KINGS OF GWYNEDD

MANAU GODODDIN (NORTH BRITAIN)

55. [CYNA101] Padarn beisrudd [Paternus of the Scarlet Cloak] (born c.340, son of Tacitus) was a high-ranking Romano-British official who commanded troops (c.388) in either Votandi (afterwards Bernicia) or Manau Gododdin (afterwards Lothian).

54. [CYNA111] Edern [Eternus] (born c.360, son of Padarn).

GWYNEDD KINGDOM (1)

53. [CYNA121] Cunedda wledig [leader] (born near Edinburgh, c.390, son of Edern) married [WELS152] Gwawl (ferch Coel hen, see WELSH). He was leader (c.430) of the tribes of Votandi (Lothian), and was no doubt involved in wars against the Picts. According to tradition, he and his family moved south (c.450) to Venedotia (which later became Gwynedd) to protect north Wales from an Irish invasion. This left a power vacuum in the Lothian area, seized upon by the Picts.

52. [PADA161] Gwron (ap Cunedda) does not appear in the recorded list of sons of Cunedda, but it was suggested by Owen Rhoscomyl, in "The Anglesey Antiquarian Society and Field Club Transactions" (1923), that Gwron is only a cognomen (means hero) and he was actually Ysfael ap Cunedda, and was thus the 2nd recorded son of Cunedda. See Gwron ap Cunedda wledig for further details.

[CERE131] Ceredig (5th son, ap Cunedda) was the eponymous founder of Ceredigion.

50. [CYNA131] Einon yrth [stricken] (7th son, born c.410, ap Cunedda), Lord of Carmarthenshire, married [TITH132] Prawst (ferch 51. [TITH121] Tithlym Prydyn (born c.380) of Pictland, also known as Todlet, King of the Gwyddyl Ffichti [Picts] in Powys).

49. [CYNA141] Cadwallon lawhir [long-hand] (born c.440, ab Einion) married [DYLA142] Meddyf (ferch Maeldaf ap Dylan Draws, see DYLAN DRAWS), and was 1st King of Gwynedd (499-517). He died c.534.

48. [CYNA151] Maelgwn Gwynedd (born c.497, ap Cadwallon) was King of Gwynedd (519-38, 541-47). He had five wives, including Gwallwen (ferch Afallach ap Beli mawr, legendary).

Gilda, a British monk, described Maglocunus [Maelgwn] of Gwynedd as a tyrannical ruler, "first in evil, mightier than many both in power and malice". Maelgwn disowned his former wife, though no longer his by vow of religion, and turned to another woman, the wife of a man then living, his own brother's son. This led to two murders, the killing of the aforesaid husband, and of his own former wife. Then he married the widow, being now free to do so, as false tongues asserted. Maelgwn's lawful wife seems to have been Sanan ferch Cyngen of Powys by Tudglid ferch Brychan. Sanan was sister of Brochwel Ysgithrog.

Maelgwn died of the yellow plague (547).

(51). [CYNA182] Rhun hir [tall] (ap Maelgwn, but wife not shown) married Perfawr (ferch 52. Rhun ab 53. Einion ap 54. Mor).
(50). [CYNA192] Tymyr (ferch Rhun) said to have married [BUDI181] Hoel II fychan (see BRETAGNE KINGDOM).

47. [CYNA181] Iago (ap Maelgwn, by Gwallwen, [though other sources say he was grandson of Maelgwn]) was King of Gwynedd (593-abdicated later). He died 606.

46. [CYNA191] Cadfan (born c.586, ab Iago) married [POWY222] Tandreg ddu (ferch Cynan garwyn, see POWYS KINGDOM (1)), and was King of Gwynedd (593-613).

