Owain Gwynedd was esteemed one of the greatest princes Wales ever produced.
Upon the death of his father, which occurred in 1137 A.D., he took his share of the possessions, which were divided, according to the custom of the nation, among the sons, and he ruled North Wales, his seat of government being at Aberfraw, till 1169 A.D., when he died.
Gwalchmai, a Bard of his times, addressed to him the following spirited ode in celebration of an important victory he achieved over the English at the battle of Tal y Moelvre:
"The generous chief I sing of Rhodri's line,
With princely gifts endow'd, whose hand
Hath often curb'd the border land,
Owain, great heir of Britain's throne,—
Whom fair Ambition marks her own,
Who ne'er to yield to man was known,
Nor heaps he stores at Avarice's shrine.