Gruffydd Fychan ap Iorwerth | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1150 |
| Died | 1221 |
Sir Gruffydd Fychan ap Iorwerth Goch (c. 1150 – 1221) was a medieval Welsh Knight and Marcher Lord.[1]
His father was a minor Welsh prince named Iorwerth Goch ap Maredudd, Lord of Mochnant, of the Royal House of Mathrafal.
His uncle was the last Prince of Powys, Madog ap Maredudd.
His great-grandfather was King Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, founder of Mathrafal, and King of both Powys and Gwynedd.
He was known by the epithet "y Marchog Gwyllt o Gae Hywel" ('the Wild Knight of Cae Howell'),[2] Cae Howell being a manor near Kinnerley, Shropshire.[3][4][5]
He was one of the earliest Knights of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, rivals of the Knight Templars, and also held the title of Knight of Rhodes.[6][7]
This was during the reign of Frederick Barbarossa, the Holy Roman Emperor. Barbarossa visited Jerusalem in 1148 and was involved in the invasion of Damascus.[8]
The Knights Hospitaller would later be under Emperor Barbarossa's protection in 1185.[9]
Gruffydd succeeded to his father's estates in Kinnerley, and resided at Cae Howel in the parish of Kunaston.[10]