Aeddan ap Blegywryd (died 1018) was a

King of Gwynedd This is a list of the rulers of the Kingdom of Gwynedd. Many of them were also acclaimed "King of the Britons" or "Prince of Wales". List of kings or princes of Gwynedd House of Cunedda * Cunedda (Cunedda the Imperator) (c. 450 – c. 46 ...

in medieval

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

. He became ruler in 1005 but the circumstances of his accession are unclear as he does not seem to have been closely related to his predecessor,

Cynan ap Hywel Cynan ap Hywel (ruled 999–1005) was a King of Gwynedd, one of the kingdoms or principalities of medieval Wales. He was the son of Hywel ap Ieuaf Hywel ap Ieuaf (died 985) was a King of Gwynedd in North West Wales from 979 to 985. Hywe ...

. Aeddan ap Blegywryd was defeated in battle in 1018 and was killed, along with his four sons.

Idwal ap Meurig Idwal ap Meurig (died 997), was king of Gwynedd. He was the son of Meurig ab Idwal Foel, who, though the rightful heir to the throne, was killed in 986, in the course of one of the many struggles for the kingship which characterised the period f ...

had been dispossessed of his lands in Gwynedd but recovered them in 993. However, in 1000, Aeddan ap Blegywryd wrested control of the whole of

North Wales North Wales ( ) is a Regions of Wales, region of Wales, encompassing its northernmost areas. It borders mid Wales to the south, England to the east, and the Irish Sea to the north and west. The area is highly mountainous and rural, with Snowdon ...

and Idwal's son, Iago, fled to

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

. At this time,

was a King of

Gwynedd Gwynedd () is a county in the north-west of Wales. It borders Anglesey across the Menai Strait to the north, Conwy, Denbighshire, and Powys to the east, Ceredigion over the Dyfi estuary to the south, and the Irish Sea to the west. The ci ...

, one of the kingdoms or principalities of medieval Wales, ruling from 999 to 1005. After he died in 1005, the throne of Gwynedd fell to Aeddan ap Blegywryd, who was apparently out of the direct line of succession. It is not known whether or not Aeddan seized the throne by force, but his lack of connection to the ruling family of Gwynedd suggests that he did. It seems that the Welsh at the time were pragmatic in their approach to their leaders. The princes of the house of

Anarawd ap Rhodri Anarawd ap Rhodri () was List of rulers of Gwynedd, King of Gwynedd from 878 to 916. He faced challenges from the Mercia, kingdom of Mercia and Vikings, Viking raiders during a period of uncertainty for his realm. Nonetheless, he managed to sec ...

were not beloved by their subjects because of the great cruelties they exhibited; people who opposed them were dispossessed of their belongings, murdered, tortured by having their eyes pulled out and treated unlawfully in other ways. So the Welshmen were prepared to accept new rulers, such as Aeddan ap Blegywryd, without considering them to be

usurper A usurper is an illegitimate or controversial claimant to power, often but not always in a monarchy. In other words, one who takes the power of a country, city, or established region for oneself, without any formal or legal right to claim it a ...

s. Around this time, Iago died in Ireland, but over a period of some years, his son Cynan was helped by Irish Danes to attempt to recover the principality of North Wales. In these efforts he was unsuccessful. In 1018, Aeddan ap Blegywryd was challenged for leadership by

Llywelyn ap Seisyll Llywelyn ap Seisyll (died 1023) was a king of Gwynedd in the 11th century who ruled over the Welsh kingdoms of Gwynedd, Powys and Deheubarth. Biography Llywelyn was the son of Seisyll, about whom little is known. Llywelyn's mother, Prawst, w ...

, whose ancestry is unknown. A battle took place and Aeddan ap Blegywryd was defeated, being killed along with four of his sons.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aeddan Ap Blegywryd Aeddan ap Blegywryd, Prince of Gwynedd Monarchs of Gwynedd Aeddan ap Blegywryd, Prince of Gwynedd 11th-century Welsh monarchs Year of birth unknown Monarchs killed in action