List of rulers in Wales

The following is a list of rulers of Wales (; and neighbouring regions) during the Middle Ages, between the 5th and 16th centuries. These rulers were monarchs who ruled their respective realms, as well as those who briefly ruled the Principality of Wales. These former territories are now within the boundaries of modern-day Wales and the neighbouring Welsh Marches in England (both in the United Kingdom).

Before the Edwardian Conquest, completed in 1283, Wales consisted of several independent realms, the most important being Gwynedd, Powys, Deheubarth (which was formed from lands belonging to Ceredigion, Dyfed and latterly Seisyllwg) and Morgannwg (formed from Glywysing and Gwent). Boundary changes and the custom of dividing patrimonies between heirs 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 areas are listed below. Boundaries changed frequently. The only known native ruler of all of present-day Wales was Gruffudd ap Llywelyn (–1063), a Prince of Gwynedd who became King of Wales from 1055 to 1063. However, some Welsh princes sporadically claimed the medieval title of "Prince of Wales" between the 13th to 15th centuries. The title remains in use but is given to heirs apparent of English and British monarchs.

right|thumb|333px|Map of medieval Wales

History of the medieval kingdoms in Wales

thumb|right|Owain Glyndwr's gold [[Welsh dragon flag]]

Wales during the medieval age was a land of kingdoms and dynasties. Petty kingdoms, such as Ceredigion and Gwent, were established some time after Britain ceased to be part of the Roman Empire in the late 5th century. By the time of the Norman invasion of Wales in the 11th century, most of these realms were combined or incorporated into greater territories, thus making up the four major kingdoms of Wales. Those kingdoms were Gwynedd, Powys, Deheubarth, and Morgannwg. Unlike the others, Deheubarth was formed later by the merging of Ceredigion, Dyfed, and Ystrad Tywi. Some minor (petty) kingdoms stayed independent from the big four kingdoms, only to be taken over by the Anglo-Normans in the 13th century, such as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren, Meirionnydd, and others. Of the major kingdoms, Powys' 13th-century division of Wenwynwyn and Fadog was one of the final surviving Welsh dynasties until after the Edwardian conquest of Wales. Later, Owain Glyndŵr became the final Welsh ruler from royalty in Wales; he emerged in Powys Fadog during the early 15th century as a Prince of Wales.

Welsh kingdoms (400s–1000s)

Kings of Brycheiniog

Anlach mac Cormac;
Brychan ab Anlach ( or 470)
Tewdwr ap Rhain ( 700);
Nowy ( 725);
Gruffudd ap Nowy ( 750).

Kings and princes of Ceredigion

Ceredig ap Cunedda, 5th century (410);
Cadwallon Lawhir ap Einion (Cadwallon 'of the Long Hand'; 440)
Maelgwn Hir ap Cadwallon (Maelgwn 'the Tall'; Maelgwn Gwynedd; )
Rhun Hir ap Maelgwn (Rhun 'the Tall'; 500)
Beli ap Rhun
Iago ap Beli (died 616)
Cadfan ap Iago ( 565)
Cadwallon ap Cadfan ()
Cadafael Cadomedd ap Cynfeddw (Cadfael 'the Battle-Shirker')
Cadwaladr Fendigaid ap Cadwallon (Cadwaladr 'the Blessed'; died 664)
Idwal Iwrch ap Cadwaladr (Idwal 'the Roebuck'; 660)
Rhodri Molwynog ap Idwal (Rhodri 'the Bald and Grey'; )
Caradog ap Meirion (, Prince of Rhos)
Cynan Dindaethwy ap Rhodri ()
Hywel ap Caradog
Merfyn Frych ap Gwriad ()

Princes of Dogfeiling

Dogfael ap Cunedda Wledig ( 410)
Elno ap Dogfael ( 440)
Glas ap Elno ( 470)
Elgud ap Glas ap Elno ( 500)
Elaeth ab Elgud ( 530)
Meurig ap Elaeth ( 570)

Princes of Dunoding

Dunod ap Cunedda Wledig ( 400)
Eifion ap Dunod ap Cunedda ( 430)
Dingad ap Eifion ( 470)
Meurig ap Dingad ( 500)
Eifion ap Meurig ( 530)
Issac ap Eifion ap Meurig ( 570)
Pobien Hen ap Isaac ( 600)
Pobddelw ap Pobien Hen ( 630)
Eifion ap Pobddelw ( 670)
Brochwel ap Eifion ( 700)
Eigion ap Brochwel ab Eifion ( 730)
Ieuanawl ab Eigion ( 770)
Caradog ap Ieuanawl ( 800)
Blieddud ap Caradog ( 830)
Cuhelyn ap Bleiddud ( 870)

