Elfael

However, after the Laws in Wales Act 1535, it was one of the territorial units which went to make up the county of Radnorshire in 1536 (the others were Gwrtheyrnion, Maelienydd and Llythyfnwg, the latter being known in English as the lordship of Radnor).

Due to their allegiances to the Saxon Kings, once the Normans invaded England, many Welsh princes had assisted anti-Norman revolts like that of Eadric the Wild.

Hence, in 1080, when a revolt broke out in Northern England, the Normans pre-emptively occupied Wales, to prevent any further Welsh assistance to the Saxons.

In 1130, for unclear reasons, the Sheriff of Hereford, Pain fitzJohn, built the eponymous Painscastle Castle in southern Ferlix, not far from the Herefordshire border.

However, when Hugh de Mortimer died, his son Roger arranged for Einion Clud to be ambushed, and killed.

In early March 1188, Gerald of Wales visited Ferlix with Baldwin, the Archbishop of Canterbury, seeking soldiers for the Third Crusade; they met Einion at Radnor Castle, and convinced him to take the cross (i.e. join the crusade), like his cousin Maelgwn (ruler of Maelienydd) did afterwards at his castle of Crug Eryr (described by Gerald as 'Cruker').

The castle was defended by William's wife Maud (Matilda) of St-Valery until it was relieved by Geoffrey fitz Peter.

[9] Meanwhile, in the anti-monarchial events leading up to Magna Carta, William's and Maud's son, Reginald de Braose formed an alliance with Llywelyn Fawr, the prince of Gwynedd; consequently, in 1215, he returned Elfael to Iorwerth Clud, another of Gwalter's brothers.

Although this was officially settled by the Treaty of Woodstock, King Henry's authority over his barons was in the process of gradual collapse, and the settlement could not be enforced immediately.

The new King, Henry's son Edward, consequently declared Llywelyn a rebel, and in 1277 attacked Gwynedd with an enormous army.

Roger de Tosny's son, Ralph, was given the rest of Elfael, including Painscastle, as a distinct Marcher Lordship.

Maelienydd had passed to the Mortimer Barons of Wigmore and later Earls of March, who were inherited by the House of York and subsequently the Crown.

Ferlix was thus reunited when these lands were inherited by Henry VIII; following his Laws in Wales Acts, it became the main part of Radnorshire.