Celtic Kingdoms of the British Isles

Demetia

The British kingdom based on the Celtic tribal territory of the Demetae, and its subsequent Roman civitatus designation, was apparently created in circa 382 by one of the many sons of Magnus Maximus. It certainly bore the Romanised form of its name throughout the fourth and fifth centuries. Its early centre was at Castell Dwyan. Its first king, Antonius, was charged with protecting the southern half of Wales in much the same way as Cunedda was given Gwynedd as king of North Wales. Some of the territory he controlled was passed to younger sons, but which territory is not clear. The core of his holdings, however, was Demetia.

Irish raiders were causing the British widespread problems throughout the fourth and fifth centuries, and to combat this, The homeless Deisi tribe were settled in Demetia by Magnus Maximus. Existing evidence confirms this by suggesting the Roman authorities asked for the help of Aed Brosc in keeping Irish pirates away from the western coast of Britain. When the last British king died without a male heir, the Deisi were on hand to fill the breach.

382 - ?

Antonius Donatus Gregorius / Anwn Dynod

'King of South Wales'. Son of High King Magnus Maximus.

382

Antonius Donatus Gregorius, son of High King Magnus Maximus, appears to be accepted by the Demetae after his father's death. He retains control of the region, which means he is also successful in driving off Irish raiders. Mentioned as a king by later traditional sources, he is more probably a decurion (also mentioned by some scholars) or a magistrate. He and his successors have been given Welsh names by later chroniclers, but it is much more likely that they bear Latinised names and conduct themselves as Romans.

fl c.400

Demetius / Ednyfed ap Anwn

Son.

c.410 - c.421

Clotrius / Clotri ap Ednyfed

Son. Last British ruler of Demetia.

Maelgwn

Heir, but predeceased his father.

c.421

With Clotri's only male heir dead, his daughter Gweldyr is the sole heiress to the kingdom, and, although about 35 years younger, she marries Triphun of the Deisi Irish, who had been settled in Demetia to help defend it from Irish raiders. The kingdom's name is retained but is altered by the Irish pronunciation of it so that, within a century, the accepted pronunciation is Dyfed.

Dyfed (of the Deisi)

The Irish Deisi (or Déssi) tribe of the County Waterford region in Ireland, were apparently settled by the existing Roman authorities in the Demetian region by 382 (probably as an acknowledgement of a situation which already existed). Their leader, Aed Brosc, was one of his people's key figures. His grandfather, Eochaid Allmuir, had been forced to leave his homeland after a bid for independence failed, and was severely crushed by the Irish High King. The descendants of Aed's eldest son, Urb, founded the kingdom of Brycheiniog between 420-450, while his younger son, Triffyn Farfog, married the heiress of the Demetian kings. Like most Irish royalty, Eochaid claimed descent from Beli Mawr, the Celtic sun god, through his son, Miled.

The name Dyfed (also known as Dyfor) originates from one of the former Roman civitates within the kingdom, and seemed to be more popular for the new Deisi rulers than Demetia. The early Deisi settlers were very receptive to the benefits of the Roman way of life, and gave their children Romano-British names. These were recorded by the early Welsh in Welsh format, and later rulers became completely Welsh in background as the Roman influence was severed. The Deisi rulers of Dyfed initially used the Roman title of 'Protector' (protictoris) instead of the British equivalent of king. This practice continued at least as far as Vortipor, whose memorial stone was discovered at Castell Dwyran.

(Additional information from The Landscape of King Arthur, Geoffrey Ashe.)

fl c.110 BC

Beli Mawr (the Great)

High King. m Don ferch Mathonwy.

Miled

Eremon

m Tea.

Irial Faidh

Eithrial

Follain

Tigernmas

Eanbrotha

Smiomghall

Fiacha Lamhraein

Aongus Olmucach

Maoin

Rotheachta

Dein

Siorna Saoghalach

Olioll Olchaoin

Gialcadh

Nuadhas Fionnfail

Aedan Glas

Simon Breac

Muireadach Bolgach

Fiacha Tolgrach

Duach Ladhrach

Eochaidh Buidh

Ugaine Mor

Cobthach Caolbhreagh

Melg Molbhthach

Iaran Gleofathach

Conla Caomh

Olioll Casfiachlach

Eochaidh Altleathan

Aongus Tuirmeach Teamrach

Enna Aigneach

Asaman Eamhna

Roighean Ruadh

Fionnlogh

Fionn

Eochaidh Feidlioch

Fineamhas (Breas-Nar-Lothar)

Lughaidh Sriabhn Dearg

Crimthann Niadh Nar

Feredach Fionn Feachtnach

Fiacha Fionn Ola

Tuathal Teachtmar

Felim Rachtmar

Fiacha Suidhe

Cairbre Rigronn

Art Corp mac Mes Cuirb

Eochaid Allmuir (Over-Sea)

mac Artchorp. Sometimes named first Deisi leader in Demetia.

Corath mac Eochaid

1

fl 382

Aed Brosc

Leader of the Deisi as they settled in Dyfed.

2

c.405

Urb mac Aed

Moved into the Brycheiniog region.