Princes of Penllyn

Pebid 'Penllyn'
Sulbych ap Pebid 'Penllyn'
Beblych ap Sulbych
Gorflwng ap Beblych
Cyndwlff ap Gorflwng
Pandwlff ap Cyndwlff
Ystader ap Pandwlff
Puter ab Ystader
Caper ap Puter
Pybyr ap Caper
Cadwr ap Pybyr
Deiniog 'Lyth' ap Cadwr
Dyfnwal ap Deiniog 'Lyth'
Brochwel ap Dyfnwal
Ednyfed ap Brochwel
Tudwal ab Ednyfed
Doned ap Tudwal
Coed ap Doned
Lleuddogw ap Coed
Meirion ap Lleuddogw

Princes of Rhos

Owain Ddantgwyn ap Einion Yrth (Rhos; 440)
Cynlas Goch ab Owain Gwyn ( 470, Rhos)
St Einion (Llŷn) ap Owain ( 470)
Maig ab Owain ap Cynlas ( 500)
Cadal Crysban ( 560, Crys-Halog)
Idgwyn ap Cadwal Crysbyn ( 590)
Einion ab Idgwyn ( 620)
Rhufon ap Einion ap Idgwyn ( 650)
Hywel ap Rhufon ( 680)
Meirion ap Hywel ap Rhufon ( 710)
Hywel ap Caradog ( 825, Hywel Farf-Fehinog)

Princes of Rhufoniog

Rhufon ap Cunedda Wledig ( 400)
Breichiol ( 830)
Môr ap Breichiol ( 870)
Aeddan ap Môr ( 900)
Morudd ab Aeddan ( 930)
Môr ap Morudd ( 970)

Kingdom of Morgannwg

Kings of Ergyng

Kingdom of Ergyng, in Wales and on the border of what is now Herefordshire, England.

Peibio Clafrog ap Erb ( 525), King of Ergyng
Cynfyn ap Peibio ( 550)
Gwrfoddw
Gwrgan Fawr ap Cynfyn ( 650)

Kings of Ewyas

Regional Kingdom of Ewyas (Ewias) in Wales and Herefordshire, England.

Clydog ap Clydwyn (grandson of Brychan 400)

Kings of Glywysing

Glywys ap Solor ( 430)
Pawl Penychen ( 465)
Mechwyn, ruler of Gorfynydd, cantref of Glywysing
Ithel ap Morgan ( 690, reign 710–745)
Hywel ap Rhys ()
Gruffydd ab Owain (King of Gower )
Cadwgan ab Owain (King of Margam )
Hywel ab Owain (King of Gwlad Forgan – Glamorgan )

Prince of Glywysing

Athrwys ap Meurig ( 620)

Kings of Gwent

Ynyr Gwent ( 450)
Caradoc ap Ynyr ( 480)
Ffernfael ab Idwal
Ithel ap Hywel
Ffernafael ab Ithel ap Morgan ( 775)
Meurig ap Hywel
Ffernfael ap Meurig
Brochwel ap Meurig ( 830)
Arthfael ap Hywel ( 860)
Ithel ab Athrwys ap Ffernfael ()
Arthfael ap Noe ( 930)
Rhodri ab Elise
Gruffudd ap Elise
Edwyn ap Gwriad ( 1020)

Rulers of Gwynllŵg

Kings and Lords in the cantref of Gwynllwg, in Glamorgan (Gwent).

Owain ap Morgan Hen ( 974)

Kingdom of Powys

Kings of Powys

Gwrtheyrn ( 365 High-King Vortigern), ruled Buellt and Gwrtheyrnion
Cadeyrn Fendigaid (or Catigern, 400; son of Gwrtheyrn)
Cadell Ddyrnllug ( 430; son of Cadeyrn)
Cyngen Glodrydd ( 460; son of Cadell)
Rhuddfedel Frych (430?; son of Cadeyrn)
Pasgen ap Gwrtheyrn (or Pascent, 400), ruled Buellt and Gwrtheyrnion
Mawgan ap Pasgen ( 430)
Brochwel Ysgithrog ( 490)
Cynan Garwyn ( 520)
Selyf ap Cynan ( 550, Selyf Sarffgadau)
Manwgan ap Selyf ( 580, Mael Myngan ap Selyf Sarffgadau)
Eiludd Powys
Beli ab Eiludd, son of Manwgan/Myngan
Gwylog ap Beli ( 640)
Elisedd ap Gwylog ( 680)
Brochfael ab Elisedd ( 705 Brochwel ab Elise)
Cadell ap Brochfael ab Aeddan
Cyngen ap Cadell ap Brochwel (died 855)

Descendants of Rhodri Mawr

Merfyn ap Rhodri ()
Llywelyn ap Merfyn ( 870)

Pengwern

The former petty Kingdom of Pengwern, today located in the Midlands, possibly around the Wrekin, England.

