Ednyfed Fychan ap Cynwrig

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Ednyfed Fychan ap Cynwrig

Birthdate:
Birthplace: Dules, Denbighshire, Wales
Death: circa July 1246 (72-89)
Of Tregarnedd, Wales
Place of Burial: Llandrillo yn Rhos Church, Llandrillo-yn-Rhos, North Wales
Immediate Family:

Son of Cynwrig ap Iorwerth and Angharad verch Hwfa
Husband of Gwenllian verch Rhys
Partner of Tangwystl ferch Llywarch Goch
Father of Gruffudd ab Ednyfed Fychan; Gwladus verch Ednyfed Fychan; Gronwy ap Ednyfed Fychan; Philip ab Ednyfed; Hywel ap Ednyfed Fychan and 7 others
Brother of Gwenllian ferch Cynwrig; Einion Ddu ap Cynwrig and Gronwy Foel ap Cynwrig

Occupation: Councilor & General of Prince Llewelyn ap Iorwerth, Seneschal of the Kingdom of Gwynedd, Krigeth in Efinoydd, Chief Counsellor, Chief Justice, Prince of North Wales, Warrior, seneschal
Managed by: Private User
Last Updated:

About Ednyfed Fychan ap Cynwrig

Please see Darrell Wolcott: "Bartrum's Pedigrees of the Welsh Tribal Patriarchs" - #23 - Marchweithian, http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id193.html. (Steven Ferry, March 19, 2017.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: Llowarch ap Bran - A Pedigree with Problems; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id32.html. (Steven Ferry, April 14, 2017.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: Edwin of Tegeingl and His Family - Aldud ap Owain of Tegeingl; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id83.html. (Steven Ferry, April 19, 2017.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: Angharad, Heiress of Mostyn; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id84.html. (Steven Ferry, April 21, 2107.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: Hwfa ap Cynddelw, Lord of Llifon: http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id322.html (Steven Ferry, January 23, 2024.)


  • Ednyfed "Fychan" ap Cynwrig

Denbighshire, Wales

father:

  • Cynwrig ap Rhiwallon

born Denbighshire,Wales

mother:

  • Annes verch Idnerth

born Maesbrook, Kinnerley, Shropshire,England

siblings:

  • Jane verch Cynwrig born about 1118 Denbighshire,Wales
  • Nynnio ap Cynwrig born Denbighshire, Wales

spouse:

  • Gwladus verch Aldud

Tegeingl ctf, Flintshire, Wales

children:

  • Gwenllian verch Ednyfed

born about 1172 Is Dulas, Denbighshire, Wales

spouse (2nd):

  • Gwenllian verch Rhys

born about 1158 Carmarthenshire, Wales

died 1236

children (from 2nd marriage):

  • Gruffudd ap Ednyfed born about 1186 Henglawdd, Cilcen, Denbighshire, Wales
  • Gronwy ap Ednyfed born about 1195 Trecastell, Llangoed, Anglesey, Wales

biographical and/or anecdotal:

notes or source:

LDS

research of S. E. Oman Salt Lake City

A distinguished general and able Minister of Prince Llywelyn "Magnus", comtemporary 13th century. Seneschal to Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, about 1215. Witness to the Peace of Worcester, 1218. Witness to the Agreement with the Earl of Chester, 1222. His name appears frequently until his death, as ministering to Llywelyn ap Dafydd. His name appears as one of the arbitrators in a convention between Henry III and Dafydd ap Llywelyn, dated at Gloucester 24 Henry III. In letters of patent of Henry III dated at Shewsbury 17 Dec 1232 he is styled "Idnevet Seneschallo ipsius Lewelini". Baron of Bryn Ffanigl. Lord of Lansadwrn. On one occasion, Ednyfed Fychan was sent by his prince in command of the Welsh armies to defend the frontiers against the English, under the command of Ranulph, Earl of Chester, whom he defeated, and slew; also three of the chief commanders and a host of the common soldiers. The rest having been put to flight, he returned in triumph, and displaying the three heads; he was commanded by the prince, in additon to many gifts, as afurther reward, to bear in future for his arms.

