Post-Roman Celtic Kingdoms

Pengwern

Located on the eastern border of Powys, and apparently originating from it, Pengwern stretched deep into the Midlands. Its early capital was probably Caer Guricon (Roman Viroconium, modern Wroxeter), which was also the capital of Powys until the kingdom was divided in two. This is questionable, however, as there is evidence to suggest the abandonment of Viroconium in around 520, perhaps in exchange for a more defendable location.

Although its exact origins cannot be proven, the kingdom does appear to have been formed only in the sixth century as a division of Powys' eastern territories, after the collapse of the Post-Roman central administration. By 600 it seems to have been made up of three sub-kingdoms based on the cities of Caer Luit Coyt, Caer Magnis, and Caer Guricon, and the first two had their own sub-kings. Originally, these would have been tributary to Powys, and then to the king of Pengwern.

According to what little source material remains, in the early seventh century Morfael ap Glast, king of Glastenning, secured the eastern capital of Caer-Luit-Coyt (Wall in southern Staffordshire) during his lifetime, and his younger brother secured the remainder of the territory upon the death of their father. The capital was moved to Llys Pengwern, perhaps for security reasons. While the kingdom is usually known as Pengwern, it is uncertain whether this name was applied to the entire territory, being as it was the name of just one fort. The kingdom might just as well have been named after its last ruling dynasty, the Dogfeiling kings.

However, Pengwern would have been a powerful name: 'gwern' would have been pronounced as 'wern' by the Romans, and would have been spelled 'vern' by them if it had been written down - unlikely as it was local slang usage. The river that runs through the area, the Sabrina (modern Severn), probably had the letter 'b' mangled into a 'v' and then a 'w' by the local Cornovii/Gwynedd Britons. Then they dropped the 'Se' from the front of Severn, turning Severn into 'Vern', which they pronounced 'Wern', and then altered later into 'Gwern' as they came to do with any word beginning in 'w'. Also note that the original British name for the Severn was Habren - the 's' at the start was a Roman addition - so this would explain how the 's' was removed from the name - to the Britons it had not been there in the first place. That sort of mixed progression would occur only at places inhabited by Romans in numbers that were sufficient enough to influence the name. Such a concentration of Romans would have to be at the town of Viroconium. Then when the locals in that town fled up the river to Pengwern, they took their odd pronunciation with them (not even knowing that wern/gwern was the same word as Hefren). Pen means 'head' or 'source', so the local name became Pengwern, headwaters of the Severn, a strong and commanding name.

Another possible explanation for the name from Mak Wilson still gives 'pen' as 'head', but provides 'gwern' as the meaning of 'alder swamp'.

(Additional information by Edward Dawson & Mak Wilson.)

c.570 - 613

Mawn or Iago ap Brochfael?

First king of Pengwern. Sons of Brochfael Ysgythrog of Powys.

from 577

Pengwern's southern border comes under some pressure from the Hwicce, as the British kingdoms based around Caer Baddan, Caer Ceri and Caer Gloui fall.

584

Viroconium is sacked by the West Seaxe. The kingdom has very likely already relocated its capital before this event.

The old Roman fort at Viroconium, one of their largest settlements, was substantially and skilfully rebuilt in timber between about 530-570, and then mostly dismantled by 600

613

In one of the bloodiest and hardest fought battles of its time, several British kings form a coalition to halt Æthelfrith of Bernicia at the Battle of Caer Legion (Chester). Iago of Gwynedd, and Selyf of Powys are both killed, and the battle is a British defeat. Bledric ap Custennin, King of Dumnonia dies at the Battle of Bangor-is-Coed, which follows very soon afterwards. A certain Brochfael is named as the commander of Caer Legion at this time, and, despite this being in the territory of South Rheged, he may have been one of the sons of Powys' Brochfael, also the theoretical first king of Pengwern named above. After this, the Dogfeiling kings appear to move in on Pengwern.

613? - c.620?

Cyndrwyn Fawr

King of Pengwern.

? - 613 or c.620

Constantine

King of Caer Magnis. Brother of Cyndrwyn?

c.612

Morfael ap Glast

King of Caer-Luit-Coyt (Eastern Pengwern) & Glastenning.

c.620 - 656

Cynddylan ap Cyndrwyn

Brother. Mentioned 642. Son of Dogfeiling & Glastenning king.

656

Caranfael ap Cynddylan

Son. May not have ruled.

656

Overrun by Oswiu of Northumbria, the royal family is destroyed and the kingdom terminated. Saxons migrate into the territory from the south to form the minor kingdoms of the Wrocenset and Magonset. These in turn are absorbed by Mercia by the eighth century.