List of rulers of 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 (those in heavy type ruled over a large portion of Wales).

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

Dyfed

• . . .
• Aergol Lawhir (? – c. 515)
• . . .
• Cloten (dates unknown) married Ceindrech of Brycheiniog, uniting the two kingdoms
• Rhain (to 740) also king of Brycheiniog; on his death, his kingdoms were divided again by his sons
• Maredydd ap Rhain (740–797)
• Rhain ap Maredydd (797–808)
• Owain ap Maredydd (808–811)

Ruled by Glywysing monarchs.

• Hyfaidd ap Bledrig (878–893)
• Llywarch ap Hyfaidd (893–904)
• Rhodri ap Hyfaidd (904–905)

Ruled by House Dinefwr

• Hywel Dda (Hywel the Good) (905–909)

Seisyllwg

• Seisyll, Prince of Ceredigion; eponym and possibly founder of Seisyllg^[4]
• Arthen (to 807)^[4]
• Dyfnwallon^[5]
• Meurig of Seisyllwg
• Gwgon of Seisyllwg (to 872)

House Manaw

• Angharad and Rhodri the Great (stewards; 872–878)^[1][3]
• Cadell ap Rhodri, second son of Anghared and Rhodri (878–909)^[1]
• Hywel Dda (Hywel the Good) (909-920), when he merged Seisyll and Dyfed into Deheubarth

Deheubarth

• Hywel Dda (Hywel the Good) (920–950)^[3]
• 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)
• Maredudd ab Owain's son, Edwin ab Einion (1005–1018) who co-ruled with his brother,
  • Cadell ab Einion (1005–1018)
• Llywellyn 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 (1055–1063)
• 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

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^[6])

Princes of Aberffraw & 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

• 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 (523–560) and Penychen (540–560), died without heirs
• Tewdrig, son of Teithfallt (490 – 493/517)
• Meurig ap Tewdrig King of Gwent is left Gwynllwg and Penychen by Cadoc (493/517 – 530–540)
• Glywysing is ruled by the Kings of Gwent until Rhys ap Ithel
• Rhys ap Ithel, son of the Kings of Gwent (c. 755–785)
• Arthfael Hen ap Rhys, (Hen the Old) (785–c. 825)
• 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 (dates unknown)
• his son, Rhys ab Owain (c. 990–c. 1000) who ruled Glywysing jointly with his brothers,
  • Hywel ab Owain (c. 990–c. 1043) and
  • Iestyn ab Owain (c. 990–c. 1015)
• his brother, Rhydderch ap Iestyn (c. 1015–1033)
• his son, Gruffydd ap Rhydderch (1033–1055)
• 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

• Morgan the Old (Morgan Hen or Morgan ab Owain or Morgan 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
  • Nowy ap Gwriad 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

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, inheriting through his mother
• 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

Notes

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