12th century in Wales

11th century | 13th century | Other years in Wales

Other events of the century

This article is about the particular significance of the century 1101–1200 to Wales and its people.

Events

1102

Henry I of England has a series of charges drawn up against the rebel Robert of Bellême, Earl of Shrewsbury and, when Robert refuses to answer to them, has Robert's former vassal and ally Iorwerth ap Bleddyn, prince of Powys, persuaded to besiege and capture Robert's castles in Shropshire; Iorwerth also delivers his own brother Maredudd ap Bleddyn to the king. The king banishes Robert and his brothers from England and Wales; his brother Arnulf of Montgomery, lord of Pembroke, goes to serve his father-in-law, Muirchertach Ua Briain, High King of Ireland.
Gerald de Windsor is appointed by Henry I of England as Constable of Pembroke Castle.

1103

Iorwerth ap Bleddyn, prince of Powys, having been insufficiently rewarded for his actions the previous year, again rebels against Henry I and is arraigned before a royal tribunal at Shrewsbury, convicted and imprisoned, leaving his brother Cadwgan ap Bleddyn as sole ruler of the parts of Powys not already in Norman hands.

1109

Nest ferch Rhys is abducted from Cilgerran Castle by Owain ap Cadwgan, son of Cadwgan ap Bleddyn.

1110

Cadwgan ap Bleddyn loses Ceredigion to the Norman Gilbert Fitz Richard.
Iorwerth ap Bleddyn is released from prison.
Philip de Braose, 2nd Lord of Bramber, rebels against King Henry I of England, and his estates are confiscated.

1111

Madog ap Rhiryd, an ally of Owain ap Cadwgan, kills Iorwerth ap Bleddyn through arson near Llanfair Caereinion, allowing Cadwgan ap Bleddyn to return to rule all of Powys; soon afterwards, Madog also kills Cadwgan at Welshpool so that Owain takes over their possessions in Powys.

1112

Philip de Braose regains possession of the estates lost two years earlier.

1113

Gruffydd ap Rhys of Deheubarth, heir of Rhys ap Tewdwr, returns from exile in Ireland.
Maredudd ap Bleddyn captures Madog ap Rhiryd and sends him to Maredudd's nephew, Owain ap Cadwgan, Prince of Powys, who takes revenge for the killing of his father by having Madog's eyes gouged out.

1114

King Henry I of England invades Gwynedd, obliging Gruffudd ap Cynan to pay homage to him.

1115

Bernard replaces Wilfred as Bishop of St Davids, as a result of Henry I's determination to take the diocese out of Welsh control.
Owain ap Cadwgan is knighted by King Henry I of England for his service in Normandy.
Gruffydd ap Rhys seeks sanctuary in Gwynedd but receives no assistance from Gruffudd ap Cynan.

1116

Revolt against the Normans, led by Gruffydd ap Rhys. He successfully attacks Swansea Castle, Carmarthen Castle, and Kidwelly Castle, but fails to take Castle Llanmyddyfri or Aberystwyth.

1119

Bernard, Bishop of St Davids, attends the council of Reims.

1120

4 April – The Archbishop of Canterbury grants a request from Gruffudd ap Cynan to recognise David the Scot as Bishop of Bangor.
May – The remains of Dubricius are moved from Bangor to Llandaff.
Canonization of Saint David is recognised by Pope Callixtus II.

1121

April/May – Sibyl, daughter of Bernard de Neufmarché, marries Miles of Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford; the marriage is personally arranged by King Henry I of England.
Robert Turberville is recorded as a principal tenant of Bernard de Neufmarché at Crickhowell.
Walter of Gloucester enters Llanthony Priory as a monk; his title passes to his son Miles.

1123

Bernard, Bishop of St Davids, visits Rome.

1124

Cadwallon ap Gruffydd kills the three rulers of the cantref of Dyffryn Clwyd, Meilyr ab Owain, Rhiryd ab Owain and Gronw ab Owain, his maternal uncles, to annexe it to his father's Kingdom of Gwynedd.

1125

Bernard, Bishop of St Davids, ejects the Benedictines from Carmarthen, replacing them with the Augustinian order.
David, Bishop of Bangor, visits the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth.

