Life of Caradog ap Gruffydd

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 Caradog ap Gruffydd (died 1081)

 

was a Prince of Gwent

Caradog was the grandson of the King of Glywysing, Rhydderch ab Iestyn

Caradog's father Gruffydd ap Rhydderch, became King of Deheubarth in 1045, in the same year as Gruffydd's second cousin, Cadwgan ap Meurig, 

Gruffydd ap Rhydderch was a powerful king who resisted raids by the Danes and attacks by Gruffydd ap Llywelyn. However in 1055 after many attempt Gruffydd ap Llywelyn killed him in battle and took Deheubarth, before uniting the whole of Wales

Caradog was given Caerleon in Gwent

By 1057 Gruffydd ap Llywellyn was recognized as King of Wales and Caradog was given Caerleon in Gwent, he also added  Morgannwg early on in his career.

Death of the king of Wales

 After the defeat of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn by Harold Godwinson in 1063, old lineages were restored, with Caradog becoming ruler of Glywysing at about the same time as Maredudd ab Owain ab Edwin, the male-line heir of Hywel Dda, became ruler of Deheubarth.


destroyed harolds hunting lodge

In 1065 Harold Godwinson decided to build a hunting lodge in near Newport,  Caradog attacked and destroyed it and going on to ravage the district with his forces

killed King Maredudd of Deheubarth in a battle by the Rhymney River.

Caradog thereafter set out to emulate his father and grandfather by adding Deheubarth to his realm. In 1072 he defeated and killed King Maredudd of Deheubarth in a battle by the Rhymney River. 

took control over Kingdom of Gwent

In 1074 Caradog took over control over what was left of the war-ravaged Kingdom of Gwent from Cadwgan ap Meurig.

killed Rhys ab Owain

In 1078 Caradog killed Rhys ab Owain (Rhys ap twdwrs dad ) , who had succeeded Maredudd ab Owain as prince of Deheubarth.

Attacked Deheubarth

By 1081 he had forced the new prince of Deheubarth, Rhys ap Tewdwr to flee to St David's Cathedral.

Death in Battle

However the situation was changed by the arrival from Ireland of Gruffudd ap Cynan, who was aiming to seize the throne of Gwynedd from Trahaearn ap Caradog. Rhys ap Tewdwr and Gruffudd ap Cynan met at St David's Cathedral and made an alliance with the blessing of the Bishop of St Davids.

Caradog countered this by himself making an alliance with the King of Gwynedd, Trahaearn ap Caradog. The two factions met in battle at Mynydd Carn, about a day's march north of St David's. Caradog and his ally Trahaearn were both killed.

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