45. [CYNA201] Cadwallon (born c.586, ap Cadfan) married (c.632) [PEND102] a sister of King Penda (see MERCIA KINGDOM), and was King of Gwynedd (613-34). In alliance with Penda, he defeated King Edwin I (the Northumbrian ruler, and first English king to invade Wales) at the Battle of Hatfield Chase, near Doncaster, (October 633); and went on to kill Edwin's successors, King Osric of Deira and King Eanfrith of Bernicia. Cadwallon was head of the confederate pagans, with his ally Penda. They pursued the defeated Northumbrians, and overran Northumbria. Finally, Cadwallon fought with King Oswald at the Battle of Hexham, at Heavenfield, (634), where he was slain and his army annihilated.

44. [CYNA221] Cadwaladr II fendigaid [blessed] (born c.633, ap Cadwallon) married [BRET202] --- (daughter of King Alan of Little Breton, see BRETAGNE KINGDOM), and was King of Gwynedd (657-664, deposed), and died in a plague (664). Another source says he died on a pilgrimage in Rome (681).

43. [CYNA231] Idwal iwrch [roebuck] (born c.660, ap Cadwaladr) was King of Gwynedd (664-712).

42. [CYNA241] Rhodri molwynog [old and grey] (ab Idwal) married Fermael of Ireland, and was King of Gwynedd (712-54). He died c.754. Afterwards his widow, Fermael, married Rhodri's successor, King Caradoc of Gwynedd (754-98).

41. [CYNA251] Cynan dindaethwy (ap Rhodri) married Mahault (ferch Larll y Phlynt, Lord of Flint). He was co-King of Gwynedd (798-816). He died 816.

40. [CYNA262] Asylt/Ethylt (ferch Cynan), Regent of Gwynedd (816), married [GWY1271] Merfyn frych (ap Gwriad, see GWYNEDD (1), and see next entry).

FROM MERFYN FRYCH

[GWY1271] King Merfyn Frych ap Gwriad m. [CYNA262] Asylt /Ethylt ferch Cynan Dindaethwy
. [GWYN281] King Rhodri Mawr ap Merfyn Frych m1. [SEIS292] Angharad ferch Meurig
. . [GWRI291] King Cadell ap Rhodri Mawr m. ?
. . [MERF291] Merfyn ap Rhodri Mawr m. ?
. . [GWYN291] King Anarawd ap Rhodri Mawr m. ?
. . . [GWRX301] Elise ab Anarawd m. ?
. . . . [GWRX312] Prawst ferch Elise m. [GWYZ311] Seisyll
. . . [GWYN301] King Idwal foel ab Anarawd m. [GWY8282] Mereddon ferch Cadwr Gwenwynwyn
. . . . [GWYN311] Meurig ab Idwal m. ?
. . . . . [GWYN321] King Idwal ap Meurig m. ?
. . . . . . [GWYN331] King Iago ab Idwal ap Meurig m. [GWY6332] Afandreg ferch Gwair ap Pyll
. . . . . . . [GWYN342] Tangwystl ferch Iago ab Idwal m. [HOWL341] Llywarch Howlbwrch
. . . . . . . [GWYN341] Cynan ab Iago m. [DUBL352] Ragnhildr ferch Olaf
. . . . . . . . [GWYN351] King Gruffydd ap Cynan m1. [OWAI372] Angharad ferch Owain
. . . . . . . . . [GWYN363] Gwenllian ferch Gruffudd ap Cynan m. [RHYS361] Lord Gruffudd ap Rhys
. . . . . . . . . [GWYN365] Susannah ferch Gruffydd m. [MADO361] King Madog ap Maredudd
. . . . . . . . . [GWYN361] King Owain ap Gruffydd m1. [LLYW362] Gwladys ferch Llywarch
. . . . . . . . . . [GWYN371] Lord Iorwerth ab Owain m1. [MADO372] Margred ferch Madog
. . . . . . . . . . . [GWYN382] Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth m. [HOWL382] Tangwystl Goch ferch Llywarch Goch
. . . . . . . . . . . . [GWYN393] Gwladys Ddu ferch Llywelyn m2. [MORT461] Ralph de Mortimer
. . . . . . . . . . . [GWYN381] Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth m2. [PLAN394] Joan of England
. . . . . . . . . . . . [GWYN392] Margred of Gwynedd m1. [BRAM461] Marcher Lord John of Gower
. . . . . . . . . . . . [GWYN393] Margred de Gwynedd m2. [CLIF441] Sir Walter de Clifford