1127

Bishop Urban of Llandaff unsuccessfully seeks support from the Council of Westminster to extend the boundaries of his diocese from the River Tawe to the River Towy.
Gruffydd ap Rhys of Deheubarth goes into a brief exile in Ireland.
Caradog ap Iestyn of Glamorgan, and his brothers Gruffydd and Goronwy are involved in a “deed of violence”.

1128

19 April - Bishop Urban of Llandaff seeks support from the Pope for the extension of his diocese.

1129

Bishop Urban of Llandaff makes a second appeal to the Pope. Bishop Bernard of St Davids follows him to Rome and obtains a deferment of the decision.
Bledri ap Cydifor makes a grant of land to Carmarthen Priory.
Richard I de Grenville makes a grant of land to the Congregation of Savigny for foundation of Neath Abbey; the first monks arrive in 1130.
The name of Geoffrey of Monmouth appears on the charter of Osney Abbey in Oxfordshire.
Penhow Castle is first known to be occupied.

1130

Robert de Bethune, prior of Llanthony, is made Bishop of Hereford by King Henry I of England.
Construction of Painscastle by Pain fitzJohn.

1131

9 May - Tintern Abbey is founded.
Bernard, Bishop of St Davids, is present at a second council of Reims. His cathedral at St Davids receives a “dedication”, possibly indicating a partial rebuilding.

1132

Basingwerk Abbey is founded.
Madog ap Maredudd succeeds his father as ruler of Powys.

1133

Cadwallon ap Gruffydd is defeated and killed by an army of the Kingdom of Powys near Nanheudwy.

1135

Monks of Llanthony Priory are forced by persistent attacks from the local population to flee across the English border and establish a daughter cell, Llanthony Secunda.
Geoffrey of Monmouth gives permission to Caradog of Llancarfan to use material from his History of the Kings of Britain. Ordericus Vitalis quotes from Geoffrey's work in his Historia Ecclesiastica.

1136

January - Rebellion breaks out in Ceredigion. Owain Gwynedd and his brother Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd invade the region and take five of its castles, including Aberystwyth.
Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd is killed in battle near Kidwelly.
September/October - Battle of Crug Mawr; a signal victory for the Welsh.
Cardigan Castle is taken by the Welsh and burned.
Llanthony Secunda Priory is founded by Miles of Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford.

1137

Death of Gruffudd ap Cynan, king of Gwynedd; he is replaced by Owain Gwynedd.
Owain and his brother Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd ap Cynan complete their conquest of Ceredigion by capturing the castles in the east and south of the region.
William of Wycombe becomes prior of Llanthony Priory.

1138

A shrine to St Winefride is established in Shrewsbury, and the saint's remains are transferred there from Holywell.
Owain Gwynedd and Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd ap Cynan fail to take Cardigan with the aid of a Danish fleet. Their allies include Anarawd ap Gruffydd and his brother Cadell. Cadwaladr consolidates their previous gains and retains control of northern Ceredigion.
King Stephen of England gives Gilbert de Clare the title of Earl of Pembroke.

1139

Owain Gwynedd places southern Ceredigion under the control of his son Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd.
Owain and his brother Cadwaladr oppose the appointment of Meurig to the see of Bangor. They are supported by Anarawd ap Gruffydd.

1140

January - Meurig is consecrated Bishop of Bangor.
16 September – Whitland Abbey is founded at Little Trefgarn near Haverfordwest by monks from Clairvaux.

1141

2 February – Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd ap Cynan is an ally of Earl Randolph of Chester in his attack on Lincoln.
Ewenny Priory is founded.

1143

Following the murder of Anarawd ap Gruffydd by supporters of Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd ap Cynan, Owain Gwynedd and his son Hywel drive Cadwaladr out of Ceredigion.
Gilbert is appointed Bishop of St Asaph.

1144

Bernard, Bishop of St Davids, gives land at Trefgarn to the first Cistercian monks to settle in west Wales.
Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd ap Cynan brings a Danish fleet to Abermenai from his Irish allies; the Danes are driven out by his brother Owain Gwynedd. Cadwaladr is reconciled with Owain and restored to Ceredigion.
Hugh de Mortimer recaptures Maelienydd and Elfael from the Welsh.