Cyndrwyn ( 535)
Cynddylan ap Cyndrwyn ()

Welsh regional kingdoms

All of Wales

Overlord of Wales (King of Wales) as a modern territory by 1055.

North Wales

Kings and Princes of the Kingdoms of Gwynedd and Powys.

Iago ab Idwal ()
Bleddyn ap Cynfyn ()
Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn ()

South Wales

Cadell ap Rhodri (878–910)

Kings and princes of Buellt and Gwrtheyrnion

Pasgen ap Gwrtheryn, son of Vortigern ( 400, Pascent)}
Pawl ap Mepurit ( 510)
Eldog ap Pawl ( 550)
Eldad ab Eldog ap Paul ( 590)
Morudd ab Eldad ( 630)
Pasgen Buellt ap Gwyddaint ( 700)
Tewdwr ap Pasgen ( 730)
Gloud ap Pasgn Buellt ( 730)
Ffernfael ap Tewdwr ( 760, Theodore)

Ceredigion, Meirionnydd, Gwynedd

King of an enlarged Gwynedd (also Rhos and Rhufoniog), including Ceredigion (Deheubarth), Meirionnydd and Dyffryn Clwyd, making his realm North West and West Wales.

Deheubarth, Gwynedd

Kingdoms in the west and northwest of Wales.

Maredudd ab Owain (Owain ap Hywel's son, )
Aeddan ap Blegywryd ()
Llywelyn ap Seisyll ()

Deheubarth, Gwynedd, Powys

North and Mid to Southwest Wales.

Dyfed, Brycheiniog (Rheinwg)

Cathen ap Gwlyddein ( 625)
Cadwgon ap Cathen ( 650)
Rhain ap Cadwgan ( 675, Cadwgon), and Ystrad Tywi

Dyfed, Gwynedd, Powys, Seisyllwg

King of all of Wales, except for Morgannwg and Gwent (south and southeast of Wales).

Hywel Dda () ()

Ergyng, Gwent

Erb ( 500)

Glywysing, Gwent

Southeast of Wales.

Tewdrig (Glywysing and Gwent, 575)
Meurig ap Tewdrig (Glywysing and Gwent 590)
Morgan ab Athrwys (Glywysing and Gwent 650)
Meurig ab Ithel ( 720, reign 745–775)
Arthfael Hen ap Rhys (, 760)
Owain ap Hywel ( 860)
Caradog ap Gruffydd ()
Iestyn ap Gwrgan(t) ( 1081–1093, Lord of Glamorgan)

Gwent, Morgannwg

South and Southeast of Wales.

Welsh royal houses (870s–1283)

The three royal houses of Wales' regions were first divided by Rhodri the Great in the 9th century. Two of his sons founded royal dynasties: Anarawd reigned in Gwynedd (Aberffraw), and Cadell founded Deheubarth (Dinefwr). Another son Merfyn reigned in Powys (Mathrafal emerged as a cadet branch of Dinefwr in the 11th century).

Aberffraw

Aberffraw kings of Gwynedd

Anarawd ap Rhodri ()
Idwal Foel ab Anarawd (, )
Ieuaf ab Idwal ()
Hywel ab Ieuaf ()
Cadwallon ab Ieuaf ()
Cynan ap Hywel ()
Iago ab Idwal ap Meurig ()
Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd ( 1170–1195)

Aberffraw king of Ceredigion

Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd (d. 1170)

Aberffraw prince of Anglesey

Maelgwn ab Owain Gwynedd ()

Aberffraw princes of Gwynedd

Rhodri ab Owain Gwynedd (1175–1194, 1194–1195)
Owain Goch ap Gruffydd ( 1246–1255, )

Dinefwr

The Kingdom of Deheubarth was formed by the union of the Kingdoms of Ceredigion (also known as Seisyllwg) and Dyfed by Hywel Dda in 910.