40. [GWY1271] Merfyn frych [freckled] (ap [GWY1261] Gwriad, see GWYNEDD (1)) married [CYNA262] Asylt/Ethylt (ferch Cynan Dindaethwy, see last entry), and was King of Gwynedd (816, 825-44). He died (perhaps slain) at the Battle of Cetill (844).

35-39. [GWYN289] Rhodri mawr [the great] (ap Merfyn) married 1. [SEIS292] Angharad (ferch Meurig, see CEREDIGION & SEISYLLWG KINGDOMS) then 2. ---. He was King of Gwynedd (844-78), King of Powys (855-78), King of Seisyllwg (871-78), 1st King of Wales (872-78). He won a victory in Anglesey over Horm, leader of the Danes (856), but was killed in battle at Prestatyn with the Mercians (878).

34. [GWY9301] Tudwal gloff [lame] (born c.840, ap Rhodri mawr, by his 2nd unnamed wife), see GWYNEDD (9) for further details.
36. [GWYN294] Nest (ferch Rhodri mawr, of unknown mother) married [GLYW271] Owain (born c.885, ap Hywel, see GLYWYSING & MORGANNWG KINGDOMS).
37. [MERF291] Merfyn (ap Rhodri mawr, by 1st or 2nd wife), see MERFYN for further details.

37. [GWYN291] Anarawd (ap Rhodri mawr, by 1st wife) was King of Gwynedd (879-916). He was killed by Mercian forces at the Battle of Brecenanmere, near Llangorse Lake, near Brecon (19th January 916).

36. [GWRX301] Elise (ap Anarawd), was slain at the hands of the Saxons, together with his brother Edwal (942).
35. [GWRX312] Prawst (ferch Elise) married [GWYZ311] Seisyll (see GWYNEDD KINGDOM (2) below).

34. [GWYN301] Idwal foel [bald] (ab Anarawd) married [GWY8282] Mereddon (ferch Cadwr Gwenwynwyn, see GWYNEDD (8)), and was King of Gwynedd (916-42), and was killed in battle during unsuccessful revolt against the English (942).

33. [GWYN311] Meurig (ab Idwal) died 986.

32. [GWYN321] Idwal (ap Meurig) died in exile (996).

31. [GWYN331] Iago II (ab Idwal ap Meurig) married [GWYP332] Afandreg (ferch Gwair ap Pyll, see PYLL AP CYNWRIG), and was King of Gwynedd (1033-39), and was murdered by a hatchet blow to the head (1039) at the instigation of [GWYZ331] Gruffydd ap Llywelyn (see below).

29. [GWYN342] Tangwystl (ferch Iago ab Idwal) married [HOWL341] Llywarch Howlbwrch (see HOWLBWRCH).

30. [GWYN341] Cynan (ab Iago) sought refuge with the Danes in Dublin after his father was murdered, and whilst there he married [DUBL352] Ragnhildr (ferch Olaf, see DUBLIN KINGDOM). He died c.1060.

