Post-Roman Celtic Kingdoms

Gwynedd

Located in northwest Wales in the former British territories of the Deceangli and Ordovices. A group of Votadini Picts (nominal Britons from the Pictish border areas) under Cunedda Wledig were transferred by Magnus Maximus to secure Western Britain from Irish raiders, moving from the Manau Goutodin kingdom. In Wales, Cunedda governed most of the north (hence 'King of North Wales'). His father and grandfather bore Roman names and in true Celtic fashion, Cunedda could trace his lineage back to Beli Mawr.

Following that Celtic tradition, upon Cunedda's death the territory under his control was divided between his sons. Most of these were 'regained' by the main Gywneddian kingdom within a generation or two. Ceredigion, along the upper west coast of Wales, remained independent for much longer.

The name of Gwynedd either derives from the Latin Venedotia, or more probably from Cunedda (=Weneda =Gwynedd).

c.110 BC

Beli Mawr (the Great)

High King of Britain. m Don ferch Mathonwy.

c.80 BC

Lludd Llaw Ereint (the Silver-Handed)

High King of Britain.

c.45 BC

Afallach ap Lludd

c.10 BC

Owain ap Afallach

Brother of Euddolen ap Afallach, ancestor of kings of Powys.

c.AD 25

Prydein ap Owain

c.60

Dubwn ap Prydein

c.95

Eufwn ap Dubwn

c.130

Anwrid ap Eufwn

c.165

(Gwr-)Dufn ap Anwrid

c.200

(Gwr-)Doli ap Dufn

c.235

(Gwr-)Cein ap Doli

c.270

Tacitus ap Cein

c.305

Paternus Pasrut (of the Red Robe)

c.340

Aeternus ap Padeyrn

c.380s

Constantine / Custennin Fawr (Great)

King of North Wales. Son of Magnus Maximus.

c.390 - c.445

Cunedda Wledig

King of North Wales. Votadini (Gododdin) Pict. m.Gwawl ferch Coel.

c.445

Although Gwynedd remains whole politically, the land within it is divided between Cunedda's surviving sons, who then operate as sub-kings to Einion Yrth. Ceredig ap Cunedda already rules in independent Ceredigion. A further sub-kingdom, Rhos, is added in c.480.

c.445 - c.470

Einion Yrth (the Impetuous)

Son. Leaves Rhos to his youngest son, Owain Ddantgwyn.

c.445

Afloyg ap Cunedag

King of Afflogion (see Rhos).

See the feature and map on the sub-kingdoms of Gwynedd for further information.

c.445

Dynod ap Cunedag

King of Dunoding.

c.445

Edeyrn ap Cunedag

King of Edeyrnion.

c.445

Rhwfon ap Cunedag

King of Rhufoniog.

c.445

Osfael ap Cunedag

King of Osmaeliog.

c.445

Dogfael ap Cunedag

King of Dogfeiling.

c.445

Meirchion ap Typaun ap Cunedag

King of Meirionydd.

c.470 - 517

Cadwallon Lawhir (Long Hand)

(ap Einion Yrth) aka the Arthurian King Cradelmant of Northgalis.

517 - 549

Maelgwyn Gwynedd (Maglocunus) Hir

High King of Britain. Died of the widespread mid-century plague.

517

Owain Ddantgwyn of Rhos is murdered by Maelgwyn Gwynedd.

549 - 586

Rhun Hir (the Tall)

Son. Fought two great battles against Alt Clut.

c.550

Rhun has to fight off an attempted invasive takeover by his brother-in-law, Prince Elidyr of Alt Clut. Elidyr thinks his claim is stronger because Rhun is illegitimate, but he fails to recognise Gwyneddian law which gives equal accession rights to both legitimate and illegitimate offspring. Elidyr is killed in battle on the Cadnant Brook in Gwynedd.

c.560

Rhos loses any autonomy it might possess as Rhun Hir draws the kingdom under his direct control.

586 - 599

Beli ap Rhun

599 - 613

Iago ap Beli

Killed by Aethelfrith of Bernicia at Caer Legion.

613 - 625

Cadfan (Catamanus) ap Iago

High King.

625 - 634

Cadwallon ap Cadfan

High King. Allied to Penda of Mercia. Killed Edwin Bernicia & sons.

634 - 664

St Cadwaladr Fendigaid (the Blessed)

High King.

664

Cadwaladr is probably killed by the great plague that hits the country. Swithelm of the East Saxons is also a victim.

664 - 684?

Ifwr ap Cadwaladr

681 - 685

Cadwaladr is defeated by the West Seaxe and Dumnonian Somerset is fully occupied as a direct result of this defeat.

684? - 712

Idwal (Idwallon) Iwrch (the Roebuck)

m.Afadda ferch Alain II, King of Brittany.

712 - 754

Rhodri Molwynog (the Bald & Grey)

754 - 798

Caradog ap Meirchion

Nine generations removed from Cynlas Goch, king of Rhos.

798 - 816

Cynan Tyndaethwy (ap Rhodri)

No heir. His daughter married Gwriad, nominal king of Ynys Manau.

