Princes of Afan
- Princes of Afan
- Chapter 1: Villains or Heroes?
- Chapter 2: Seals of Office
- Chapter 3: The Aberafan Charter, c.1306
- Chapter 4: Where they lived
- Chapter 5: Where They Worshipped
- Chapter 6: Other Local Sites Associated with the Afan Dynasty
- Chapter 7: Ieuan Gethin and Other Poets at Plas Baglan
- Chapter 8: Time Line of Events Relating to the Princes of Afan
- Chapter 9: Princes of Afan in the Wider Context
- Chapter 10: The End of the Dynasty at Aberafan
Chapter 8: Time Line of Events Relating to the Princes of Afan
There are two major problems to be faced when researching the history of medieval Glamorgan: firstly the lack of early documentary sources from the Welsh side, and secondly what might be called the much later `legendary history` of Glamorgan, the story of the Twelve Knights and the tales of Iolo Morganwg.
The various princes of Wales undoubtedly had their own archives – Edward I removed a considerable amount from the court of Gwynedd after the defeat of its princes – but little or nothing of these survives. The archives of Margam Abbey are an exception, but though they are an invaluable source of information, they only go so far. As for the `legendary history`, this is less than helpful. It was one of the Stradling family who produced the tale of the Twelve Knights in an attempt to show that his ancestors had been part of the Norman invasionary force after 1066. He combined the story of the defeat of Rhys ap Tewdwr, King of Deheubarth, by Bernard de Neufmarche in 1093 with Robert Fitzhamon`s invasion of the kingdom of Morgannwg at about the same date. This brought in Iestyn ap Gwrgan, ancestor of the princes of Afan, but the two events were quite separate.
As for Iolo Morganwg (1747-1826), he was an antiquarian but let his passion for his native Glamorgan lead him into concocting (forging) stories and literary works that were for many years accepted as true. Since many of his possible sources have vanished over the two centuries since his death, it cannot now be known how much, if anything, of his historical material was true, but even today it continues to influence what is written.
The story of the Princes of Afan begins c.1093, when Bernard de Neufmarche strikes down from the northern Marches towards Brecon, then the centre of the kingdom of Brycheiniog. There he meets and defeats Rhys ap Tewdwr, King of Deheubarth (West Wales). Rhys is killed, and the Normans continue westwards to Pembroke, where they build a castle. Meanwhile, Robert Fitzhamon, a close ally of King William II, has begun to move into Gwent and Glamorgan.
Here is our timeline:
1066 – William of Normandy invades England and becomes its King.
1067 – Chepstow Castle is begun. For the moment the intention seems to be to protect Gloucester from any Welsh incursions, rather than to attack Wales.
1081 – William makes a pilgrimage to St. David`s, during which he comes to a financial agreement with Rhys ap Tewdwr, King of Deheubarth.
1087 – William dies. His son, William Rufus, adopts a more aggressive policy towards Wales.
1089 – Robert Fizhamon begins the conquest of Glamorgan, setting up his headquarters at Cardiff. He takes over the lowlands of the Vale as far as Ogmore / Kenfig.
1093 – Rhys ap Tewdwr is defeated at Brecon. At about the same time Iestyn ap Gwrgan, King of Morgannwg, disappears from the record. His eldest son, Caradog ap Iestyn, becomes the first Lord of Afan, ruler of a territory consisting of the land between the rivers Afan and Nedd, stretching inland as far as Hirwaun.
1105 – Fitzhamon is badly wounded while fighting in France and dies two years later in 1107, leaving his daughter Mabilla as his heiress. Fitzhamon`s work in Morgannwg is carried on by his kinsman Robert de Granville.
1119 – Mabilla is married to Robert of Gloucester, eldest son (though illegitimate) of Henry I; in 1121/2 Robert is created Earl of Gloucester. He builds Cardiff Castle. Since Robert himself often has to support his father on campaign, de Granville continues to act as guardian of the holdings in Morgannwg.
1129 – de Granville establishes Neath Abbey, initially for the Savignac order of monks. His wife, Constance, who sets up the abbey with him, is said by some sources to be a Welsh woman, possibly a relation of Iestyn ap Gwrgan. The abbey and the first Neath castle are on the west bank of the river, outside Afan Wallia.
1136 – The death of Henry I sparks off an anti-Norman rising throughout Wales, and in South Wales this involves Gruffudd ap Rhys, Caradog ap Iestyn`s father-in-law. Although there is no documentary evidence that Caradog and his brothers are involved, it is highly probable that they are present at the Battle of Llwchwr, on Carn Coch common in Gower, on New Year`s Day, 1136. This Welsh success leads to further action, the death in battle of Caradog`s mother-in-law Gwenllian, and another Welsh victory at Crug Mawr, near Cardigan. (Ironically, among the leaders on the Norman side are cousins of Caradog, the sons of his aunt by marriage, Princess Nest.) The Normans are now distracted by the struggle between the heirs of Henry I, Matilda and Stephen, and for some years there is relative peace in Wales.
1147 – Robert of Gloucester establishes the Cistercian abbey at Margam, and the Savignac monks at Neath merge with the Cistercian order, though the two abbeys remain separate institutions. Later in the year Robert of Gloucester dies, and is succeeded by his son William.
