BattlefieldsOwain Gwynedd Death and Gwynedd Succession War 1170
Medieval

Owain Gwynedd Death and Gwynedd Succession War 1170

1170
Gwynedd, Wales
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Gwynedd, Wales
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Forces
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
each other for succession
VS
Victor
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
Owain Gwynedd's sons
Outcome
Gwynedd divided; fratricidal succession war weakens the kingdom
The Battle

History & Significance

The death of Owain Gwynedd triggers a brutal succession conflict among his many sons. Hywel ab Owain is killed by his half-brothers. Iorwerth Drwyndwn is excluded due to a facial disfigurement. The chaos benefits Lord Rhys in the south. Eventually Dafydd and Rhodri share Gwynedd, weakening it until Llywelyn ab Iorwerth imposes unity in the 1190s.

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