)
10. ↑ Jane Williams, p. 155-166
11. ↑ Jane Williams, p. 156
12. ↑ Jane Williams, p. 153
13. ↑ Jane Williams, p. 156-7
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} Jane Williams, p. 160
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1 15.2} Darrell Wolcott The Battle of Mynydd Carn
16. ↑ Brut y Tywysogion, retrieved 2014-06-09, amb
17. ↑ Darrell Wolcott The Malpas family in Cheshire Accessed November 14, 2017 jhd
18. ↑ Samuel Lewis, Institute of Historical Research. 'Denbigh - Denbighshire', A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (1849), pp. 288-304. Accessed: 17 June 2014. amb
19. ↑ Charles Cawley, Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, Medieval Lands Database. Kings of Gwynedd, Descendants of Gwriad,
20. ↑ arnold family history, PDF, no sources listed

See also:

• Lewys Dwnn, Heraldic visitations of Wales and part of the Marches between the years 1586 and 1613, under the authority of Clarencieux and Norroy, two kings at arms; transcribed from the original manuscripts, and edited with numerous explanatory notes ; by Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick ; published for the Welsh Mss. Society, Vol. 2, p. 156.

• Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens (Google eBook). Constable & Robinson, Jun 7, 2012

• T. M. Charles Edwards. Wales and the Britons, 350-1064, Volume 1 of History of Wales. Edition Illustrated. Oxford University Press, 2013, p. 334

• Ken Stelmaszek. S-2024265459:

Lineage of the Royal Princes of England - Site no longer available on geocities, but retained on oocities. Regrettably, unsourced.

• Wikipedia: Idwal Foel

Acknowledgements

• This person was created through the import of David Rentschler Family Tree_2010-09-30.ged on 01 October 2010.
• Created through the import of My BURGESS-BANCROFT Family Tre.ged on Dec 4, 2012 by Mike Bancroft.