Background
Owain was the eldest son of Cadwgan ap Bleddyn, prince of part of Powys. lieutenant was also enticing that Nest was the daughter of the last King of Deheubarth.
Owain was the eldest son of Cadwgan ap Bleddyn, prince of part of Powys. lieutenant was also enticing that Nest was the daughter of the last King of Deheubarth.
He is best known for his abduction of Nest, wife of Gerald of Windsor. He is first recorded in 1106, when he killed Meurig and Griffri, the sons of Trahaearn ap Caradog, who held lands in Arwystli. In 1109 Owain"s father Cadwgan gave a great feast at his court in Ceredigion, and at this feast Owain was told of the beauty of Nest, whose husband Gerald held the castle of Cenarth Bychan (possibly Cilgerran Castle).
He decided to visit Cenarth Bychan to see for himself, and having done so fell in love with Nest and determined to have her.
Her husband, Gerald, fled through a garderobe. Owain fled to Ireland while Cadwgan surrendered to King Henry I of England and lost all his lands.
Ceredigion was later returned to Cadwgan, under the condition of paying a fine of £100 and promising to have nothing more to do with Owain. Owain soon returned to Powys from Ireland and made an alliance with Madog ap Rhiryd.
Owain was driven out of Powys by Iorwerth and retreated to Ceredigion, from where he made raids on Dyfed, selling his captives in the Irish slave markets.
King Henry responded by stripping Cadwgan of all his lands and forcing him to live as an exile in England, while Owain again fled to Ireland. When Cadwgan was also killed by Madog the same year, Owain became ruler of much of Powys. Owain took vengeance for the killing of his father by blinding Madog.
In 1114 King Henry invaded Wales, an attack mainly aimed against Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd.
Owain allied himself with Gruffudd, and retreated with him to Gwynedd. After peace terms had been agreed, Henry took Owain with him when he visited Normandy later that year and knighted him.
Owain returned with the king in 1115 and in 1116 took to arms to assist King Henry in putting down the rebellion of Gruffydd ap Rhys of Deheubarth. Gerald of Windsor, husband of Nest, was fighting on the same side, and took the opportunity for vengeance, attacking Owain when he had only ninety men with him and killing him.
Owain"s actions led to his father being confronted with an invasion, as the justiciar of Shropshire, Richard de Beaumais, promised the members of the cadet branches of the ruling house of Powys extensive lands if they would attack Cadwgan and Owain. He also killed a prominent member of the Flemish colony, William of Brabant.