816 - 825

Gwriad ap Elidyr

Heir to South Rheged & king of Manau. m Essylt ferch Cynan.

825 - 844

Merfyn Vrych

Son. Moved from Manau (or North Britain). Descendent of Coel Hen.

830 - 880

Wales, self-isolated after High King Cadwallon ap Cadfan's death in 634, now begins a long period of growth, as it renews contacts with the Continent, and makes new ties with Wessex. Merfyn marries the sister of Concenn of Powys, and adds that to Gwynedd upon the king's death. Rhodri Mawr marries Angharad, the sister of Gwgon, the drowned king of Seisyllwg. Rhodri's sons continue this policy.

844 - 878

Rhodri Mawr (the Great)

King of Gwynedd, Powys & Seisyllwg. United all of Wales.

878 - 916

Anarawd ap Rhodri

King of Deheubarth (passed to Hywel Dda).

Cadell ap Rhodri

Ruled Seisyllwg as a sub-kingdom of Gwynedd.

Merfyn ap Rhodri

Ruled Powys as a sub-kingdom of Gwynedd.

916 - 942

Idwal Foel (the Bald) ap Awarawd

King of Gwynedd.

934 - 937

The grand alliance including the Scots, Northumbrian Danes at York, Dublin Danes, and the Welsh of Gwynedd and Cumbria, mass their forces north of the Humber in a bold attempt to destroy Athelstan of Wessex. The plan fails, however, when the West Saxons and Mercians of the south destroy the alliance at the Battle of Brunanburh in 937.

942 - 950

Hywel Dda (the Good) ap Cadell

King of Deheubarth since 916 (Seisyllwg reunited).

950 - 979

Iago ap Idwal Foel

No heir.

950 - 969

Ieuaf ap Idwal Foel

Brother.

979 - 985

Hywel Foel (the Bald) ap Ieuaf

Son.

985 - 986

Cadwallon ap Ieuaf

Brother.

986 - 999

Maredudd ap Owain (of Deheubarth)

King of Gwynedd & Deheubarth.

999 - 1005

Cynan ap Hywel

King of Gwynedd & Deheubarth.

1005 - 1023

Llywelyn ap Seisyll

King of Gwynedd & Deheubarth. Son-in-law to Maredudd.

1023 - 1039

Iago ap Idwal ap Meurig ap Idwal Foel

King of Gwynedd & Deheubarth. Second cousin to Cadwallon.

1039 - 1063

Gruffydd ap Llywelyn

King of Gwynedd, Powys & Deheubarth (1039-1042 & 1055-1063).

1063

After uniting all of Wales and becoming the first recognised Prince of Wales, Gruffydd is killed by disaffected Welshmen. His head is sent to Harold Godwinson and King Edward the Confessor of England as the price of peace following attacks on England by Gruffyd.

1063 - 1075

Bleddyn ap Cynfyn

King of Powys, Gwynedd & Deheubarth. Detached Powys for sons.

1075 - 1081

Trahaern ap Caradog

King of Gwynedd & Deheubarth. (de facto ruler.)

1075 - 1100

Although Trahaern holds power in Gwynedd, during this time he is subjected to continuous raids by the rightful ruler, Gruffydd ap Cynan.

1081 - 1137

Gruffydd ap Cynan ap Iago

King of Gwynedd (b.1055).

1137 - 1169

Owain Gwynedd

Son. Prince of Wales (1160). Died Dec.

1170

Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd

Died soon after accession.

1170 - 1194

Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd

Ruled from Jan. Exiled to England.

1194 - 1195

Rhodri ab Owain Gwynedd

Gained the throne with help from the king of Manau.

Madog ab Owain Gwynedd

Emigrated with his followers to the Americas.

Gruffudd ab Cynan ab Owain

Grandson. Died 1200.

1195 - 1240

Llywelyn Fawr ab Iorworth ap Owain

Prince of North Wales. Remains of South Powys annexed in 1208.

1240 - 1246

Dafydd ap Llywelyn Fawr

Prince of Wales (d.25 Feb).

1246 - 1282

Llywelyn ap Gruffydd ap Llywelyn

Last native Prince of Wales.

1282

With the death of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd in 1282 and his brother Dafydd the following year, 400 years of dominance by the house of Gwynedd comes to an end. Gwynedd had survived intense rivalries from within Wales, as well as outside threats from Irish, Angles, Saxons, Vikings and Norman raiders and would-be-conquerors. It had done so through a combination of might and well-placed diplomacy that nevertheless failed to withstand the final, determined assault from the English in the person of Edward I.

Llywelyn is beheaded and the grisly trophy taken by Roger Mortimer of Chirk to Rhuddlan. This he presents to a thankful King Edward who dispatches it at once to be displayed on the Tower of London to the great mirth of the townsfolk. Llywelyn's infant daughter, Gwenllian, now an orphan (her mother had died giving birth to her), is snatched from her cradle and taken to a monastery in England to spend her entire life locked away, 'safe' from producing any heirs to the Gwyneddian throne. She dies at the age of fifty-four in 1337.