1145

Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd and his brother Cynan sack Cardigan but fail to take the castle.
Hugh de Mortimer captures a local leader, Rhys ap Hywel.
Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of Pembroke, fortifies the castle of “Dinwileir”.

1146

Owain Gwynedd takes Mold from Ranulf de Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester.
Cadell ap Gruffydd takes the castle of Dinwileir from Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of Pembroke. With help from Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd, he also takes the castles of Carmarthen and Llansteffan. Rhys ap Gruffydd begins his military career, aged 13, fighting under his brother Cadell.
Hugh de Mortimer brings about the death of Maredudd ap Madog ab Idnerth.

1147

In alliance with Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd and the Fitzgeralds of Pembroke, Cadell ap Gruffydd takes the castle of Wiston from Walter Fitzwiz.
Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd and his brother Cynan invade Meirionnydd and take the castle of Cynfail from their uncle, Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd ap Cynan.
Margam Abbey founded.

1148

19 December – David FitzGerald is consecrated Bishop of St Davids, at Canterbury.

1149

Madog ap Maredudd mounts an expedition into England and takes the Fitzalan lordship of Oswestry. He appoints his nephew Owain Cyfeiliog to rule Cyfeiliog on his behalf.
Tegeingl and Iâl are annexed by Owain Gwynedd.

1150

Cadell ap Gruffydd launches a raid on Kidwelly.
Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd is imprisoned by his father Owain Gwynedd, for unspecified reasons.
Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd captures his cousin Cadfan, son of Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd ap Cynan, and occupies the new castle at Llanrhystud.
Bertha of Hereford marries William de Braose, 3rd Lord of Bramber.

1151

Cadell ap Gruffydd is attacked by Normans while hunting in the forest of Coed Rhath. Although he survives the attack, he is unable to continue his military activities.

1152

21 February - Geoffrey of Monmouth is consecrated Bishop of St Asaph, ten days after being ordained a priest.
Another quarrel takes place between Owain Gwynedd and his brother Cadwaladr; Cadwaladr goes into exile in England.

1153

Cadell ap Gruffydd makes a pilgrimage to Rome. His brothers Maredudd and Rhys ap Gruffydd drive Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd out of Ceredigion.
Rhys ap Gruffydd attacks the territory of Owain Cyfeiliog, beginning a feud between the two princes, and captures the Norman castle at St Clears.

1154

Morgan ab Owain, grandson of Caradog ap Gruffydd, is recognised as lord of Caerleon by King Henry II of England.

1155

The sudden death of Maredudd ap Gruffydd leaves his brother Rhys sole ruler of Deheubarth.

1157

King Henry II of England invades Wales, with the support of Madog ap Maredudd, attacking Anglesey by sea. Following a highly successful ambush in Hawarden Woods near Ewloe in north-east Wales, Owain Gwynedd repulsed Henry II's army, his forces scattering in disarray and his royal standard was thrown to the ground; a symbol of surrender in those times. The standard bearer was later killed in a judicial duel connected to this humiliating retreat. King Henry escaped with his life but had suffered a humiliating set back. Realising that further confronting the Plantagenet king would be a highly risky affair, the subsequent peace agreement between Henry and Owain saw the latter buy peace with a certain number of cattle and, although he also cedes Tegeingl to Henry; it is recovered into Welsh hands in the late 1160s. Owain is also made to return his brother Cadwaladr to his former position.

1158

Rhys ap Gruffydd is forced to pay homage to King Henry II of England; Rhys temporarily loses Ceredigion and part of Ystrad Tywi.
Ifor Bach makes a fatal attack on Morgan ab Owain of Caerleon; Morgan is succeeded by his brother Iorwerth. Later in the year, Ifor captures William, Earl of Gloucester, and his family from Cardiff Castle and holds them hostage pending the restoration of his own former lands.

1159

An alliance of English earls and some Welsh leaders unsuccessfully attempts to overthrow Rhys ap Gruffydd.

1160

Following the death of Madog ap Maredudd, prince of Powys, at Whittington, Powys is permanently divided into two and shared between his sons, including Gruffydd Maelor, Owain Brogyntyn and Owain Cyfeiliog.

