Gruffudd ap Cynan d. 1137
Who was Gruffudd ap Cynan?...
"The fighter shot with both hands. All of the leader’s band struck valiantly. White Arrows sprayed from the bow which the king bent, before Hugh fell."
The words of a song written and composed in Norwegian concerning the murder of Hugh, Earl of Shrewsbury at the battle of Aberlleiniog in 1098. This being one of the most important battles in welsh history. Hugh was killed by Magnus Goesnoeth. Magnus was supporting the man who was supposed to be the king of Gwynedd, Gruffudd ap Cynan. A bit of an achievement as Magnus was a pirate in earlier years.
Gruffudd ap Cynan’s history source is unique for one reason, he is the only prince with a biography, which has survived from this period. It is impossible to say how much of the biography is fact or fiction.
Gruffudd was a clever man who understood when to fight and when to concede. As a teenager, he was a pirate working between Ireland and Wales and after killing Hugh, Gruffudd came to one agreement with the Earl of Chester that would make him the Chief of Anglesey.
Gruffudd’s power grew so much that he became the ruler of Gwynedd and Anglesey. He attempted to create Gwynedd into a land that would be able to withstand the Normans and with the help of Henry I this was achieved.
Gruffudd is buried in the city of Bangor, on the site of St Deiniol’s Cathedral. He lived a good life and his responsibilities on to his son Owain.