Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Iorwerth ab Bleddyn
IORWERTH ab Bleddyn (d. 1112), Welsh prince, was a younger son of Bleddyn ab Cynvyn, and brother, therefore, of Cadwgan (d. 1112) [q. v.], Madog, Rhirid, and Maredudd. In 1100 he was living in Ceredigion as the vassal of Robert of Bellême, earl of Shrewsbury [q. v.], and to some extent joint ruler with his elder brother Cadwgan (d. 1112) [q. v.], the prince of Ceredigion and part of Powys. In 1102, when Bellême revolted against Henry I, he called on the Britons subject to him to come to his help, promising them property, gifts, and freedom (Brut y Tywysogion, p. 69, Rolls ed. The dates of the ‘Brut’ are here two years wrong). Iorwerth accompanied Cadwgan to the neighbourhood of Bridgnorth to annoy the troops which Henry I had brought against Robert's stronghold (Ordericus Vitalis, Hist. Eccl. iv. 173, ed. Le Prévost). Henry now sent William Pantoul or Pantulf, a bitter enemy of his former lord, Bellême, to buy off the Welsh kings (ib. iv. 174). He separated Iorwerth from Cadwgan by promising him Powys, Ceredigion, half of Dyved (including Pembroke Castle), Ystrad Towy, Gower, and Kidwelly, ‘whilst the king should live, free without homage and payment’ (Brut y Tywysogion, p. 71). Iorwerth went to the king's camp and agreed to change sides. While Cadwgan and Maredudd were still with Earl Robert, Iorwerth managed to turn the whole Welsh army against the lord of Shrewsbury. This unexpected blow was the more severe as Bellême had sent his cattle and riches for safety among the Britons. He saw that all was lost, in despair abandoned Bridgnorth, and soon lost his power altogether. The Welsh writers perhaps assign too great a share to Iorwerth in bringing about Bellême's fall, but it was not inconsiderable.
Iorwerth was now at war with his brothers, but he soon made peace with Cadwgan, acknowledging him as lord of his former possessions in Ceredigion and Powys and contenting himself with the rest of King Henry's grant. But he took Maredudd prisoner and handed him over to King Henry. He then repaired to Henry to receive his reward. But the king broke his word, and gave Dyved to a Norman knight named Saer, and Ystrad Towy, Gower, and Kidwelly to a rival Welsh chieftain, Howel, son of Goronwy. Next year (1103) Iorwerth was summoned to Shrewsbury, and, after a day's trial before the king's council, in which all his pleadings and claims were judged against him, was thrown into prison, ‘not according to law but according to power.’ ‘Then failed the hope and happiness of all the Britons’ (ib. p. 77). Iorwerth remained in prison until 1111 (Annales Cambriæ, p. 34; Brut y Tywysogion, p. 97, dates his release in 1107). He was then released by the king on giving hostages and paying a ransom, and his territory (apparently some part of Powys) was restored to him. But his outlawed nephews, Owain, son of Cadwgan, and Madog, son of Rhirid, took up their abode on his lands and hid their prey there. Iorwerth in vain besought them to leave him in peace. As he had been strongly enjoined to have no intercourse with them but to hunt them out and deliver them to the king, he was forced to collect his followers and pursue them. They retreated to Meirionydd, but soon went to Ceredigion, whose ruler, Cadwgan, was now again on good terms with Iorwerth. There they committed fresh outrages. Iorwerth accompanied Cadwgan on his visit to the king's court to deprecate Henry's wrath. Henry deprived Cadwgan of Ceredigion for his weakness, but left Iorwerth in possession of Powys. Madog soon went back to Iorwerth's territory. Iorwerth was still afraid to receive him, so Madog hid himself and joined Llywerch, son of Trahaiarn, in a plot against his uncle. They at last (1112) made a night attack on Iorwerth's house in Caereineon, and sent up a shout which awoke Iorwerth, who bravely defended the house. Madog set fire to it, and Iorwerth's companions escaped, leaving him in the fire. Iorwerth, severely burnt, tried to get out, but his enemies received him on the points of their spears and slew him.
[Brut y Tywysogion, the Welsh text in J. G. Evans's Red Book of Hergest, vol. ii., the English translation in the Rolls ed.; Annales Cambriæ (Rolls ed.); Ordericus Vitalis, Hist. Eccl. ed. Le Prévost; Freeman's William Rufus, ii. 424–53.]