29. [GWYN351] Gruffydd II (born in Dublin c.1055, ap Cynan) tried to regain his grandfather's lands. With an army of Danes and Irish he landed on the banks of the Menai, and defeated [LLYW341] King Trahaearn ap Caradog of Gwynedd (see GWYNEDD (3)) at the Battle of Gwaed Erw (c.1074), and pressed on to Rhuddlan. He failed to take the castle there, where the people of Llyn put up a good fight. Learning this, King Trahaearn returned to the attack, and defeated Gruffydd at the Battle of Bron-yr-erw (1075), and sent him back to Ireland. Gruffydd returned again six years later, this time landing near St. David's. He joined forces with [RHYS351] Rhys ap Tewdyr (see SOUTH WALES PRINCES), and together overcame and killed both Prince Caradog ap Gruffydd and King Trahaearn at the Battle of Mynydd Carn (1081). Once more he was King of Gwynedd. But not long after he was captured by men of [CHES311] Hugh, 2nd Earl of Chester, and imprisoned for 12 years, when he managed to escape in 1093. He again seized power (1094), and married (c.1095) [OWAI372] Angharad (born c.1080, ferch Owain, see SEISYLLWG (2)). He again fled to Ireland (1096) as the Norman forced pushed eastward towards Anglesey, but returned two years later. He died (1137) and was afterwards buried at Bangor Cathedral. Angharad died 1162. Later mediaeval pedigrees state that "Gruffydd had five sons and three daughters with at least three other partners". Two of these partners were (apparently) an unnamed daughter of Llychwy of Llanbeulan Llifon, and Perwyr ferch Bran ap Danawal.

27. [GWYN365] Susanna (ferch Gruffydd, by Angharad) married [MADO361] Madog (ap Maredudd, see POWYS KINGDOM (2)).
28. [GWYN363] Gwenllian (ferch Gruffydd, by Angharad) married [RHYS361] Gruffudd (ap Rhys, see SOUTH WALES PRINCES).

27. [GWYN361] Owain (born on Anglesey c.1100, 2nd son ap Gruffydd, by Angharad) married 1. [LLYW362] Gwladys (ferch Llywarch, see GWYNEDD (3)); then 2. his cousin Christina (ferch [OWAI371] Gronwy ab Owain, see SEISYLLWG). He was King of Gwynedd (1137-70). He paid homage to King Henry II (1157), died on 28th November 1170, and was buried at Bangor Cathedral.

26. [GWYN371] Iorwerth drwyndwn [flat-nose] (ab Owain, by Gwladys) married 1. [MADO372] Margred (born 1134, ferch Madog, see POWYS KINGDOM (2)); then 2. ---. Iorwerth was Lord of Arfon and a Prince of Gwynedd. He died in Pennant Mehangell (1174).

25. [GWYN389] Llywelyn fawr [the great] (born at Dolwyddelan, Nantconwy, 1173, ab Iorwerth by Margred) married 1. ---; then 2. (1205) [PLAN394] Joan (see PLANTAGENET KINGS); and had an illicit relationship with 3. [HOWL382] Tangwystl Goch (ferch Llywarch Goch, see HOWLBWRCH).

He was Prince Llywelyn of Gwynedd, Prince of Abeffraw and Lord of Snowdonia (1230-), and also referred to as Prince of North Wales. Llywelyn ab Iorwerth conquered the territory of his uncle Dafydd in 1194 and established his supremacy in Gwynedd east and west of the river Conwy. He strengthened outlying regions of Gwynedd and gradually assumed overlordship over other independent Welsh rulers. By 1201 he had emerged as the ruler of the whole of Gwynedd. He paid homage to King John, marrying one of his daughter in 1205. He laid the basis of the Welsh feudal principality and is regarded as having been the most powerful and successful of independent rulers in medieval Wales. He asserted his supremacy over the other Welsh lords to such an extent that King John sent an expedition against him (1211) to force him the come to terms. However, in 1215 Llywelyn sided with the barons in their disputes with the king, and entered into an alliance with [ABER381] Reynold, 13th Lord Abergavenny, giving him his daughter Gwladys ddu hand in marriage. Another of his daughters, Margred, married (c.1217) [BRAM461] John de Braose, Marcher Lord of Gower, and in 1222 he married off another daughter, Helen, to John the Scot, nephew and heir of Ranulf de Blundeville, Earl of Chester.

In 1220 Llywelyn attacked Wiston (in Fleming territory near Haverfordwest), destroying the castle and burning the town.

