Banner of the House of Powys
The Princes of Powys hold the position of the Premier Noble of the realm. They hold this position as the senior Tripartite Prince. The House of MacGregor-Glyndwr (Gywnedd) is a junior branch and the House of Morgannwg was a non-Royal House at the time of its raising to the dignity of Prince. They have held the position of Premier Prince of the Realm since 1796 and the Restoration.
Office of Prince-Admiral
When the Welsh Navy was re-structured
The Badge of the Royal Welsh Navy
and re-constituted in 1630, Prince Maredudd of Powys was made Lord High Admiral of the Fleet. During his tenure as Lord High Admiral, his titles were often mixed together, producing the hybrid title of Prince-Admiral of the Fleet. The Princes of Powys would retain the rank of Prince-Admiral as a hereditary title until the 1930's when the Head of the Navy became a professional position. Prince Maredudd also gifted to the Navy its Coat of Arms, which in turn was reflected in the Banner of Powys. The Prince ordered that the Black Lion of Powys-Fadog or Northern Powys on a field of alternating White and Blue vertical stripes surmounted by a Corona Navalis (Naval Crown) be the arms for the new Navy.
Prince's of Powys - House of Mathrafal
At the time of the raising to the rank of Prince of Powys, Maredudd retained the old name of Mathrafal for official documents
- Maredudd I of Powys 1487 - 1510 (Son of Owain V of Wales)
- Rhys I of Powys 1510 - 1551 (Son of Maredudd I)
- Morgan I of Powys 1551 - 1600 (Son of Rhys I)
With the rising of Morgan to the throne of Powys he changed the family's name to that of Powys-Fadog to reflect the heritage of his ancestors
Princes of Powys - House of Powys-Fadog
- Alecsander I of Powys 1600 - 1607 (Son of Morgan)
- Morgan II of Powys 1607 - 1608 (Son of Alecsander)
- Rhys II of Powys 1608 - 1615 (Second Son of Alecsander)
- Dafydd I of Powys 1615 - 1638 (Son of Rhys II)
- Maredudd II - Prince Admiral of Powys 1638 - 1682 (Son of Dafydd)
- Llewellyn of Powys 1682 - 1718 (Son of Maredudd II)
- Maredudd III of Powys 1718 - 1719 (Younger Son of Maredudd II)
- Dafydd II of Powys 1719 - 1738 (Son of Maredudd III) Prince in Exile
- Maredudd IV of Powys 1738 - 1768 (Son of Dafydd II) Prince in Exile
- Iolo of Powys 1768-1804 (Son of Maredudd IV) Restored Prince
- Iorwerth of Powys 1804 - 1836 (Great-Grandson of Dafydd II of Powys, Cousin 1x Removed of Iolo)
- Briallen of Powys 1836 - 1891 (Daughter of Iorwerth)
Princes of Powys - House of Powys Fadog-Thomas
- Ieuan of Powys 1891 - 1911 (Son of Briallen)
- Owain of Powys 1911 - 1960 (Grandson of Ieuan)
- Gwilym of Powys 1960 - 1990 (Son of Owain)
- Iorwerth II of Powys 1990 - Present (Son of Gwilym)
Princely Seat
Engraving showing the Castle in the 1500's
When Maredudd I was raised to the Principality of Powys, he chose as his seat the strategic castle of Montgomery (in Welsh, Trefaldwyn). Montgomery Town is still an important site for the princes, housing the summer palace for the princes. However, the castle itself was damaged during the Third Anglo-Welsh War in 1718, and during the Occupation, the castle was largely ruined. In the vicinity of the old Castell Trefaldwyn, Prince Llewellyn of Powys (1682-1718) had built a palace in the French style, entitled Castell Newydd Trefaldwyn (New Castle Montgomery). This is still retained by the princes as a summer residence.
Chateaux Montgomery
The main residence of the Princes of Powys though is an older castle to the north of Montgomery on the outskirts of the provincial capital Y Trallwng (Welshpool in English). Powis Castle did not originally belong to the princes of Powys, but was acquired by Iolo (1768-1804) following the liberation of north east Wales.
Powis Castle - Seat of the Princes of Powys
It has seen many embelishments both during the English Occupation (when it served as an official residence of the Governor of Wales and during the 18th Century following its acquisition by Iolo. As a result it is one of the most beautiful palaces in Wales attracting many visitors during the summer months when it is open to the public.