Tudur, surnamed "Trefor" (1) and called "Head of the Noble Tribe of the Marches" (2) "the golden crowned race" is described in several pedigrees as king of a region comprising Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Erging and Ewias (by right of his mother) (3), Maelor Uchaf (=Maelor Gymraeg), Maelor Isaf, (=Maelor Saesneg), Chirk, Whittington, Oswestry, and Nanheudwy in Powys (4). Now there were in Wales at the beginning of the 10th century quite a number of diminutive "kingdoms." That Tudur was a descendant of a family reigning at some remote period over territory which included the area of the present countries of Gloucester and Hereford may be true; but at a very early date the Saxons had advanced their borders so far that all of this country had been conquered. Even Nanheudwy and other provinces of Powys fell to the Saxon sword, although Elizet, indeed, recovered his inheritance. The best date for the last great overthrow by the Saxons of Cymric power along what was afterwards, roughly speaking, the Marches of Wales, is close to 778, about which time Offa, most probably, built the Dyke which bears his name. This, however, was over a century before Tudur Trefor's day and although the Welsh later from time to time reoccupied portions of their ancient dominions, it is very likly that the only territory over which, in the tenth century, this Tudur ruled, consisted of lands about Oswestry, Whittington, Nanheudwy, and adjacent places. The statements set out in some of the later genealogies must, therefore, be regarded as traditional. (1) That all, or a very large portion of Oswestry, the lordship of Whittington, as well as a great district in Northern Powys, (2) were held by Tudur's progeny is, however, certain, and the area is more than sufficient to warrant us in thinking that he actually did hold a position analogous to that of an under-king during the reign of his father-in-law, Hywel the Good. It likewise seems very probable that this is the Teowdor who, with Hywel and Idwal, witnessed a charter at
(1) A pedigree of Tudur points, perhaps, to the origin of this tradition. Descent is claimed through a branch of the ancient Princes of Powys, from Gwertheirn Gwertheni (English, Vortigern), who is supposed to have reigned over the south-western part of England, and Powys, about the middle of the 5th century.
(2) Nanheudwy was in Powys Fadog; see Kwtta Kyvarwydd MS. (Hengwrt MS. 34). Here was the ancient seat of the Princes of Powys: close by was the venerable Church of Llanarmon yn Iâl, which commemorates the services of St. Germanus to the founder of the fortunes of the House of Powys, and here Elizet's Pillar was erected in the 9th century.

(1) The use of the surname Trefor or Trevor to distinguish this Tudur is not traceable beyond the last quarter of the 14th century. Trefor or Trevor in Nanheudwy is clearly intended to be meant, the earlier form of which is supposed by some to have been Trav Awr, or the Tref or vill of Awr, the latter being the name of several of Tudur's descendants.
(2) The institution of "The Noble Tribe of the Marches" dates back, in all probability, to the 14th century only, although, a federation of the descendants of Tudur may well have existed under the tribal system. Welsh heralds have assigned to Tudur the arms borne by most of his descendants, viz., Party per bend sinister, ermine and ermines, a lion rampant or, armed and langued gules. Recent research seems to point to an earlier use of such devices among all nations than hitherto supposed. Individual heraldic shields are mentioned as in use by the Northmen of the 10th century.
(3) She is said to have been Rhiengar, daughter of Lluddoccaf ap Hyfaidd.
(4) In right of his father, Ynyr.

Winchester 28 May 934 (1); and it is conceivable that he was Hywel's seneschal.
(1) This Saxon Charter, dated at Winchester, 28 May 934, is witnessed by Howael, Iudwal, and Teowdor. It has been suggested that the latter was Tudur ap Elizet, a King of Brecheiniog who is mentioned by Asser as reigning, apparently, about 870, and it is pointed out that a person named "teudur filius elised" King of Brecheiniog, had dealings with Bishop Llibio of Llandaff, 927-29. But some of the entries in Liber. llan. are "suspect," as is the genuineness of Asser's "Life," and it seems improbable that Tudur of Brecheiniog, if he ever existed, was still alive in 934.91

Transactions in the early 1200's regarding transfer of land show that the claims of the descendants of Tudur Trefor to a remnant of the possessions of that chieftain were recognised in the 12th century by two Kings of England.

As regards Tudur Trefor himself, beyond what has been stated, we know very little. In the genealogies, or most of them, Tudur is said to have married Angharad, one of the daughters of Hywel Dda, in 907, and to have died in 948. The first date is wrong, one reason being that Lluddoccaf, the second son of Tudur, is said to have died in 1037, nor is it probable that Hywel could have had a daughter of marriageable age in 907. A little study makes it clear that the first date in the original compilation belongs not to Tudur Trefor, but to Hywel Dda himself, who began to reign in 907, and died about 950. Tudur was probably born close to 900, and may have died as stated in 948, but this date doubtless belongs to Hywel, by an error of two years in giving the end of his reign. Mr Henry F. J. Vaughan, who devoted most of his life to the study of the older genealogies (1) accepts the statement that Tudur married Angharad daughter of Hywel.
(1) See Welsh Pedigress, by Henry F. J. Vaughan, B.A., S.C.L., Oxon, Y cymmrodor, X, pp. 72-156.

Tudur Trefor had 3 sons: Goronwy, Lluddoccaf, and Dingad.

A pedigree of Tudor claims descent through the ancient Princes of Powys from Gwertheirn Gwertheni (English, Vortigern), who is supposed to have reigned over S-W part of England and Powys about the middle of the 5th cent.