Whilst [ABER391] William, 14th Lord Abergavenny, (see ABERGAVENNY BARONY) was being held prisoner by Llywelyn (1229), he succeeded in having a relationship with Llywelyn's wife Joan. When Llywelyn learned of this, he had William publicly hanged at St. Clears, near Carmarthen, (May 1230).

He built a handful of stone castles, one of which was at Criccieth, mid-way between Caernarfon and Harlech, which Llewelyn commenced building in c.1230, and its strategic position meant it was subsequently improved upon by both Llewelyn ap Gruffydd and King Edward I.


	Criccieth Castle (28 September 2001)

Llywelyn suffered a stroke (1237), then died at Aberconwy (April 1240). His arms form part of the (current) coat of arms of the Prince of Wales.

24. [GWYN399] Margred (ferch Llywelyn, by Joan) married 1. [BRAM461] John (see BREWOSE BARONY); then 2. [CLIF451] Sir Walter (see CLIFFORD).
24. [GWYN398] Gwladys ddu (ferch Llywelyn, by Tangwystl) married 1. (1215) [ABER381] Reynold (see ABERGAVENNY (BRIOUZE) BARONY); then 2. (1230) [MORT461] Ralph (see WIGMORE (MORTIMER) BARONY).

GWYNEDD KINGDOM (2)

35. [GWYZ311] Seisyllt I (born c.940, [according to one source] ab [GLAM391] Ednywain, see GLAMORGAN KINGDOM) married [GWRX312] Prawst (born c.940, ferch Elise, see under GWYNEDD KINGDOM (1) earlier).

as an aside:

For a time, the Kings of Gwynedd were selected from either Gwynedd (1) or Gwynedd (2).

34. [GWYZ321] Llywelyn (born at Rhuddlan, c.974, ap Seisyll) married [GWRI349] Angharad (born c.982, ferch Maredudd, see SEISYLLWG, DEHEUBARTH & GWYNEDD KINGDOMS), and was King of Gwynedd (1005-23), and King of Deheubarth (1018-23). After his death (1023), Angharad married 2. (1023) [MADO331] Cynfyn (ap Gwerystan, see POWYS KINGDOM (2)).

33. [GWYZ331] Gruffydd (born c.1007 else c.1020, ap Llywelyn) succeeded [GWYN331] Iago ab Idwal ap Meurig (see above) as King of Gwynedd (1039-63). He was also King of Powys (1039-53), then King of Deheubarth (1044-47 and 1055-63), and Sovereign over all Wales (1055-63). He defeated Hywel ab Edwin ab Owain ap Hywel dda at Pencader (1041). Hywel's wife then became Gruffydd's captive as part of the "spoils of war", and subsequently became his concubine. Hywel was later slain by Gruffydd's men at the Battle at the mouth of the River Tywi (1044). Gruffydd married (c.1057) [MERC352] Ealdgyth (born c.1042, see MERCIA EARLDOM (2)). Gruffydd in Snowdonia was slain by his own people (5th August 1063) and his head, together with ornaments, was sent to Earl Harald, which he presently brought to King Edward the Confessor. Afterwards Eadgyth married 2. (c.1064-66) [GODW341] King Harold II (see EARL GODWINE). After Harold's death at the Battle of Hastings (14th October 1066), she went into exile on the Continent, and died sometime after 1098. No sons of Gruffydd appear in any genealogy, but two sons (Idwal and Maredudd) are mentioned in chronicle sources. They both died in 1070, and could have been his children by Hywel's captive wife.

29-32. [GWYZ349] Nest (born at Rhuddlan, c.1059, ferch Gruffydd) married 1. [LLYW341] King Trahaearn (ap Caradog, see GWYNEDD (3)) who then became King of Gwynedd (1075, see GWYNEDD (3)); then 2. [SAY2401] Osbern FitzRichard (see SAY BY ADOPTION).