1162

3 June – David FitzGerald, Bishop of St Davids, and Nicholas ap Gwrgant, Bishop of Llandaff, assist in the consecration of Thomas Becket as Archbishop of Canterbury.

1163

19 May - David FitzGerald, Bishop of St Davids, attends a council of Pope Alexander III at Tours.
Owain Cyfeiliog and his cousin Owain Fychan capture and destroy the royal castle of Carreghofa.
Owain Gwynedd musters an assembly of Welsh leaders at Corwen, in opposition to King Henry II of England, which is attended by Owain's brother Cadwaladr. Cadwallon ap Madog and his brother Einion ap Madog, Owain Cyfeiliog and others. Owain Gwynedd also begins diplomacy with France - the first Welsh ruler known to have done so.

1164

30 January - David FitzGerald, Bishop of St Davids, is among the signatories of the Constitutions of Clarendon.
Strata Florida Abbey is founded.

1165

King Henry II of England invades Wales via Oswestry; Owain Gwynedd gathers an army composed of the forces of several of the other native rulers of Wales and camps at Corwen. After a few skirmishes, Henry withdraws up Berwyn mountain for security and eventually felly retreats to England without fighting. Although Henry cites bad weather as the reason for his withdrawal, the Welsh troops, under the same skies, remained in the field; from now on, Owain is considered prince of Wales. This was a signal success for Owain and was recorded as such by contemporary English chronicler, John of Salisbury. Similarly, Owain's successes against Henry are mentioned in the diplomatic messages exchanged with the French king, Louis VII.
Cardigan Castle is captured and Robert Fitz-Stephen is taken prisoner by the Lord Rhys of Deheubarth.

1165

Cardigan Castle is taken by Rhys ap Gruffydd and destroyed. Its constable Robert Fitzstephen becomes Rhys's prisoner.
Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd makes a successful raid on Tegeingl.

1167

Owain Gwynedd and his brother Cadwaladr take the castles of Rhuddlan and Prestatyn.
David Fitzgerald, Bishop of St Davids, persuades Rhys ap Gruffydd to release Robert Fitzstephen.
Owain Cyfeiliog, having entered into an alliance with the English, loses the commote of Caereinion when he is attacked by joint forces of Owain Gwynedd and Rhys ap Gruffydd.

1170

November - The death of Owain Gwynedd throws his former kingdom into disarray and causes a power struggle in Gwynedd; within weeks, his nominated heir is dead, and his son Dafydd ab Owain assumes power. Dafydd is, however, unable to maintain his father's hold on south Wales, which falls under the aegis of Rhys ap Gruffydd.
Court poet Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr produces his well-known elegy to Owain.
Owain Cyfeiliog establishes the Cistercian monastery of Strata Marcella.
Peter de Leia becomes Prior of Much Wenlock.
According to folklore, Madoc sails from Wales to America.

1171

September - The Lord Rhys negotiates a lasting peace with King Henry II of England.
October - King Henry II of England makes a pilgrimage to St Davids.
Iorwerth ab Owain, having fallen out of favour with King Henry II, loses the lordship of Caerleon.

1172

Philip de Braose is given the “honour” of Limerick, in recognition of his service to the English king in Ireland.
Gerald of Wales completes his studies at the University of Paris and returns to Britain. He is soon commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury to enforce the payment of tithes on wool and cheese in the Diocese of St Davids. In the same year David Fitzgerald, the bishop, is granted a royal charter confirming all his possessions.
Following the death of his son Owain at the hands of the Earl of Gloucester, Iorwerth ab Owain rebels against Norman rule.

1173

Maelgwn ab Owain Gwynedd, one of the sons of Owain Gwynedd, is driven into exile in Ireland by his brother Dafydd. Dafydd sides with the King of England against the Welsh rebels and seeks the hand of Henry's half-sister Emma of Anjou in return for his assistance.
Iorwerth ab Owain and his son take Caerleon and other castles in Gwent.

1174

Maelgwn ab Owain Gwynedd returns from exile and is imprisoned by his brother Dafydd, who proceeds to eliminate all opposition to his rule in Gwynedd, including his brothers Rhodri, Cynan and Iorwerth Drwyndwn; Cynan and Iorwerth are both believed to have died during this year. Dafydd marries Emma of Anjou during the summer.
Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, takes Usk Castle.