3

c.421-c.445

Triphun (Valerian) (mac Aed)

Triffyn Farfog (the Bearded). m Gweldyr, heiress of Demetia.

c.432 - 436

Aurelius Ambrosius of Caer Gloui is apparently a leader of a British council, which presumably answers to Vortigern. It is his decision to confirm the Irish Deisi as commanders of the Demetia area of the west coast to counter the threat of Irish raiders. Vortigern acquiesces and assigns Ambrosius 'Dinas Emrys and all the western lands', suggesting that Ambrosius becomes the architect for the defence of these western areas. This is motivated by the council's reluctance to depend entirely on Saxon mercenaries, with their constant demands for increased provisions, especially in an area were they would be lightly supervised. The Deisi have already been settled for some time and would be self-supporting.

c.440s/450s

There is a probably Irish presence at Dunster Castle (Dindraithov or Dindraethou to the Welsh) in the early post-Roman period. This is a fort which overlooks the approaches to Exmoor, four and-a-half kilometres (three miles) south-east of Minehead in Somerset (roughly on the edges of Dumnonian territory). The modern castle may not be the same site as the post-Roman fort, which could be located a little way inland. Irish settlers are frequenting Somerset at this time, which suggests that they are people who have already been accepted into Britain, such as the Deisi of Dyfed. They are not large in number but they do remain for a long time. Nearby Glastonbury is spoken of as 'Glastonbury of the Gaels' thanks to its shrines of St Patrick and St Brigit. The fort features in the list of twenty-eight cities of Britain in Nennius' Historia Brittonum, appearing as Caer Draithou, and is mentioned in the Life of St Carannog (of Ceredigion).

4

c.467

Aircol / Agricola

Aricol Lawhir (Long-Hand) mac Triffyn.

late 400s

The minor vassal state of Caer Gawch emerges within the territory of Dyfed, under Cynyr Ceinfarfog.

5

c.495 - 540

Vortipor / Vortiporious

Son. High King. Vortepor mac Aricol, King or 'Protector' of Dyfed.

c.540

Towards the end of his life, Vortipor is named by Gildas as the 'tyrant of the Demetae'.

6

c.550

Cyngar ap Gwrthefyr

7

c.570

Petr (Pedr) ap Cyngar

c.590

The Bernician Angles successfully destroy the kingdom of The Peak around this time, during a general expansion that also sees the fall of Dunoting around the same time. King Sawyl Penuchel is forced to flee to Wales. There is a story in the Life of St Cadoc that places him at Allt Cunedda near Kidwelly, within Dyfed's territory. However, the name of the location links it to Cunedda of Gwynedd, suggesting that his campaigns to clear Wales of Irish raiders had extended much farther south than is otherwise known. The story about Sawyl in Wales has him and his warband stealing food from Llancarfan Abbey (hard times, clearly, for this dispossessed king). St Cadoc follows them and finds them sleeping under a tree. He cuts off their hair and flees to a bog. When Sawyl and his men follow the bog claims them. It is unclear if this is the same Sawyl, but the approximate dates for the saint coincide with his approximate dates.

8

c.595-c.615

Arthur map Petr

Named after Arthur Pendragon (High King). Born c.570-85.

9

c.625

Nowy Hen (the Old)

King of Dyfed & Brycheiniog.

c.650 - c.720

Ceindrych ferch Rhiwallon, Princess of Brycheiniog, marries her distant cousin, Cloten, King of Dyfed, and for the space of three generations the two kingdoms are united.

10

c.650

Cloten ap Nowy

King of Dyfed & Brycheiniog. Also known as Gwlyddien.

11

c.670

Caten ap Cloten

King of Dyfed & Brycheiniog.

12

c.690

Cadwgan Tredylig (ap Caten)

King of Dyfed & Brycheiniog.

13

c.710

Regin (Rhain) ap Cadwgan

King of Dyfed & Brycheiniog. Brycheiniog passed to brother.

700 - 720

Rhain passes the sub-kingdom of Brycheiniog to a younger brother, Aust. During Rhain's rule, Dyfed is invaded by Seisyll, king of Ceredigion. Ceredigion conquers Ystrad Towy, and Rhain's dual kingdom is split in two. Both areas appear to have been known for a time as Rheinwg after their king.

14

c.730

Teuder (Tewdos) ap Regin

15

? - 798

Meredydd ap Teuder

798 - 808

Rhein ap Maredydd

808 - c.810

Triffyn ap Rhein

No heir

c.810 - 811

Owain ap Meredydd

Owain was the last male descendent of Aed Brosc.

811

Although some sources suggest Hyfaidd ap Bledrig as the next ruler of Dyred, a reign of about eighty-two years is clearly implausible.

? - 893

Hyfaidd ap Bledrig

Son of Tangwystyl ferch Owain and low-born Bledrig.

893 - 904

Llywarch ap Hyfaidd

No heir. His dau, Elen (893-943), m Hywel Dda.

904

Rhodri ap Hyfaidd

Beheaded.

904

Cadell ap Rhodri of Seisyllwg and his son, Hywel Dda, conquer Dyfed. Hywel is granted control of the kingdom, a position which is entirely legitimate thanks to his marriage to Elen ferch Llywarch ap Hyfaidd.

904 - 950

Hywel Dda (the Good) ap Cadell

King of Deheubarth (Gwynedd, Powys, & Seisyllwg).

916

Hywel Dda is the son of Cadell of Seisyllwg. When he accedes to the throne of Deheubarth in 916 he is able to claim to rule a greater South Wales. In 942 he gains Gwynedd and rules a united Wales. Once Gwynedd becomes detached from the remainder of the territory, former Dyfed provides the heartland along with Ceredigion of the kingdom of Deheubarth.