List of rulers in Wales

Before the Conquest of Wales was completed in 1282, Wales consisted of a number of independent kingdoms, the most important being Gwynedd, Powys, Deheubarth (originally Ceredigion, Seisyllwg and Dyfed), Gwent and Morgannwg. 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.

Deheubarth

In 909, Dyfed was merged with Seisyllwg (which included Ceredigion) to become Deheubarth. The following is a list of kings of the two former kingdoms, followed by the kings of the combined Deheubarth (beginning with Hywel Dda).

Ceredigion

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

Dyfed

• Anwn Ddu (c. 357) (Welsh rendering of Antonius the Black); according to Welsh legend, born in Greece, and later appointed to the rule of Demetia (ie. Dyfed) by Magnus Maximus. Also known as Anwn Dynod (rendering Antonius Donatus). Realm included Gwent and Brycheiniog.
• Ednyfed (c. 373); realm also included the Caer-Went part of Gwent (his brother received the remainder).
• Clotri (c. 405)
• Triffyn Farfog (c. 385)
• Aergol Lawhir (to c. 515)
• Vortiporius (c. 540)
• Arthur son of Pedr (c. 585)
• Cloten (c. 630) married Ceindrech of Brycheiniog, uniting the two kingdoms
• Rhain ap Cadwgan (c. 690-740) also king of Brycheiniog; on his death, his kingdoms were divided again by his sons
• Tewdwr ap Rhain (c. 710)
• Maredudd ap Tewdwr (c. 740–797)
• Rhain ap Maredudd (c. 797–808)
• Owain ap Maredudd (c. 808–811)
• Triffyn ap Rhain (to c. 814)
• Hyfaidd (born c. 830, ruled ?-893)
• 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 Seisyllg
• Arthen (to 807)
• Dyfnwallon
• Meurig of Seisyllwg
• Gwgon of Seisyllwg (to 872)

House Manaw

• Angharad and Rhodri the Great (stewards; 872–878)
• Cadell ap Rhodri, second son of Anghared and Rhodri (878–909)
• Hywel Dda (Hywel the Good) (909-920), when he merged Seisyll and Dyfed into Deheubarth

Deheubarth

• Hywel Dda (Hywel the Good) (920–950)
• His son, Owain ap Hywel (950–986)
  • Rhodri ap Hywel (950–953) and
  • Edwin ap Hywel (950–954)
• Owain ap Hywel's son, Maredudd ab Owain (986–999)
• Cynan ap Hywel, prince of Gwynedd (999–1005)
• the sons of Einion ab Owain (brother of Maredudd ab Owain), who ruled jointly:
  • Edwin ab Einion (1005–1018)
  • Cadell ab Einion (1005–1018)
• Llywelyn ap Seisyll, prince of Gwynedd (1018–1023)
• Rhydderch ap Iestyn, prince of Glywysing (1023–1033)
• Edwin ab Einion's son, Hywel ab Edwin (1033–1044)
• Rhydderch ap Iestyn's son, Gruffydd ap Rhydderch (1047–1055)
• Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, prince of Gwynedd and (the only) King of Wales (1055–1063), son of Maredudd ap Owain's daughter, Angharad
• Edwin ab Einion's grandson, Maredudd ab Owain ab Edwin (1063–1072)
• his brother, Rhys ab Owain (1072–1078)
• his second cousin, Rhys ap Tewdwr (1078–1093)

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

• Gruffydd ap Rhys (1116–1137) ruled a portion of Deheubarth with Norman permission
• his son, Anarawd ap Gruffydd (1136–1143)
• his brother, Cadell ap Gruffydd (1143–1151)
• his brother, Maredudd ap Gruffydd (1151–1155)
• his brother, The Lord Rhys (Rhys ap Gruffydd) (1155–1197)
• his son, Gruffydd ap Rhys (1197–1201) who for a time ruled jointly with his brother,
• Maelgwn ap Rhys (1199–1230) who disputed the territory with his brother,
• Rhys the Hoarse (Rhys Gryg) (1216–1234)

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

• Cunedda Wledig ap Edern (Cunedda the Imperator) (c. 450–c. 460)
• Einion Yrth ap Cunedda (Einion the Impetuous) (c. 470–c. 480)
  • Owain Ddantgwyn (Rhos; late 5th century)
  • Cynlas Goch (Rhos) & St Einion (Llŷn) ap Owain (late 5th and early 6th century)
• Cadwallon Lawhir ap Einion (Cadwallon Long Hand) (c. 500–c. 534)
• Maelgwn Hir ap Cadwallon (Maelgwn the Tall) (c. 520–c. 547)
• Rhun Hir ap Maelgwn (Rhun the Tall) (c. 547–c. 580)
• Beli ap Rhun (c. 580–c. 599)
• Iago ap Beli (c. 599–c. 616)
• Cadfan ap Iago (c. 613–c. 625)
• Cadwallon ap Cadfan (c. 625–634)
• Cadafael Cadomedd ap Cynfeddw (Cadfael the Battle-Shirker) (634–c. 655)
• Cadwaladr Fendigaid ap Cadwallon (Cadwallader the Blessed) (c. 655–c. 682)
• Idwal Iwrch ap Cadwaladr (Idwal Roebuck) (c. 682–c. 720)
• Rhodri Molwynog ap Idwal (Rhodri the Bald and Gray) (c. 720–c. 754)
• Caradog ap Meirion (c. 754–c. 798)
• Cynan Dindaethwy ap Rhodri (c. 798–816)
• Hywel ap Rhodri Molwynog (814–825)
• Merfyn Frych ap Gwriad (Merfyn the Freckled) (825–844)
• Rhodri Mawr ap Merfyn (Rhodri the Great) (844–878)
• Anarawd ap Rhodri (878–916) (establishes the Aberffraw dynasty, the senior branch of descendants from Rhodri Mawr)
• Idwal Foel ab Anarawd (Idwal the Bald) (916–942)
• Hywel Dda ap Cadell (Howell the Good) (942–950) (Dinefwr dynasty of Rhodri Mawr's descendants usurp from Aberffraw.)
• Iago ab Idwal (950–979) (returns to the Aberffraw branch)
• Ieuaf ab Idwal (950–969)
• Hywel ab Ieuaf (974–985)
• Cadwallon ab Ieuaf (985–986)
• Maredudd ab Owain (986–999) Dinefwr dynasty seizes Gwynedd
• Cynan ap Hywel (999–1005) Returns to the Aberffraw dynasty briefly
• Aeddan ap Blegywryd (1005–1018) (usurpes Gwynedd from the Aberffraw dynasty))
• Llywelyn ap Seisyll (1018–1023) (cadet branch of Mathrafal dynasty from Powys usurps from Aeddan ap Blegywryd)
• Iago ab Idwal ap Meurig (1023–1039) (Aberffraw dynasty returns)
• Gruffydd ap Llywelyn (1039–1063) (Llywelyn's son Gruffydd usurps from Aberffraw dynasty)
• Bleddyn ap Cynfyn (1063–1075) (Mathrafal dynasty of Powys "receives" Gwynedd from the English King)
• Trahaearn ap Caradog (1075–1081)
• Gruffudd ap Cynan (1081–1137) (Aberffraw dynasty returns)

