Mochnant

{{Short description|Welsh medieval cantref}}

File:Wales.medieval.cymydau.jpg

{{langnf|cy|Mochnant|the rapid stream|italic=no}} was a medieval cantref in the Kingdom of Powys.{{cite book |title=A History of Wales from the Earliest Times to the Edwardian Conquest|last= Lloyd|first= John Edward|author-link= John Edward Lloyd|year= 1912|publisher= Longmans, Green, and Co.|page=246 |url= https://archive.org/stream/historyofwalesfr01lloyuoft#page/246/mode/2up|access-date=16 April 2015}} In the 12th century it was divided into the commotes of Mochnant Is Rhaeadr (in the north) and Mochnant Uwch Rhaeadr (in the south) (Is signifying 'below' and Uwch 'above' the River Rhaeadr).

Its north-west border was with the cantref of Penllyn, originally in Powys but which became annexed to the Kingdom of Gwynedd during the time of Owain Brogyntyn. It bordered the cantrefi of Caereinion and Mechain to the south, and Maelor to the north-east.{{cite book|last1=Rees|first1=William|title=An Historical Atlas of Wales from Early to Modern Times|date=1951|publisher=Faber & Faber}} The administrative centre was Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant in Mochnant Is Rhaeadr.{{cite web|title=Llanrhaeadr-ym-mochnant, Powys|url=http://www.cpat.org.uk/projects/longer/histland/tanat/1009.htm|publisher=CPAT}}

After the death of Madog ap Maredudd and his eldest son and heir in 1160, the kingdom was divided up between his surviving sons Gruffydd Maelor, Owain Fychan and Owain Brogyntyn, his nephew Owain Cyfeiliog and his half-brother Iorwerth Goch. Mochnant was initially given to Iorwerth Goch, but in 1166 he was ejected by Owain Cyfeiliog and Owain Fychan, who took control of Mochnant Uwch Rhaedr and Mochnant Is Rhaedr respectively: Iorwerth later established himself in the Ceiriog Valley, becoming the castellan of Chirk.Stevenson (2016) Medieval Powys: Kingdom, Principality and Lordships, 1132–1293, p. 286[https://books.google.com/books?id=q_4VrEpQYqwC&dq=Baron+of+main-yn-meifod&pg=PA614 A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and ..., Volume 3, John Burke, page 613-614]

The northern part of Powys, including Mochnant Is Rhaeadr, later became Powys Fadog; the southern part including Mochnant Uwch Rhaeadr became Powys Wenwynwyn. Following Edward I's conquest of Wales (1282–1283), Mochnant Is Rhaeadr become part of the Marcher Lordship of Chirk, but Mochnant Uwch Rhaeadr remained under Welsh rule.{{cite web|title=The Tanat Valley|url=http://www.cpat.org.uk/projects/longer/histland/tanat/tnadmini.htm|publisher=CPAT}} Later, Mochnant Is Rhaeadr was in Denbighshire, while Mochnant Uwch Rhaeadr was in Montgomeryshire.

The name survives in the placename Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, this village also had the ancient commote's ecclesiastical centre at the church of St Dogfan; ym Mochant means 'in Mochnant'.

File:Rocky Hillside of the Afon Rhaeadr Valley - geograph.org.uk - 474019.jpg