Cadelling Middle Welsh: Katelling
Arms of Richard Talbot, 2nd Baron Talbot, claimed to represent the arms of this dynasty
Parent house	Second Dynasty of Gwynedd
Country	Kingdom of Dyfed Kingdom of Gwynedd Principality of Deheubarth
Place of origin	Kingdom of Gwynedd
Founded	c. 900;1126 years ago (900)
Founder	Cadell ap Rhodri
Final ruler	Rhys ap Gruffudd
Final head	Maelgwn ap Rhys (rebel)

The dynasty of the Cadelling, also known as the House of Deheubarth or the House of Dinefwr after its seat in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries, was a medieval Welsh dynasty founded at the turn of the tenth century and primarily associated with the Kingdom of Dyfed and later Deheubarth. It was named for its founder, Cadell ap Rhodri, a son of Rhodri Mawr of Gwynedd who conquered south-west Wales around 900 AD.

Contents

• History
• Arms
• Before the Norman Conquest of England
• After the Norman Conquest of England
• Sources

Many members of this family were influential in Welsh history, such as Hywel Dda, who allegedly codified Welsh law under his rule, and achieved the important title of King of the Britons, or Lord Rhys, Prince of Wales, who rebelled against Richard the Lionheart, and became one of the most powerful Welsh leaders of the Middle Ages. ^{[1] [2]}

History

With the death of Rhodri Mawr, the Kingdom of Gwynedd passed to his eldest son Anarawd ap Rhodri. Rhodri's second son Cadell ap Rhodri, however, looked outside Gwynedd's traditional borders and took possession of the Early Medieval Kingdom of Dyfed by the late 9th century. The family is known as the Cadelling after Cadell ap Rhodri.

The Cadelling under King Hywel Dda would unite Dyfed and Seisyllwg into the Kingdom of Deheubarth in the early 10th century. During his reign, Hywel Dda would have to submit to the King of the Anglo-Saxons, Edward the Elder, and thereafter support his successor King Æthelstan, the first King of England, and his invasion of Scotland. ^[3] His legacy would be the codification of Welsh law known as the Laws of Hywel Dda, as he had gathered expert lawyers and priests from all over the country under his leadership for its formation. ^[4]

The Cadelling would rule in Deheubarth until their conquest by the Plantagenet kings in the 13th century. This branch would compete with the House of Aberffraw for supremacy and influence in Wales throughout the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries, with the Kingdom of Powys variously ruled between them.

During the 12th century, Lord Rhys's father, Prince Gruffydd ap Rhys, fought the Normans following the civil war in England and Normandy. This war arose from the rival claims of Stephen of Blois and Empress Matilda to the throne England as descendants of William the Conqueror. From that era, Lord Rhys would end up becoming one of the most successful and powerful Welsh leaders of the Middle Ages, fighting against King Henry Plantagenet as well as against his son, Richard the Lionheart, attacking his Norman lordship and capturing many of his castles. ^[5] Through Lord Rhys's daughter Gwenllian, wife of Seneschal Ednyfed Fychan, he would also become an ancestor of the House of Tudor, House of Stuart, as well as the current reigning House of Windsor. ^[6]

Arms

Coat of arms of Cadelling

Notes There is no contemporaneous record of the arms of this dynasty. They first appear used by Richard Talbot, 2nd Baron Talbot, whose mother was Gwenllian, a daughter of Rhys Mechyll ap Rhys Gryg of this family. Richard was found to be heir of his cousin Llywelyn ap Rhys Fychan ap Rhys Mechyll. Similarly, permission was asked in 1603 of Gilbert Talbot, 7th Earl of Shrewsbury, for the exemplification of this coat to a certain Walter Jones of Worcester, who claimed descent from the Cadelling. [7] [8] Escutcheon Gules, a lion rampant and a bordure indented Or. [9]

Sources