Dinefwr kings of Deheubarth

Owain ap Hywel ( 900)
Rhodri ap Hywel ()
Edwin ap Hywel ()
Rhydderch ap Iestyn ()
Hywel ab Edwin ()
Maredudd ab Owain ab Edwin ()
Rhys ab Owain ab Edwin ()
Rhys ap Tewdwr ( 10781093)

Dinefwr princes of Deheubarth

Gruffydd ap Rhys ( 10901137)
Anarawd ap Gruffydd ()
Cadell ap Gruffydd ()
Maredudd ap Gruffydd ( 1130–1155)
Gruffydd ap Rhys ()
Rhys Gryg (, , also )

Mathrafal

Mathrafal princes of Powys

Iorwerth ap Bleddyn ()
Cadwgan ap Bleddyn (1111)
Owain ap Cadwgan (1116)
Maredudd ap Bleddyn Cynfyn

Mathrafal prince of Powys Fadog

Gruffydd Maelor I, son of Madog ap Maredudd (1191)

Mathrafal princes of Powys Wenwynwyn

Gruffudd, son of Maerdudd ap Bleddyn
Owain Cyfeiliog (1197)
Owain ap Caradog, Lord of Afan
Leision
Morgan Fychan (1288)
Rhys (Baglan)
Lleision de Avene (d. 1238)
Meurig, Lord of Arwystli (1106)
Caradog ap Gruffudd (1081)
Maelgwn Fychan.
Gruffydd, Lord of Mechain
Llywarch ap Bran ( 1137), Lord of Menai (founder of one of the Fifteen Tribes of Wales)
Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd (1174)
Gruffudd ap Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd, Lord of Meirionnydd and Ardudwy
Maredudd ap Llywelyn (1255), Lord of Merioneth

Madog, 1st Lord of Nannau ( 1118–1121);
Bleddyn
Gruffudd
Gruffydd Maelor (1269), Lord of Castell Dinas Brân
Madog II ap Gruffydd, Lord of Dinas Bran (1277)
Gruffudd Fychan I
Madog Crypl
Gruffydd of Rhuddalt, Lord of Glyndyfrdwy
Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn (1286)
Owen de la Pole (1293)
Cadwgan ab Elstan Glodrydd
Gruffudd, Lord of Senghenydd (1211)

Lords of Tegeingl

Lordship of Coleshill, Prestatyn, and Rhuddlan, also considered Princes.

Owain ab Edwin of Tegeingl (1105), father-in-law to Gruffudd ap Cynan

Principality of Wales (1216–1542)

The late medieval territory of the Principality of Wales and the members of Welsh royalty who ruled that area or attempted to regain their dynastic inheritances during the Principality. They were titled (official) or claimants (unofficial/pretender) as the Prince of Wales. The territory of the principality included the kingdoms of Gwynedd, Deheubarth, and Powys, and also the areas of Ceredigion (Cardigan) and Carmarthenshire. There was the exception of Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, who ruled most of the territory of the Principality and also Montgomeryshire, but not as a Prince of Wales; by 1230 he styled himself as the Prince of Aberffraw and Lord of Snowdon (Prince of Gwynedd).

Pre-Principality, 1165–1197

Owain Gwynedd ( 1165–1170, ), King of Gwynedd, Prince of Wales;
Rhys ap Gruffydd ( 1170–1197, The Lord Rhys), Lord of Deheubarth (Prince of South Wales), Prince of Wales.

Welsh rule, 1216–1283

Llywelyn Fawr ap Iorwerth ( 1216–1240, ), Prince of Gwynedd, Prince of North Wales;
Dafydd ap Llywelyn ( 1240–1246, Dafydd II, ), Prince of Gwynedd (claimant Prince of Wales);
Llywelyn ap Gruffudd ( 1246–1282, ), Prince of Wales (Gwynedd, Aberffraw);
Dafydd ap Gruffydd ( 1282–1283, Dafydd III), Prince of Gwynedd (claimant Prince of Wales).

English rule, 1283–1542

Madog ap Llywelyn ( 1294–1295), claimant Prince of Wales (heir of Lord Meirionnydd, House of Aberffraw);
Owain ap Tomas ap Rhodri ( 1372–1378, Lawgoch, ) in exile but claimed Prince of Wales (Gwynedd, Aberffraw);
Owain ap Gruffudd ( 1400–1415, Owain Glyndŵr, ), pretender Prince of Wales, Lord of Glyndyfrdwy (Powys Fadog).
Rhys ap Gruffudd ( 1529–1531, Rhys Fitz-Urien), alleged Prince of Wales claimant (House of Dinefwr).

Notes

References

Bibliography

(Dictionary of Welsh Biography)