List of rulers of Gwynedd

This is a list of the rulers of the Kingdom of Gwynedd. Many of them were also acclaimed "King of the Britons" or "Prince of Wales".

Traditional arms of the House of Aberffraw, rulers of the Kingdom of Gwynedd, attributed to Llywelyn the Great (d. 1240).List

List of Kings or Princes of Gwynedd

House of Cunedda

• Cunedda Wledig ap Edern (Cunedda the Imperator) (c. 450–c. 460).^[1]
• Einion Yrth ap Cunedda (Einion the Impetuous) (c. 470–c. 480).^[2]
  • Owain Dantwyn (Owain Whitetooth) ap Einion (Rhos; late 5th century).^[3]
  • Cynlas Goch (Rhos) & St Einion (Llŷn) ap Owain (late 5th and early 6th centuries).^[4]
• Cadwallon Lawhir ap Einion (Cadwallon Long Hand) (c. 500–c. 534).^[5]
• Maelgwn Hir ap Cadwallon (Maelgwn Gwynedd) (c. 520–c. 547).^[6]
• Rhun Hir ap Maelgwn (Rhun the Tall) (c. 547–c. 580).^[7]
• Beli ap Rhun (c. 580–c. 599).^[7]
• Iago ap Beli (c. 599–c. 616).^[8]
• Cadfan ap Iago (c. 613–c. 625).^[9]
• Cadwallon ap Cadfan (c. 625–634).^[10]
• Cadafael Cadomedd ap Cynfeddw (Cadfael the Battle-Shirker) (634–c. 655).^[11]
• Cadwaladr Fendigaid ap Cadwallon (Cadwallader the Blessed) (c. 655–c. 682).^[12]
• Idwal Iwrch ap Cadwaladr (Idwal Roebuck) (c. 682–c. 720).^[13]
• Rhodri Molwynog ap Idwal (Rhodri the Bald and Grey) (c. 720–c. 754)^[14]
• Caradog ap Meirion (c. 754–c. 798).^[15]
• Cynan Dindaethwy ap Rhodri (c. 798–816).^[16]
• Hywel ap Rhodri Molwynog (814–825).^[17]

With Hywel's death, all male descendants of Maelgwn Gwynedd have expired. Merfyn the Freckled succeeds through his mother Esyllt, eldest daughter of Cynan Dindaethwy and niece of Hywel ap Rhodri Molwynog.

House of Manaw

• Merfyn Frych (Merfyn the Freckled) ap Gwriad (825–844).^[18]
• Rhodri Mawr (Rhodri the Great) ap Merfyn (844–878).^[19]

House of Aberffraw

The warfare among the sons of Rhodri meant that the descendants of Anarawd became considered a separate house – called the House of Aberffraw from their principal seat – from the junior branches in Deheubarth and elsewhere.

• Anarawd ap Rhodri (878–916) (establishes the Aberffraw dynasty, the senior branch of descendants from Rhodri Mawr).^[20]
• Idwal Foel ab Anarawd (Idwal the Bald) (916–942).^[21]
• Hywel Dda ap Cadell (Howell the Good) (942–950) (Dinefwr dynasty, descended from the second son of Rhodri Mawr who ruled in Deheubarth, usurps Gwynedd from the Aberffraw line).^[22]
• Iago ab Idwal (950–979) (returns to the Aberffraw branch).^[23]
• Ieuaf ab Idwal (950–969).^[24]
• Hywel ab Ieuaf (974–985).^[25]
• Cadwallon ab Ieuaf (985–986).^[25]

House of Dinefwr

• Maredudd ab Owain (986–999) Dinefwr dynasty seizes Gwynedd.^[26]

House of Aberffraw

• Cynan ap Hywel (999–1005) Returns to the Aberffraw dynasty briefly.^[27]

Usurper

• Aeddan ap Blegywryd (1005–1018) (minor commote lord usurps Gwynedd from the Aberffraw dynasty).^[28]

House of Rhuddlan

• Llywelyn ap Seisyll (1018–1023) (Rhuddlan dynasty in lower Gwynedd usurps from Aeddan ap Blegywryd).^[29]

House of Aberffraw

• Iago ab Idwal ap Meurig (1023–1039) (Aberffraw dynasty returns).^[30]