EDNYFED FYCHAN ( EDNYFED ap CYNWRIG ) and his descendants . Ednyfed ap Cynwrig (d. 1246 ), claiming descent from Marchudd , was a member of one of a group of kindreds long settled in Rhos and Rhufoniog . As seneschal (in Welsh , distain ) of Gwynedd c. 1215-1246 ( Hist. W. , ii, 684-5), his political and military services to Llywelyn the Great were rewarded, not only by the grant to Ednyfed himself of bond vills in Anglesey , Nantconwy , Arllechwedd Uchaf , and Creuddyn , but also by the concession, made to all the descendants of Ednyfed 's grandfather ( Iorwerth ap Gwrgan ) that they should for the future hold their lands throughout Wales free from all dues and services other than military service in time of war. This special tenure, known as that of ‘ Ŵyrion Eden ,’ is prominent in the 14th cent. in the lordship of Denbigh amongst the collateral branches of the family ( Survey of Denbigh . lv, 297, 303; Ellis , Tribal Law and Custom , i, 113), Ednyfed 's own descendants in the same period are found in the townships of Trecastell , Penmynydd , Erddreiniog , Clorach , Gwredog , Trysglwyn , and Tregarnedd in Anglesey , and in Crewyrion , Creuddyn , Gloddaeth , Dinorwig , and Cwmllannerch in Caerns. ( Rec. Caern. , passim ). They are also found in Llansadwrn in Carms. and at Llechwedd-llwyfan , Cellan , and Rhyd-onnen in Cards. ( Cal. Pat. Rolls , 1225-32 , 271; Carm. Hist. , i, 178; Cal. Fine Rolls , 1327-37 , 304; Cal. Inquisitions , vii, no. 418; Bridgeman , Princes of South Wales , 264). Even before the conquest of 1282 , therefore, Ednyfed 's immediate descendants formed a ‘ministerial aristocracy’ of considerable wealth, and their widespread possessions, combined with the favourable terms on which they were held, made them the forerunners of that class of Welsh squires whose emergence is characteristic of the post-conquest period. The pedigrees are not in complete agreement about the number of Ednyfed 's children, but during the reigns of Dafydd ap Llywelyn and Llywelyn ap Gruffydd ( 1240-82 ) several of his sons figure prominently amongst the counsellors of those princes . For some years before his death in 1268 , GORONWY AB was seneschal to Llywelyn ap Gruffydd ( Hist. W. , ii, 743; Litt. Wall. , 4, 28, 45). His brother, TUDUR AB , was captured during Henry III 's inconclusive campaign against Dafydd ap Llywelyn in Sept. 1245 , and was released in May 1247 on swearing fealty to the king . Despite marks of royal favour in the following years, Tudur was one of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd 's leading advisers after 1256 , succeeding his brother Goronwy as seneschal and remaining faithful to the prince until his death in 1278 . His loyalty was emulated by his son HEILYN ; he had been a hostage in the king 's hands between 1246 and 1263 and he submitted finally to Edward I in 1282 ( Litt. Wall. , 3-4, 26, 50-2, 77, 85, 97-9, 101-3, 109, 111-3; Cal. Close Rolls , 1242-7 (369, 457, 510), 1247-51 (5, 72, 518), 1256-9 (184, 207), 1261-4 (207); Cal. Pat. Rolls , 1232-47 (466, 496), 1258-66 (248); Assize Roll , 9, 14, 118-22, 157, 261; Rec. Caern. , 210-11). The Goronwy ap Heilyn of the period 1277-82 ( Assize Roll , passim ) was probably not of this line. Other sons of Ednyfed in the following of the later princes of Gwynedd were HYWEL ( bishop of S. Asaph , 1240-7 ), CYNWRIG , and RHYS ( Thomas , S. Asaph , i, 215; Litt. Wall. , passim ). For Gruffydd ab Ednyfed and his descendants, see under Sir Gruffydd Llwyd (d. 1335 ) .