1153 – Rhys and Maredudd ap Gruffudd attack and burn Aberafan Castle. The record of this in Brut y Tywysogion gives no details of why they attack, only
“In the month of May following, Maredudd and Rhys, sons of Gruffudd, jointly attacked the castle of Aberafan, and after killing the garrison and burning the castle, they brought from thence immense spoil and innumerable riches.”
The Peniarth version is slightly different and says they burnt houses. Possibly William of Gloucester, coming into his inheritance after his father`s death, and noting that Caradog ap Iestyn too has gone, takes over the castle, and Morgan ap Caradog`s uncles are taking it back for their nephew.
1158 – Ifor Bach of Senghenydd, the other major Welsh Lord in South Wales, climbs into Cardiff Castle, seizes William of Gloucester, his wife and his son and carries them off into the hills until William agrees to return lands which he has taken from Ifor. Ifor apparently suffers no punishment.
1161 – This seems to have been an uneasy period, not quite open warfare, but attacks on abbey granges, and in 1167 the burning of Kenfig, a Norman town.
1175 – Morgan ap Caradog and other Welsh lords are summoned to attend the king`s council at Gloucester, presumably to answer for their actions. This is also the year of the massacre at Abergavenny, when William de Braose invites the local Welsh lords to a Christmas feast at his castle in Abergavenny and then slaughters them. This is probably a matter of personal revenge, rather than a political move.
1183 – William of Gloucester dies. There are Welsh attacks on Cardiff, Neath, Kenfig and Newcastle (Bridgend). These attacks are concerted efforts by Morgan ap Caradog, Rhys ap Gruffudd and the sons of Ifor Bach; in 1184 these are summoned to make their peace with Henry II. William of Gloucester leaves three daughters, and the king has arranged that his youngest son, John, marries one of these, Isabella, and becomes the Lord of Glamorgan in succession to William.
1188 – Gerald of Wales visits Margam Abbey; he is escorting the Archbishop of Canterbury on a tour of Wales, recruiting for the Crusades. Morgan ap Caradog, whom Gerald describes as `the prince of that country`, guides them through the crossings of the Afan and Neath rivers. There is no suggestion that they are travelling through dangerous country, only problems with the tides and quicksands.
1189 – John gives Newcastle to Morgan ap Caradog. The relationship between John and the princes of Afan is clearly warmer than that between Morgan ap Caradog and William of Gloucester.
1200 – The marriage of John (who has now become King) and Isabella is annulled. The Glamorgan territories are returned to her, but Morgan ap Caradog apparently remains in control of Newcastle.
1204 – Lleision ap Morgan ap Caradog and his uncle, Gruffudd ap Ifor Bach, are in Normandy, with 200 soldiers, in the King’s service.
1208 – By now Lleision has inherited his father’s position as Lord/prince of Afan. He has confirmed his father’s grants to Margam Abbey; there are some disputes over land and rents in the years following, but these are settled without major hostilities. At some point in the next few years Lleision dies.
1217 – King John dies. Gilbert de Clare, who has married one of Isabella’s sisters and so inherited the Lordship of Afan, takes Newcastle back from Lleision’s younger brother and heir, Morgan Gam. Some years of hostilities follow and though Margam and Neath abbeys are not damaged, their flocks and farms are attacked.
1231 – Llywelyn Fawr, Prince of Wales, moves into South Wales again. Morgan Gam, 4th Prince of Afan, one of his staunchest supporters, in South Wales, along with other allies, attacks Neath and Kenfig (where, to the surprise of the chronicler, the women and children are spared). Hostilities continue in 1233 when the Earl of Pembroke joins as an ally against the king.
1240 – Morgan Gam dies; Lleision. His successor also supports the Prince of Gwynedd, better known as Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, Ein Llyw Olaf, the last true prince of Wales, against Henry III.
1245 – Herbert Fitzmatthew, leader of a royal army against the Welsh princes, is killed, probably near Cwmclais, Cwmafan. Lleision ap Morgan Gam and his allies are summoned to declare their fealty to Henry III.
1257 – The prince of Wales Llywelyn II and his allies come south and attack Llangynwyd and Neath.
1267 – Gilbert de Clare (Gilbert the Red) seizes Senghenydd and exiles its lord to Ireland, leaving the princes of Afan as the only independent Welsh lords in the south.
1282 – Llywelyn II is killed and Edward I takes over Gwynedd. For the moment Welsh resistance comes to an end.
1304 – Lleision ap Morgan Fychan issues a charter to the borough of Aberafan, the only Welsh lord in Glamorgan to issue such a document.
1314 – Lleision defends Kenfig Castle against the Welsh rebels in both this year and in Llywelyn Bren`s rising in 1316.
1321 – Lleision joins the barons in rising against the Despensers, the king`s favourites, who are the new Lords of Glamorgan.
1337 – Sir John d`Avene serves with Edward III in France at the beginning of the Hundred Years` War.
1350 – Thomas d`Avene issues a confirmation of his grandfather`s borough charter.
1359 – The last reference to Thomas, in a court case over Kilvey. On Thomas`s death the lordship passes to the Despensers in unrecorded circumstances.