Wikipedia

List of rulers of Wales

Before the Conquest of Wales, completed in 1282, Wales consisted of a number of independent kingdoms, the most important being Gwynedd, Powys, Deheubarth (originally Ceredigion, Seisyllwg and Dyfed), Morgannwg (Glywysing and Gwent). Boundary changes and the equal division of patrimony meant that few princes ever came close to ruling the whole of Wales.

The names of those known to have ruled over one or more of the kingdoms are listed below. The only person known to have ruled all of Wales was Gruffydd ap Llywelyn (c. 1010-1063), a prince of Gwynedd who became King of Wales from 1055 to 1063.

Map of medieval Wales

Deheubarth

The kingdom of Deheubarth was formed by the union of the kingdoms of Ceredigion, Seisyllwg and Dyfed. Ceredigion was absorbed into Seisyllwg and Dyfed was merged with Seisyllwg to form Deheubarth in 909.

Ceredigion

  • Ceredig ap Cunedda (424–453)[1][2][3]
  • Usai (453–490)
  • Serwyl (490–525)
  • Boddw (525–560)
  • Arthfoddw (560–595)
  • Arthlwys (595–630)
  • Clydog I (630–665)

Dyfed

  • Anwn Ddu (Welsh rendering of Antonius the Black). According to Welsh legend, born in Greece, and later appointed to the rule of Demetia (Dyfed) by Magnus Maximus. Also known as Anwn Dynod (rendering Antonius Donatus). Realm included Gwent and Brycheiniog.
  • Ednyfed - realm also included the Caer-Went part of Gwent (his brother received the remainder)
  • Clotri
  • Triffyn Farfog
  • Aergol Lawhir (?-c. 515)
  • Vortiporius (c. 540)
  • Arthur ap Pedr
  • Cloten (c. 630) married Ceindrech of Brycheiniog, uniting the two kingdoms of Dyfed and Brycheiniog
  • Rhain ap Cadwgan (c. 690-740) - also king of Brycheiniog. On his death, his kingdoms were divided again by his sons.
  • Tewdwr ap Rhain
  • Maredudd ap Tewdwr (c. 740–797)
  • Rhain ap Maredudd (c. 797–808)
  • Owain ap Maredudd (c. 808–810)
  • Triffyn ap Rhain (?-c. 814)
  • Hyfaidd
  • Llywarch ap Hyfaidd (c. 893-904)
  • Rhodri ap Hyfaidd (c. 904-905)
  • Hywel Dda ("Hywel the Good") (c. 905-909), an invader from Seisllywg who conquered Dyfed (but later chronicles claim he acquired it by marrying Llywarch's daughter)

Seisyllwg

  • Seisyll ap Clydog, prince of Ceredigion (eponym and possibly founder of Seisyllwg)[4]
  • Arthen (?-807)[4]
  • Dyfnwallon[5]
  • Meurig of Seisyllwg
  • Gwgon of Seisyllwg (?-c. 870/871)

House Manaw

Deheubarth

Deheubarth was in the possession of the Normans from 1093 to 1155

From 1234 to 1283, Deheubarth was subject to the princes of Gwynedd

  • Rhys the Hoarse's son, Rhys Mechyll (1234–1244) ruled a portion of Deheubarth
  • his brother, Maredudd ap Rhys (1244–1271) ruled a portion of Deheubarth
  • his son, Rhys ap Maredudd (1271–1283) ruled a portion of Deheubarth

Gwynedd

Main article: list of rulers of Gwynedd

Kings of Gwynedd

Prince of the Welsh

Princes of Aberffraw and Lords of Snowdon

Morgannwg

The kingdom of Morgannwg was formed by the union of the kingdoms of Morgannwg and Gwent. Over time, in a few instances, the kingdoms were separate and independent.

Glywysing

  • Eugenius, son of Magnus Maximus
  • Marius, son of Eugenius
  • Solar, son of Marius
  • Glywys, son of Solar (c. 470–c. 480), who gave his name to the kingdom
    • Gwynllyw, son of Glywys, ruler of Gwynllwg (c. 480–523), cantref of Glywysing
    • Pawl, son of Glywys, ruler of Penychen (c. 480–540), cantref of Glywysing
    • Mechwyn, son of Glywys, ruler of Gorfynydd (c. 480–c.500), cantref of Glywysing
  • Cadoc, son of Gwynllyw, ruler of Gwynllwg (523–580) and Penychen (540–580), died without heirs

Glywysing is ruled by the Kings of Gwent until Rhys ap Ithel

  • Rhys ap Ithel/Rhys ab Idwal, son of the Kings of Gwent (c. 755–785), with brothers, Rhodri and Meurig
  • Arthfael Hen ap Rhys (Arthfael the Old) (785–c. 825) with Brochfael ap Rhys
  • Rhys ap Arthfael, (c. 830–c. 840)
  • Hywel ap Rhys, (c. 840–886)
  • Owain ap Hywel (886–c. 930)
    • Gruffydd ab Owain (c. 930–934) King of Gower
    • Cadwgan ab Owain (c. 930–950) King of West Glywysing
  • Morgan the Old (Morgan Hen or Morgan ab Owain or Moragn Hen Fawr) (930–974) united the former kingdoms of Gwent and Glywysing in 942 under the name of Morgannwg, but they were broken up again immediately after his death, remaining separate until about 1055
  • Morgan the Old's son, Owain ap Morgan (974–c. 983)
  • brothers of Owain ap Morgan (Idwallon, Hywel and Cadell) (dates unknown)
  • his son, Rhys ab Owain (c. 990–c. 1000) who ruled Glywysing jointly with his brothers
  • Ithel the Black, son Idwallon (990)
    • Hywel ab Owain (c. 990–c. 1043) and
    • Iestyn ab Owain (c. 990–c. 1015)
  • his son, Rhydderch ap Iestyn (c. 1015–1033)
  • his son, Gruffydd ap Rhydderch (1033–1055)
  • Gwrgant ab Ithel the Black (1033 - 1070)
  • Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, invader and prince of Gwynedd (1055–1063)
  • Gruffydd ap Rhydderch's son, Caradog ap Gruffydd (1063–1081) who was a subject of the King of Gwent and King of Morgannwg Cadwgan ap Meurig before he deposed him and took the kingdom for himself
  • Iestyn ap Gwrgan(t) (1081–1091)

