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.
History of the medieval kingdoms in Wales
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) Rhain Dremrudd ap Brychan (); Tewdwr ap Rhain ( 700); Nowy ( 725); Gruffudd ap Nowy ( 750).
Kings and princes of Ceredigion
Ceredig ap Cunedda, 5th century (410); Usai ap Ceredig ( 450); Serwyl ab Usai ( 490); Boddw ap Serwyl ( 530); Arthfoddw ap Boddw ( 570); Arthlwys ab Arthfoddw ( 610); Clydog ab Arthlwys ( 650); Seisyll ap Clydog, King of Seisyllwg ( 690, Ceredigion and Ystrad Tywi); Arthen ap Seisyll (); Dyfnwallon ab Arthen ( 750); Meurig ap Dyfnwallon ( 780); Gwgon ap Meurig ().
Kings and princes of Dyfed
Triffyn Farfog ( 430) Aergol Lawhir ( 460) Vortiporius Cloten ( 600, Gwlyddein ap Nowy ap Arthur) Maredudd ap Tewdwr () Rhain ap Maredudd () Owain ap Maredudd () Triffyn ap Rhain () Hyfaidd ap Bleddri () Llywarch ap Hyfaidd () Rhodri ap Hyfaidd ()
Kingdom of Gwynedd
Kings of Gwynedd
Cunedda Wledig ap Edern ( 370) Einion Yrth ap Cunedda (Einion 'the Strong'; 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 HywelArchæologia Cambrensis, Vol. X, 3rd Series. "Chronicle of the Princes", p. 13. J. Russell Smith (London), 1864. 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). Gwynllyw ap Glywys ( 460), ruler of Gwynllwg, cantref of Glywysing Saint Cadoc ( 495), son of Gwynllyw, ruler of Gwynllwg
Kings of Morgannwg The Kingdom of Morgannwg was formed by the merging of the two kingdoms of Morgannwg and Gwent. At times, the kingdoms were separate and independent. Ithel ab Athrwys ab Meurig ( 650) Owain, King of Morgannwg ( 930) Morgan Hen ab Owain () 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. Gruffydd ap Llywelyn ( 1039–1063)
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. Gruffudd ap Cynan ( 1081–1137), King of Gwynedd
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. Rhodri Mawr (872–878)
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. Meurig ap Hywel (Gwent and Morgannwg) Cadwgan ap Meurig (Gwent and Morgannwg)
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 () Iago 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 around 920.
Dinefwr kings of Deheubarth Owain ap Hywel () 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 Madog ap Maredudd (1160)
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)
Welsh lordships (1000s–1500s)