From Goronwy ab Ednyfed (d. 1268 ) were descended the ‘ Tudors of Penmynydd .’ His son, TUDUR (d. 1311 ), and grandson GORONWY AP (d. 1331 ), appear to have been members of that Welsh official class of which their kinsmen, Sir Gruffydd Llwyd (q.v.) and Rhys ap Gruffydd (d. 1356 ) (q.v.) , were outstanding members. In the next generation the brothers TUDUR and HYWEL AP , both of whom d. c. 1367 , are found in possession of Trecastell , Erddreiniog , and half of Penmynydd in Anglesey and ‘ Gavell Gron. ap Eden .’ (which included the nucleus of the later Penrhyn estate — see below), and half of ‘ Gavell Kennyn ’ in Crewyrion in Caerns. , as well as the Cardiganshire possessions mentioned above. Their possessions in Anglesey and Caernarvonshire passed to Tudur 's sons — GORONWY OF PENMYNYDD (d. 1382 ), EDNYFED OF TRECASTELL (d. c. 1382 ), RHYS OF ERDDREINIOG , GWILYM OF CLORACH , and MAREDUDD , whose precise share of the family inheritance is not known. Goronwy , Rhys , and Gwilym were in the personal following of Richard II . Maredudd , father of Owain Tudur and great-grandfather of Henry VII (see the article Tudors of Penmynydd ), is a more shadowy figure; he was escheator of Anglesey before 1392 and is described in 1404 as an esquire to the bishop of Bangor . The three surviving brothers and their near kinsmen were prominent supporters of Owain Glyn Dŵr (q.v.) . Rhys was executed at Chester in 1412 . The greater part of their lands were forfeited to the Crown and came into the possession of the Griffiths of Penrhyn (q.v.) , also descended from Ednyfed Fychan through Tudur ab Ednyfed . A remnant of the Tudor lands at Penmynydd remained in the possession of the descendants of Goronwy ap Tudur (d. 1382 ) through his daughter Morfydd and her husband, Gwilym ap Gruffydd of Penrhyn . Sources:

Transactions of the Anglesey Antiquarian Society and Field Club , 1951 , 34-72. [See further the articles Griffith of Penrhyn and Williams of Cochwillan in Appendix; Griffith, Pirs; Tudor, Edmund, Jasper, and Owen; Tudor (Thoedor) of Penmynydd; Williams of Marl(e); Williams, John ( 1582-1650 ).] Author:

Professor Glyn Roberts, M.A., (1904-1962), Bangor

Added by HRH Prince Kieren de Muire von Drakenberg



A link to our roots in Wales is provided by the family Coat of Arms which is composed of three men's heads, shown in front profile, on a red background on the shield, and with a single head as the crest above the shield. This particular coat of arms was used EDNYFED FYCHAN who lived from 1170 to 1246 in Wales.

The coat of arms of Ednyfed Fychan was embossed into the plaster work of Britains best preserved Elizabethan town house in Plas Mawr in Conwy (on the north coast of Wales) and can still be seen today. See the full story at http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/welsh-history-mont... It is fun to read.

Louis Alphonsus Williams had a signet ring made on the ocassion of his marriage, with the crest of the coat of arms, a single head, engraved into it. We still have the ring.

Ednyfed Fychan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ednyfed Fychan (c. 1170 – 1246), full name Ednyfed Fychan ap Cynwrig, was a Welsh warrior who became seneschal to the Kingdom of Gwynedd in Northern Wales, serving Llywelyn the Great and his son Dafydd ap Llywelyn. He was a descendant (9th in descent) of Marchudd ap Cynan, Lord of Rhos, Lord Protector of Rhodri Mawr, King of Gwynedd and an ancestor of Owen Tudor and thereby of the Tudor dynasty,[1] and all its royal successors down to the 21st century and perhaps beyond.

As is usual with medieval orthography, a variety of spellings were used for his name in medieval sources, such as Vychan and Idneved Vachan.[2] Fychan, meaning literally "small" but also "junior" or "younger", is the origin of the common Welsh personal name, Vaughan.

Contents [hide] 1 As a warrior 2 As seneschal 3 Later years and legacy 4 Ednyfed in legend: Ednyfed Fychan's Farewell 5 Issue 6 Notes 7 References As a warrior[edit] Armoiries Owen Tudor.svg Ednyfed is said to have first come to notice in battle, fighting against the army of Ranulph de Blondeville, 4th Earl of Chester, who attacked Llywelyn at the behest of King John of England. Ednyfed cut off the heads of three English lords in battle and carried them, still bloody, to Llywelyn, who commanded him to change his family coat of arms to display three heads in memory of the feat.[3]

As seneschal[edit] In 1215, he succeeded Gwyn ab Ednywain as seneschal ("distain" in Welsh) of Gwynedd, roughly equivalent to Chief Councillor or Prime Minister. His titles included Lord of Bryn Ffanigl, Lord of Criccieth, and Chief Justice.[4] He was involved in the negotiations leading to the Peace of Worcester in 1218 and represented Llywelyn in a meeting with the king of England in 1232.

Ednyfed had estates at Bryn Ffanigl Isaf near Abergele and at Llandrillo-yn-Rhos, now a suburb of Colwyn Bay. These were the palace of Llys Euryn, on the hill of Bryn Euryn, and Rhos Fynach, on the seashore below it.[5] He also held lands in Llansadwrn and presumably also on Anglesey, where his son had his seat.

