Trahern ap Caradog

Trahern (also Trahaearn ) ap Caradog († 1081 ) was a king of the Welsh Kingdom of Gwynedd .

He was a son of Caradog ap Gwyn ap Collwyn and a cousin of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn and Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn and ruler of the Principality of Arwystli . After Bleddyn's death in 1075, he took control of Gwynedd, but Gruffydd ap Cynan , a grandson of King Iago ap Idwal , who was overthrown in 1039, returned from exile in Ireland and, with the military help of the Anglo-Norman Lord Robert of Rhuddlan Trahern, defeated Trahern in a battle near Dyffryn Glyngin in Meirionydd. When Gruffydd turned against his previous ally Robert of Rhuddlan, Trahern was still able to beat him in 1075 at the Battle of Bron-vr-erw near Clynnog and force him to retreat to Ireland. Trahern consolidated his rule over Gwynedd and led a campaign to South Wales in 1078, where he defeated Rhys from Owain , the king of Deheubarth, in a battle at Goodwick. Rhys ap Owain was killed by Caradog ap Gruffydd von Gwent that same year . As a result, Rhys allied themselves from Owain's successor Rhys ap Tewdwr and Gruffydd ap Cynan against Trahern. Their combined armies met in 1081 at Mynydd Carn in southern Ceredigion on the troops of Trahern, who was supported by Meilyr, the son of his cousin Rhiwallon and by Caradog ap Gruffydd. The battle ended with a clear victory for Gruffydd ap Cynan and Rhys ap Tewdwr, Trahern, Meilyr and Caradog had fallen and Gruffydd ap Cynan could succeed Trahern as King of Gwynedd.

Trahern left behind four sons, Owain, Llywarch , Meurig and Griffri, who grew up in Maelienydd with his cousin Idnerth ap Cadwgan after his death. His sons Owain and Llywarch took over the rule of Arwystli, his son Llywarch married a daughter of Idnerth. Llywarch's daughter, Gwladus, became Owain Gwynedd's first wife . The two younger sons Meurig and Griffri were killed in 1106 by their distant cousin Owain ap Cadwgan .

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personal data
SURNAME	Trahern ap Caradog
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Trahaearn ap Caradog
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	King of the Welsh Principality of Gwynedd
DATE OF BIRTH	11th century
DATE OF DEATH	1081

predecessor	Office	successor
Bleddyn ap Cynfyn	King of Gwynedd 1075-1081	Gruffydd ap Cynan