1175

18 May – David FitzGerald, Bishop of St Davids, attends the council of Richard, Archbishop of Canterbury in London, in the presence of King Henry II of England and Henry the Young King.
12 October – Adam Parvipontanus is consecrated as Bishop of St Asaph following the resignation of the long-absent Godfrey.
Christmas – Abergavenny Massacre: William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber, summons Seisyll ap Dyfnwal and other Welsh leaders to his seat at Abergavenny Castle under pretence of reconciliation and has them murdered.
Cadell ap Gruffydd enters Strata Florida Abbey shortly before his death.

1176

11 November - Peter de Leia is consecrated as Bishop of St Davids, despite the chapter's expressed preference for Gerald of Wales.
December - An eisteddfod of bards and musicians is held at Cardigan Castle, to celebrate Christmas. It is for this occasion that Gwynfardd Brycheiniog's awdl in honour of the Lord Rhys is thought to have been composed.
Following the death of the last of the sons of Miles de Gloucester, his lands are divided between his daughters, including Bertha, wife of William de Braose. William thus acquires the lordships of Brecon and Abergavenny.
Cwmhir Abbey is re-established under the patronage of Cadwallon ap Madog and his brother Einion.

1177

May - At the Council of Oxford, Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd is given the lordships of Ellesmere and Hales in Shropshire by his brother-in-law King Henry II of England. Owain Cyfeiliog is also present at the Council.
Robert Fitzstephen is given a joint grant of the kingdom of Cork, where he settles.

1179

Llantarnam Abbey is founded by the Cistercians, as a daughter house of Strata Florida Abbey.
Adam Parvipontanus, Bishop of St Asaph, attends the Lateran Council in Rome.
Roger Mortimer of Wigmore is imprisoned by King Henry II of England for his part in the death of Cadwallon ap Madog.

1180

The Life of St Kentigern , written about this time by Jocelyn of Furness, contains the only known account of the life of Saint Asaph.

1183

Gerald of Wales visits Ireland, with his brother Philip.
A rising in Glamorgan is led by Morgan ap Caradog ap Iestyn.

1184

Peter de Leia is nominated as Archbishop of Canterbury, but not selected.

1185

Benedictine priory at Llandovery dissolved and town established.
Gerald of Wales is selected to accompany Prince John to Ireland.

1186

Maenan Abbey is founded near Conwy.

1187

Siege of Tenby by Maelgwn ap Rhys.

1188

Gerald of Wales accompanies Baldwin, Archbishop of Canterbury, on a journey through Wales to recruit volunteers for the Third Crusade. The only Welsh ruler who refuses to support the visit is Owain Cyfeiliog, who is excommunicated for his failure to cooperate.

1189

At the urging of his son Gruffydd, Rhys ap Gruffydd imprisons his illegitimate son Maelgwn ap Rhys. Gruffydd marries Matilda de Braose, the daughter of Maud de Braose and of William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber.

1190

Rhys ap Gruffydd annexes the Norman lordships of Cydweli and Carnwyllion.

1192

Maelgwn ap Rhys is released from captivity by his father, Rhys ap Gruffydd.

1194

Llywelyn the Great defeats his uncle Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd at the Battle of Aberconwy and assumes control of Gwynedd.
Rhys ap Gruffydd is defeated in battle by his sons Maelgwn ap Rhys and Hywel ap Rhys, and is imprisoned at Nevern Castle.

1195

Owain Cyfeiliog abdicates in favour of his son Gwenwynwyn.
Rhys Gryg and Maredudd ap Rhys are imprisoned by their father, Rhys ap Gruffydd, for seizing the territories of Llanymddyfri and Dinefwr.

1196

Rhys ap Gruffydd launches his last campaign against the Normans, capturing several castles and defeating Roger Mortimer of Wigmore near Radnor.

1199

6 January - Cwmhir Abbey is officially founded by a charter of Llywelyn the Great.
date unknown - First mention of a church on the site of St Mary's Church, Aberavon.

1200