Ednyfed was married twice, first to Tangwystl Goch ferch Llywarch of Menai (but perhaps of Rhos?), the daughter of Llywarch ap Brân, then to Gwenllian, daughter of the prince Rhys ap Gruffydd of Deheubarth (order incorrect?).

Ednyfed probably went on a crusade to the Holy Land around 1235, although the evidence is not conclusive.

Later years and legacy[edit] Gwenllian died in 1236. On Llywelyn the Great's death in 1240, Ednyfed continued as seneschal in the service of Llywelyn's son, Dafydd ap Llywelyn, until his own death in 1246. One of his sons was captured and killed by the English in the war of 1245.

Ednyfed was buried in his own chapel, now Llandrillo yn Rhos Church, Llandrillo-yn-Rhos (Rhos-on-Sea), North Wales, which was enlarged to become the parish church after the previous one (Dinerth Parish Church) had been inundated by the sea during Ednyfed's lifetime. His tombstone, was reputed to lie near the altar of Llandrillo Church, now in a vertical position in the entrance porch of the church, but this is disputed as the name inscribed is an Ednyfed 'quondam vicarius' (sometime vicar). An "Ednyfed ap Bleddyn" was vicar in 1407.

Two other sons were successively seneschals of Gwynedd under Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. After Llywelyn's death in 1282, the family made its peace with the English crown, though a descendant joined the revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn in 1294-5, acting as Madog's seneschal after his proclamation of himself as prince of Wales. Ednyfed's son Goronwy gave rise to the Penmynydd branch of the family in Anglesey, from whom Owen Tudor and later Henry VII were descended.

Ednyfed in legend: Ednyfed Fychan's Farewell[edit] According to folk tradition, Ednyfed is said to have composed a farewell song to Gwenllian before leaving to take part in the Crusades. He was away for several years, and his family thought him dead. According to an old Welsh tale, Gwenllian accepted another offer of marriage. On the wedding night, a 'pitiable beggar' arrived at the house and asked permission to borrow a harp with which to entertain the party with a song. According to this legend the beggar sang Ednyfed's Farewell song and as he reached the last verse, removed his hat, revealing himself to be Ednyfed. He sang:

A wanderer I, and aweary of strife,

Get ye gone, if ye so desire; But if I may not have my own wife

I'll have my own bed, my own house, my own fire!" Ednyfed then announced to the stunned throng:

"This was the tune 'Farewell' to my dear Gwenllian. Hence let her go with her new husband. My faithful harp, come to my arms."[6]

Issue[edit] By first marriage he had:

Sir Tudur ap Ednyfed Fychan, of Nant and Llangynhafal, Seneschal of Gwynedd (c. 1205 – 1278), married Adles ferch Rhicert, of Dinllaen; he had issue Llywelyn ap Ednyfed Fychan, of Creuddyn; he had issue Hywel ap Ednyfed Fychan, Bishop of Llanelwy (1240–1247) Rhys ap Ednyfed Fychan, (of Garth Garmon) (born c. 1205); had issue Cynwrig ap Ednyfed Fychan, of Creuddyn; had issue Iorwerth ap Ednyfed Fychan "y Gwahanglwyfus" (a leper), of Abermarlais By second marriage he had:

Goronwy ap Ednyfed Fychan, Lord of Tref-Gastell, Seneschal of Gwynedd (c. 1200 – 1268, bur Bangor), married Morfudd ferch Meurig, of Gwent, daughter of Meuric of Gwent ap Ithel, Lord of Gwent, and had: Tudur Hen ap Goronwy, of Penmynydd, Seneschal of Gwynedd (c. 1245 – 11 October 1311, bur Bangor), who built the Priory of Bangor, married Angharad ferch Ithel Fychan, of Tegeingl (born c. 1260), daughter of Ithel Fychan, of Englefield (Cantref), and had: Goronwy ap Tudur Hen, Forester of Snowdon, (of Trecastell) (c. 1285 – 11 December 1331, bur Bangor), Captain of 20 Archers at Aquitaine, married Gwerful ferch Madog, daughter of Madog ap Dafydd ap Iorwerth, Baron of Hendwr, and had: Hywel ap Goronwy (c. 1305/1310 – c. 1366, bur Bangor), Archdeacon of Anglesey Tudur Fychan ap Goronwy, Rhaglaw of Dindaethwy, of Trecastell (and Penrhyn), acceded to the Friary, Bangor, on 13 September 1337 (c. 1310 – 19 September 1367, bur Bangor), married firstly Mallt ferch Madog, (of Penllyn), and had seven or eight children, and married secondly Margred ferch Tomas, of Ceredigion, and had two or three children: Goronwy ap Tudur Fychan, Forester of Snowdon, Constable of Biwmares, of Penmynydd (died drowned, 22 March 1382, bur Llanfaes), married Myfanwy ferch Iorwerth, of Pen Gwern; he had issue Rhys ap Tudur Fychan, of Erddreiniog (died 1412, bur Bangor), married Efa ferch Gruffudd Goch, of Cloddiau; he had issue Ednyfed ap Tudur Fychan, of Trecastell (died c. 1382), married Gwenllian ferch Dafydd, of Tegeingl; he had issue Gwilym ap Tudur Fychan, of Clorach, fl 1398–1406 Angharad ferch Tudur Fychan, married firstly Maredudd Ddu ap Gruffudd, of Arwystli, and married secondly Gruffudd Hanmer, fl 1400, (of Maelor Saesneg) Angharad ferch Tudur Fychan, married Tudur ap Hywel, fl 1352 Margredferch Tudur Fychan, married Madog Fychan ap Madog Foel, (of Eglwyseg) Gwenhwyfar ferch Tudur Fychan (daughter of either first or second wife), married NN Rhys Mawddwy ap Tudur Fychan Maredudd ap Tudur, Escheator of Anglesey, fl 1392–1406, married Margared ferch Dafydd Fychan, of Trefeilir, daughter of Dafydd Fychan ap Dafydd ap Llwyd, of Anglesey, and had: Sir Owen Tudor Annes ferch Maredudd, married Sir William Norris, of Cheshire, England Gruffudd ap Goronwy, fl 1332 Gwerful ferch Goronwy, married Madog Goch ap Iorwerth, of Grugnant, bur Llanrwst Gwenllian ferch Goronwy, married Iorwerth Goch ap Madog, (of Maelor Gymraeg) Gwenllian ferch Goronwy, married Iorwerth ap Llywelyn, fl 1315, (of Bwras) Hywel ap Tudur Hen Tudur Fychan ap Tudur Hen; had issue Morfudd ferch Tudur Hen; married Llywarch ap Heilyn Gloff, (of Carwedfynydd) Gwilym ap Goronwy; had issue Goronwy Fychan ap Goronwy (born c. 1255, fl 1278–1310), married Generys ferch Hwfa, (of Bers); had issue Hywel ap Goronwy, fl 1278 Adles ferch Goronwy, married Goronwy ap Maredudd, of Tyddyn Adda Gruffudd ap Ednyfed Fychan, ancestor of Griffith of Wychnor Gwladus ferch Ednyfed Fychan, married Tegwared ap Cynwrig Gwenllian ferch Ednyfed Fychan, married Tegwared y Baiswen, illegitimate son of Llywelyn Fawr, Prince of Gwynedd By either of his marriages he had:

Gwenllian ferch Ednyfed Fychan, married firstly Sir Aron ap Rhys, Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and married secondly Gwrwared ap Gwilym Angharad ferch Ednyfed Fychan, married Einion Fychan ab Einion, (of Malltraeth) By an unknown woman he had, illegitimate:

Tudur Gwilltyn ap Ednyfed Fychan; had issue with Welsey [7]

[show] v t e The Tudors of Penmynydd Notes[edit] Jump up ^ Bezzant Lowe, Walter (1912). The Heart of Northern Wales. Llanfairfechan. p354. Jump up ^ Bezzant Lowe, Walter (1912), pp370-371. Jump up ^ Bezzant Lowe, Walter (1912), p.355. Jump up ^ Bezzant Lowe, Walter (1912), p358. Jump up ^ Bezzant Lowe, Walter (1912), Chapter V11 pp.354ff. Jump up ^ Bezzant Lowe, Walter (1912), p357. The translation from the Welsh is credited to Mrs Watts-Jones of Glyn, Dygwyfylchi. Presumably this folk tale was handed down through the ages; a similar tale exists for the medieval poet Einion ap Gwalchmai. Although it is possible that Ednyfed went on a crusade, the tale itself belongs to the realm of folklore rather than history. Jump up ^ Marek, Miroslav. "brit/tudor2.html". genealogy.euweb.cz.[self-published source][better source needed] References[edit] John Edward Lloyd (1911) A history of Wales from the earliest times to the Edwardian conquest (Longmans, Green & Co.)

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