Iestyn was the last ruler of an independent Morgannwg, which was thereafter in the possession of the Normans and became the lordship of Glamorgan

Gwent

  • Anwn Ddu (the same person as ruled Dyfed at this time). Welsh legend claims he was appointed by Magnus Maximus, who later became Roman Emperor (and hence referred to in Welsh as Macsen Wledig - Maximus the Emperor). Some genealogies claim him to be Magnus' son. His realm was divided upon his death between his sons Edynfed and Tudwal.
in Caer-Went
  • Edynfed ap Anwn - also ruler of Dyfed
  • Ynyr ap Dyfnwal ap Ednyfed, and his wife - St Madrun ferch Gwerthefyr (Welsh rendering of Honorius)
  • Iddon ap Ynyr (480 - 490)
  • Caradog (Strongarm)
  • Meurig ap Caradog and his wife - Dyfwn ferch Glywys
  • Erbic ap Meurig ?
in Caer-Leon
  • Tudwal ap Anwn
  • Teithrin ap Tudwal
  • Teithfallt ap Teithrin (Welsh rendering of Theudebald)
  • Tewdrig, son of Teithfallt (490 – 493/517) (Welsh rendering of Theodoric). Traditionally, Tewdrig had a daughter - Marchell verch Tewdrig - for whom he carved out Brycheiniog as a dowry.
  • Meurig ap Tewdrig King of Gwent (493/517 – 530–540)
  • Athrwys ap Meurig King of Gwent (530–540 - 573)
  • Frioc ap Meurig, with Idnerth ap Meurig ?
  • Ithel ap Athrwys
  • Morgan the Great ?
  • Morgan the Courteous and Benefactor ? (-654)
  • Anthres ap Morcant ? (654-663)
  • Morgan the Generous (-730)
  • Ithel ap Morgan (710/715 - 735/740/745/755)
  • Ffernfael ab Idwal (-774/777)
  • Athrwys ap Ffernfael (774-810)
  • Idwallon ap Gwrgant (810-842)
  • Ithel ap Hywel or ap Athrwys ?(842-848)
  • Meurig ap Hywel or ap Ithel ? (848-849)
  • Meurig ap Arthfael Hen (849-874)
  • Ffernfael ap Meurig (874-880)
  • Brochfael ap Meurig (880-920)
  • Arthfael ap Hywel (-916/927)
  • Owain ap Hywel (920-930)
  • Cadell ap Arthfael (930-940/943)
  • Morgan the Old, Morgan Hen or Morgan ab Owain or Morgan Hen Fawr (940/943–955) united the former kingdoms of Gwent and Glywysing in 942 under the name of Morgannwg but they were broken up again immediately after his death and remained separate until about 1055
    • Nowy ap Gwriad ap Brochfael ap Rhodri ap Arthfael Hen ruled Gwent (c. 950–c. 970) while Glywysing was ruled jointly by brothers of Owain ap Morgan (dates unknown), probably under Morgan the Old
  • his son, Arthfael ap Nowy (about 970–983)
  • his cousin, Rhodri ap Elisedd (983–c. 1015) who ruled jointly with his brother,
  • Gruffydd ap Elisedd (983–c. 1015)
  • his cousin (?) Edwyn ap Gwriad (1015–1045)
  • Hywel ab Owain's son, Meurig ap Hywel (1045–1055) who ruled jointly with
  • his son, Cadwgan ap Meurig (1045–1055)
  • Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, invader and prince of Gwynedd (1055–1063)
  • Cadwgan ap Meurig (1063–1074) who was also King of Morgannwg, ruling Glywysing through
  • Gruffydd ap Rhydderch's son, Caradog ap Gruffydd (1075–1081) who seized Gwent and the Kingdom of Morgannwg
  • Iestyn ap Gwrgan(t) (1081–1091)

Iestyn was the last ruler of an independent Morgannwg, which was thereafter in the possession of the Normans and became the lordship of Glamorgan

  • Owain ap Caradog (1081-1113/1116)

Powys

Kings of Powys

House of Gwertherion

House of Manaw

Mathrafal Princes of Powys

From 1160 Powys was split into two parts. The southern part was later called Powys Wenwynwyn after Gwenwynwyn ab Owain "Cyfeiliog" ap Madog, while the northern part was called Powys Fadog after Madog ap Gruffydd "Maelor" ap Madog.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c A history of Wales
  2. ^ The Cambrian
  3. ^ a b c Encyclopaedia of Wales
  4. ^ a b Lloyd, John Edward (1912). A History of Wales from the Earliest Times to the Edwardian Conquest. Longmans, Green, and Co. p. 257 and note. Retrieved 5 February 2012. Lloyd history of Wales.
  5. ^ Heritage Consulting. Millennium File [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003.
  6. ^ Davies, John A History of Wales, the title Princeps Wallensium

References

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