Prince of the Welsh

• Owain Gwynedd ap Gruffydd (1137–1170) (first to style himself Princeps Wallensium)

Princes of Aberffraw and Lords of Snowdon

• Maelgwn ab Owain Gwynedd (1170–1173)
• Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd (1170–1195) (in the east)
• Rhodri ab Owain Gwynedd (1170–1190) (in the west)
• Llywelyn Fawr ap Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great) (1195–1240)
• Dafydd ap Llywelyn (1240–1246) (used title Prince of Wales from 1244 onwards)
• Owain Goch ap Gruffydd (Owen the Red) (1246–1255)
• Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (Llywelyn the Last) (1246–1282) (used title Prince of Wales from 1258 onwards)
• Dafydd ap Gruffydd (1282–1283) (not crowned but claimed the title)
• Madog ap Llywelyn (1294–1295) (not crowned but claimed the title)
• Owain ap Tomas ap Rhodri (Owen the Red Hand) (1372–1378) (in exile but claimed the title)

Morgannwg

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, (Hen 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)
• the invader, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, 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), and some genealogies claim him to be Magnus' son. Realm 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) ap Ynyr
• 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, remaining 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)
• the invader, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, prince of Gwynedd (1055–1063) who died and was replaced with his predecessor
• 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

• Gwrtheyrn (High-King Vortigern)
• Cadeyern Fendigaid c. 430 – 447 Reputed eldest son of Gwrtheyrn, blessed by Saint Germanus
• Cadell Ddyrnllwg c. 447 – 460
• Rhyddfedd Frych c. 480
• Cyngen Glodrydd c. 500
• Pasgen ap Cyngen c. 530
• Morgan ap Pasgen c. 540
• Brochwel Ysgithrog c. 550
• Cynan Garwyn (?–610)
• Selyf ap Cynan (610–613)
• Manwgan ap Selyf (613)
• Eiludd Powys (613–?)
• Beli ap Eiludd vers 655
• Gwylog ap Beli (695?–725)
• Elisedd ap Gwylog (725–755?)
• Brochfael ap Elisedd (755?–773)
• Cadell ap Brochfael (773–808)
• Cyngen ap Cadell (808–854) - Throne usurped by Gwynedd and exiled to Rome where the family endured

House of Manaw

• Rhodri Mawr (854–878) of Gwynedd, allegedly inheriting through his mother Nest, according to some manuscripts. Other manuscripts (eg. Mostyn manuscript 117) have his mother as Essyllt ferch Cynan (thought to be the daughter of Cynan Dindaethwy, of Gwynedd).
• Merfyn ap Rhodri (878–900) House Aberffraw
• Llywelyn ap Merfyn (900–942) House Aberffraw
• Hywel Dda (942–950) House Dinefwr usurped from the Aberffraw line of Manaw
• Owain ap Hywel (950–986) Ruled thereafter by a cadet branch of the House of Dinefwr, establishing the Mathrafal dynasty of rulers
• Maredudd ap Owain (986–999)
• Llywelyn ap Seisyll (999–1023), husband of Angharad, the daughter of Maredudd ab Owain
• Rhydderch ap Iestyn (1023–1033)
• Iago ap Idwal (1033–1039)
• Gruffydd ap Llywelyn (1039–1063)

Mathrafal Princes of Powys

• Bleddyn ap Cynfyn (1063–1075)
• Iorwerth ap Bleddyn (1075–1103 (part))
• Cadwgan ap Bleddyn (1075–1111 (part))
• Owain ap Cadwgan (1111–1116 (part))
• Maredudd ap Bleddyn (1116–1132)
• Madog ap Maredudd (1132–1160)

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

• Owain Glyndŵr
• Edward I of England
• Prince of Wales
• List of British monarchs
• Kings of the Britons

References

• Lives of the Cambro British saints, William Jenkins Rees, Thomas Wakeman, 1835
• A history of Wales from the earliest times, John Edward Lloyd, 1911
• The Cambrian, A Bi-Monthly Published in the interest of the Welsh people and their descendantsin the United States, 1881, Vol. 1, 1881
• Biography from the Dictionary of Welsh Biography
• The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales, University of Wales Press, 2008, ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6