Iago ab Idwal ap Meurig r. 1023–1039

Cynan ab Iago d. 1060

Gruffydd ap Cynan 1055-1081-1137

Owain Gwynedd 1100-1137-1170

Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd r. 1170

Iorwerth Drwyndwn 1145–1174

Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd Prince 1170–1195

Maelgwn ab Owain Gwynedd Prince 1170–1173

Rhodri ab Owain Gwynedd Prince 1170–1195

Llywelyn the Great 1173-1195-1240

House of Rhuddlan

• Gruffydd ap Llywelyn (1039–1063) (Llywelyn's son Gruffydd usurps from Aberffraw dynasty).^[31]

House of Mathrafal

• Bleddyn ap Cynfyn (1063–1075) and Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn (1063-1070) [co-rulers] (Mathrafal dynasty of Powys "receives" Gwynedd from the English King).^[32]
• Trahaearn ap Caradog (1075–1081).^[33]

House of Aberffraw

• Gruffydd ap Cynan (1081–1137) (Aberffraw dynasty returns).^[34]
• Owain Gwynedd ap Gruffydd (1137–1170).^[35]
• Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd r. 1170; killed by his younger brother Dafydd ab Owain in a conspiracy hatched by his stepmother Cristen, dowager princess of Gwynedd, and her sons Dafydd and Rhodri ab Owain.^[36]
• Dafydd I the Usurper (1170–1195), displaced elder brother Hywel ap Owain Gwynedd, but was himself displaced from Upper Gwynedd c.1173 ruling only lower Gwynedd until displaced by Llywelyn Fawr in 1198. England recognized Dafydd as Prince of Gwynedd, though Welsh jurists did not.^[37]
  • Rhodri ab Owain Gwynedd (1175–1194, 1194-1195) Ruling upper Gwynedd and Ynys Mon until 1194 and then Ynys Mon solely from 1194-1195 until he was ousted by the sons of his brother Cynan.^[38]
  • Maelgwn ab Owain Gwynedd (1170–1173), ruling Ynys Mon and supporter of his elder brother Hywel ap Owain's claim as Prince. After Hywel's death, Maelgwn was able to retain Ynys Mon from Dafydd the Usurper.^[39]

Princes of Wales

• Llywelyn Fawr (Llywelyn the Great) ap Iorwerth (1195–1240), first Prince of Wales.^[40]
• Dafydd ap Llywelyn (1240–1246).^[41]
• Owain Goch (Owain the Red) ap Gruffydd (1246–1255).^[42]
• Llywelyn the Last ap Gruffydd (1246–1282).^[43]
• Dafydd ap Gruffydd (1282–1283), pretender.^[44]

Llywelyn the Great 1173-1195-1240

Gruffydd ap Llywelyn Fawr 1200–1244

Dafydd ap Llywelyn 1215-1240-1246

Owain Goch ap Gruffydd d. 1282

Llywelyn ap Gruffudd 1223-1246-1282

Dafydd ap Gruffydd 1238-1282-1283

Rhodri ap Gruffudd 1230–1315

Gwenllian of Wales 1282–1337

Llywelyn ap Dafydd 1267-1283-1287

Owain ap Dafydd 1265-1287-1325

Tomas ap Rhodri 1300-1325-1363

Owain Lawgoch 1330–1378

Pretenders

• Madog ap Llywelyn (1294–1295) (not crowned but claimed the title).^[45]
• Owain Lawgoch (Owain Redhand) ap Tomas ap Rhodri (1372–1378), great-nephew of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, in exile but claimed the title.^[46]

See also

• List of Princes of Wales
• Family tree of Welsh monarchs
• List of rulers of Wales

