Ithel ap Gruffudd (abt. 1041 - 1069)

Born about 1041 in Wales

Ancestors

Died 1069 at about age 28 in Wales

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Biography

1041 Name and Birth

Ithel or Idwal, according to Wolcott, was born about 1041 to Gruffudd and Nest. ^[1] . Boyer follows Bartrum in suggesting Ithel and Idwal were brothers^[2]

1069 Battle of Mechain and Death

Ithel and Maredudd died in 1069 at the hands of Rhiwallon and Bleddyn ap Cynfyn. ^[1]

In 1069 Ithel and Maredudd brought a kingship claim to the battlefield at Mechain against Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn, who was aided by his younger brother, Bleddyn. ^[1]

In the battle, Ithel was slain as was Rhiwallon. ^[1]

Maredudd fled the field and was pursued by Bleddyn into the mountains, where he subsequently died of thirst and exposure to the elements. ^[1]

Wolcott believes Ithel, being the primary target, was the one who was staking the claim, and that one had to be aged 28 to do so. Maredudd would have been younger and fled the battlefield in order to stake a claim later. ^[1]

Wolcott therefore believes that Ithel turned 28 in 1069 and his younger brother came to the Mechain battle to support his claim. ^[1]

Thus we would date the birth of Ithel ap Gruffudd to the year 1041, with Maredudd being born a year or two later. ^[1]

Boyer shows Ithel as a child of Gruffudd and Edith. ^[3]

Cawley agrees that Maredudd, died in 1068 or later. The Annales Cambriæ record war in 1068 betweeen "filios Kenwin, scilicet Bledin et Ruallo" and "filios Grifini, scilicet Maredut et Idwal" in which the latter were defeated. The Chronicle of the Princes of Wales records that "the action of Mechain took place between Bleddyn and Rhiwallon, sons of Cynvyn, Maredudd and Ithel, sons of Gruffudd" in 1068, adding that "Ithel was killed in the battle and Maredudd died of cold in his flight, and Rhiwallon son of Cynvyn was slain"[419]. ^[4]

Cawley reports that Idwall, was killed in the Battle of Mechain in 1068). The Annales Cambriæ record war in 1068 betweeen "filios Kenwin, scilicet Bledin et Ruallo" and "filios Grifini, scilicet Maredut et Idwal" in which the latter were defeated. The Chronicle of the Princes of Wales records that "the action of Mechain took place between Bleddyn and Rhiwallon, sons of Cynvyn, Maredudd and Ithel, sons of Gruffudd" in 1068, adding that "Ithel was killed in the battle and Maredudd died of cold in his flight, and Rhiwallon son of Cynvyn was slain". ^[4]

Idwal, d. 1070 is stated by Boyer to be a child Gruffudd and Edith. ^[3] This conflicts with Wolcott's statement that the only child of Gruffudd and Edith was Nest [II]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} Darrell Wolcott, Ancient Wales Studies. The Consorts and Children of Gruffudd ap Llewelyn Accessed July 8, 2015
2. ↑ Boyer - Medieval Ancestors of Certian Americans, page 288, para 18, items iii and v
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Carl Boyer 3rd. Medieval Welsh Ancestors of Certain Americans. By the author: Santa Clarita, California, 2004. Gruffudd ap Llywelyn is #18 on page 287.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Charles Cawley. Foundation for Medieval Genealgy. Medieval Lands Database. Wales Gruffydd ap Llywelyn ap Seisyll Accessed October 23, 2018 jhd