Welsh Journals

MAREDUDD AB OWAIN (d. 999): THE MOST FAMOUS KING OF THE WELSH Maredudd ab Owain dominated the Welsh political scene in the last decade and a half of the tenth century and, as far as can be determined, extended his influence over the greater part of Wales, with the apparent exception of the kingdoms of the south-east. However, despite his evident contemporary importance, Maredudd remains a relatively obscure figure: in contrast to his more renowned grandfather, Hywel Dda, or his ancestor, Rhodri Mawr, Maredudd's name and deeds will not be readily familiar, except to those with a special interest in early medieval Welsh history. Thus, for instance, J. E. Lloyd (who of course was not unaware of Maredudd's historical significance) dealt with Maredudd in a single paragraph in his History of Wales but devoted over ten pages to Hywel; and generally historians have followed his example in paying little attention to Maredudd.1 These statements are to some extent misleading. The medieval Welsh chroniclers clearly recognized Maredudd's importance and they described him as y clotuorussaf vrenhin y Brytanyeit, 'the most famous [or 'praiseworthy'] king of the Britons'. 2 1 J. E. Lloyd, A H[istory of] W[ales from the Earliest Times to the Edwardian Conquest] (3rd edn, 2 vols, London, 1939), pp. 333-43 (Hywel), 346 (Maredudd); Lloyd had previously written an article on Maredudd ab Owain for the Dictionary of National Biography, XII, 1015. The most recent treatment of Maredudd is the scattered passages in K. L. Maund, Ireland, Wales, and England in the Eleventh Century (Woodbridge, 1991), esp. pp. 17-20, 57-8, 107-8, and index. My own article on Maredudd in the NewDNB is forthcoming. 2 BfrutJ y Tfywysogyon or The Chronicle of the Princes.) Rfed] B[ook of Hergest Version], ed. and trans. Thomas Jones (2nd edn, Cardiff, 1973), s.a. [999]; Bfrut] y Tfywysogyon.) Pen[iarth MS.] 20, ed. idem (Cardiff, 1941), and Bruty Tywysogyon or The Chronicle of the Princes. Peniarth MS. 20 Version, trans. idem (Cardiff, 1952), s.a. 998 = 999; Bfrenhinedd] y S[aesson or The Kings of the Saxons. BM Cotton MS. Cleopatra B. v and The Black Book ofBasingwerk NLWMS. 7006), ed. and trans. idem (Cardiff, 1971), s.a. 998 = 999. The Latin chronicles merely describe Maredudd as rex.