Celtic Kingdoms of the British Isles

Brycheiniog

Founded as a Demetian offshoot, the small kingdom was centred on Garth Madryn in the Brecon Beacons (Brecon is the modern English form of Brycheiniog). Traditionally, Brychen himself was born in Ireland, son of King Anlach, and moved with his parents to Wales. This ties in with the settling of the Irish Deisi in south-west Wales, who formed the kingdom of Demetia. When Brychen was made king upon the death of this father, the area of Garthmadrun was renamed Brycheiniog in his honour.

c.391

Urb mac Aed

Son of Aed Brosc, leader of the Deisi in Demetia.

c.407

Cormac mac Urb

c.420

Anlach mac Cormac

Irish Demetae sub-king.

c.450 - c.490

Brychen Brycheiniog (St)

Kingdom founder. Daughter married Gwynlliw of Gwynllg.

c.495

Rhain (Reginald) Dremrydd (Red-Faced)

First son. Uncle of Cadwg, king of Gwynllg & Penychen.

c.510

Rigenew ap Rhein

c.540

Llywarch ap Rigenew

c.580

Idwallon ap Llywarch

c.620

Rhiwallon ap Idwallon

Last male lineal descendant of Brychen.

c.640 - c.650

Ceindrych (Catherine) ferch Rhiwallon

Daughter. Second marriage to Cloten of Dyfed.

c.650 - c.720

Ceindrych marries her distant cousin, the king of Dyfed, and for the space of three generations the two kingdoms are united. During the mid-eighth century, the Royal House of Dyfed divides the territory and the king's (possible) younger brother is granted Brycheiniog.

The fluctuating fortunes of the kingdom of Brycheiniog took place in the Brecon Beacons

c.715

Rhein ap Cadwgn ap Caten ap Cloten

King of Dyfed & Brycheiniog.

c.720

Awst ap Cadwgn

Brother. Succeeded to the throne.

c.730

Tewdr ap Rhein

Second son of Rhein. Brother of Tewdos, king of Dyfed.

c.735

Elwystl ap Awst

Rival claimant. Murdered by Tewdr.

c.750

Nowy Hen (the Old) ap Tewdr

c.770

Gryffydd ap Nowy

c.800

Tewdr ap Gryffydd

c.840 - al.885

Elisedd (Ellis) ap Tewdr

Submitted to Alfred of Wessex for aid against Anarawd Gwynedd.

848

King Ithael of Gwent is killed in battle against Elisedd, perhaps sparking a feud that soon draws in Glywyssing's king, Hywel ap Rhys.

856 - 886

In this period, Hywel ap Rhys of Glywyssing comes into conflict with Elisedd ap Tewdr over the districts of Ystrad Yw (Crickhowell, now in southern Powys but seemingly inside the border of Brycheiniog in the ninth century) and the remnant of Ewyas (adjoining Ystrad-Yw, Gwent had succeeded to Ewyas before its subsequent division as Ercing and then its loss to the Mercians by the ninth century).

The territories are claimed by Hywel as the rightful possession of Glywyssing (although the claim seems dubious, as only its eastern neighbour, Gwent, could lay any realistic claim to Ewyas, and Hywel's familial relationship to Gwent's kings should not change this). Brycheiniog has already transferred its claim to those lands to Cadell, the king of South Wales (probably Cadell ap Rhodri of Seisyllwg, who also holds Builth), so Hywel is forced to relinquish his right to them and has to set the boundary of his kingdom at Ystrad Yw. It is here that boundary stones have been raised and the town and castle of Cerrig Hywel (Gerrig Hywel, or 'the stones of Hywel') has been constructed. The latter is later considered to be in Brycheiniog. This forms the boundary between Hywel and Cadell during the former's lifetime.

c.890

Tewdr ap Elisedd

c.900

Gryffydd ap Elisedd

c.920

The increasing supremacy of Deheubarth in the south of Wales forces Brycheiniog to submit some of its power and it effectively becomes a sub-kingdom.

c.920 - aft 934

Tewdr Brycheiniog ap Gryffydd

c.940

Gwylog ap Tewdr

c.970

Elisedd ap Gwylog

? - c.1045

Gryfydd ap Elisedd

Last king of Brycheiniog.

c.1045

Upon the death of Gryfydd, his lands are divided between his three sons, as Lords of Cantref Selyf, Cantref Tewdos and Cantref Talgarth. Effectively, they are part of the kingdom of Deheubarth, until the Normans conquer the south of Wales in the twelfth century.