References

1. Lloyd, John Edward (1959). "Cunedda Wledig, flourished 450, British prince". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
2. Bartrum 1993, p. 262.
3. Bartrum 1993, p. 594.
4. Bartrum 1993, p. 205.
5. Bartrum 1993, p. 94.
6. Davies, William Hopkin (1959). "Maelgwn Gwynedd,(died c. 547) king of Gwynedd and monk". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
7. Davies, William Hopkin (1959). "Rhun Ap Maelgwn Gwynedd, (fl. 550), ruler of north-west Wales". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
8. Bartrum 1993, p. 428.
9. Lloyd, John Edward (1959). "Cadfan (fl. 620), prince". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
10. Lloyd, John Edward (1959). "Cadwallon (died 633), prince". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
11. Bartrum 1993, p. 81.
12. Lloyd, John Edward (1959). "Cadwaladr (died 664), prince". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
13. Bartrum 1993, p. 435.
14. "Rhodri Molwynog (died 754), king of Gwynedd". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales..
15. Bartrum 1993, p. 115.
16. "Cynan Dindaethwy (died 816) Prince". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
17. "Hywel ap Rhodri Molwynog (died 825), king of Gwynedd". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
18. Pierce, Thomas Jones (1959). "Merfyn Frych (died 844), king of Gwynedd". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
19. Pierce, Thomas Jones (1959). "Rhodri Mawr ('the Great') (died 877), king of Gwynedd, Powys, and Deheubarth". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
20. Lloyd, John Edward (1959). "Anarawd ap Rhodri (died 916), prince". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
21. Pierce, Thomas Jones (1959). "Idwal Foel ('the Bald '; died 942), king of Gwynedd". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
22. Williams, Stephan Joseph (1959). "Hywel Dda (Hywel the Good) (died 950), king and legislator". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
23. Pierce, Thomas Jones (1959). "Iago ab Idwal Foel (died 1039), king of Gwynedd". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
24. Pierce, Thomas Jones (1959). "Ieuaf (or Idwal) ab Idwal Foel (died 985), joint king of Gwynedd". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
25. Pierce, Thomas Jones (1959). "Hywel ap Ieuaf (died 985), king of Gwynedd". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
26. "Maerdudd ab Owain ap Hywel Dda (died 999)". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
27. Bartrum 1993, p. 188.
28. Bartrum 1993, p. 2.
29. Pierce, Thomas Jones (1959). "Llywelyn Ap Seisyll (died 1023), king of Deheubarth and Gwynedd". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
30. Pierce, Thomas Jones (1959). "Iago ab Idwal Foel (died 1039), king of Gwynedd". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
31. Hudson, Benjamin (1959). "Gruffudd ap Llywelyn (died 1064), king of Gwynedd 1039–1064 and overlord of all the Welsh 1055–1064". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
32. "Bleddyn ap Cynfyn (died 1075) Prince". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
33. Pierce, Thomas Jones (1959). "Trahaern Ap Caradog (died 1081), king of Gwynedd". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
34. Parry, Thomas (1959). "Gruffudd ap Cynan (c. 1055 – 1137), king of Gwynedd". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
35. Pierce, Thomas Jones (1959). "Owain Gwynedd (c. 1100 – 1170), king of Gwynedd". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
36. Roderick, Arthur James (1959). "Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd (died 1170), soldier and poet". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
37. Lloyd, John Edward (1959). "Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd (David I, died 1203), king of Gwynedd". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
38. Pierce, Thomas Jones (1959). "Rhodri ab Owain (died 1195), a prince of Gwynedd". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
39. Pierce, Thomas Jones (1959). "Maelgwn ab Owain Gwynedd (died after 1173), prince of Anglesey". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
40. Pierce, Thomas Jones (1959). "Llywelyn ap Iorwerth ('Llywelyn the Great', often styled 'Llywelyn I', prince of Gwynedd)". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
41. Lloyd, John Edward (1959). "Dafydd ap Llywelyn (David II, died 1246), Prince". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
42. Pierce, Thomas Jones (1959). "Owain ap Gruffydd, or Owain Goch, (fl. 1260), a prince of Gwynedd". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
43. Pierce, Thomas Jones (1959). "Llywelyn ap Gruffydd ('Llywelyn the Last,' or Llywelyn II), Prince of Wales (died 1282)". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
44. Pierce, Thomas Jones (1959). "Dafydd ap Gruffydd (David III, died 1283), prince of Gwynedd". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales..
45. Pierce, Thomas Jones (1959). "Madog ap Llywelyn, rebel of 1294". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
46. Pierce, Thomas Jones (1959). "Owain ap Thomas ap Rhodri (' Owain Lawgoch '; died 1378), a soldier of fortune and pretender to the principality of Wales". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.

Source

• Bartrum, Peter (1993). A Welsh Classical Dictionary: People in History and Legend Up to about A.D. 1000. National Library of Wales. ISBN 0907158730.