List of rulers in Wales


This is a list of rulers in Wales during the Middle Ages, between the 5th and 16th centuries. The 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.
Before the Edwardian Conquest, completed in 1283, Wales consisted of several independent realms, the most important being Gwynedd, Powys, Deheubarth and Morgannwg. 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, 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 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
  • Tewdwr ap Rhain ;
  • Nowy ;
  • Gruffudd ap Nowy.

    Kings and Princes of Ceredigion

  • Ceredig ap Cunedda, c. 5th century ;
  • Usai ap Ceredig ;
  • Serwyl ab Usai ;
  • Boddw ap Serwyl ;
  • Arthfoddw ap Boddw ;
  • Arthlwys ab Arthfoddw ;
  • Clydog ab Arthlwys ;
  • Seisyll ap Clydog, King of Seisyllwg ;
  • Arthen ap Seisyll ;
  • Dyfnwallon ab Arthen ;
  • Meurig ap Dyfnwallon ;
  • Gwgon ap Meurig.

    Kings and Princes of Dyfed

  • Triffyn Farfog
  • Aergol Lawhir
  • Vortiporius
  • Cloten
  • 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
  • Einion Yrth ap Cunedda
  • Cadwallon Lawhir ap Einion
  • Maelgwn Hir ap Cadwallon
  • Rhun Hir ap Maelgwn
  • Beli ap Rhun
  • Iago ap Beli
  • Cadfan ap Iago
  • Cadwallon ap Cadfan
  • Cadafael Cadomedd ap Cynfeddw
  • Cadwaladr Fendigaid ap Cadwallon
  • Idwal Iwrch ap Cadwaladr
  • Rhodri Molwynog ap Idwal
  • Caradog ap Meirion
  • Cynan Dindaethwy ap Rhodri
  • Hywel ap Caradog
  • Merfyn Frych ap Gwriad

    Princes of Dogfeiling

  • Dogfael ap Cunedda Wledig
  • Elno ap Dogfael
  • Glas ap Elno
  • Elgud ap Glas ap Elno
  • Elaeth ab Elgud
  • Meurig ap Elaeth

    Princes of Dunoding

  • Dunod ap Cunedda Wledig
  • Eifion ap Dunod ap Cunedda
  • Dingad ap Eifion
  • Meurig ap Dingad
  • Eifion ap Meurig
  • Issac ap Eifion ap Meurig
  • Pobien Hen ap Isaac
  • Pobddelw ap Pobien Hen
  • Eifion ap Pobddelw
  • Brochwel ap Eifion
  • Eigion ap Brochwel ab Eifion
  • Ieuanawl ab Eigion
  • Caradog ap Ieuanawl
  • Blieddud ap Caradog
  • Cuhelyn ap Bleiddud

    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 ap Cadwr
  • Dyfnwal ap Deiniog
  • 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
  • Cynlas Goch ab Owain Gwyn
  • St Einion ap Owain
  • Maig ab Owain ap Cynlas
  • Cadal Crysban
  • Idgwyn ap Cadwal Crysbyn
  • Einion ab Idgwyn
  • Rhufon ap Einion ap Idgwyn
  • Hywel ap Rhufon
  • Meirion ap Hywel ap Rhufon
  • Hywel ap Caradog

    Princes of Rhufoniog

  • Rhufon ap Cunedda Wledig
  • Breichiol
  • Môr ap Breichiol
  • Aeddan ap Môr
  • Morudd ab Aeddan
  • Môr ap Morudd

    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, King of Ergyng
  • Cynfyn ap Peibio
  • Gwrfoddw
  • Gwrgan Fawr ap Cynfyn

    Kings of Ewyas

Regional Kingdom of Ewyas in Wales and Herefordshire, England.
  • Clydog ap Clydwyn

    Kings of Glywysing

  • Glywys ap Solor
  • *Pawl Penychen
  • *Mechwyn, ruler of Gorfynydd, cantref of Glywysing
  • Ithel ap Morgan
  • Hywel ap Rhys
  • Gruffydd ab Owain
  • Cadwgan ab Owain
  • Hywel ab Owain

    Prince of Glywysing

  • Athrwys ap Meurig

    Kings of Gwent

  • Ynyr Gwent
  • Caradoc ap Ynyr
  • Ffernfael ab Idwal
  • Ithel ap Hywel
  • *Ffernafael ab Ithel ap Morgan
  • *Meurig ap Hywel
  • *Ffernfael ap Meurig
  • *Brochwel ap Meurig
  • Arthfael ap Hywel
  • Ithel ab Athrwys ap Ffernfael
  • Arthfael ap Noe
  • Rhodri ab Elise
  • Gruffudd ap Elise
  • Edwyn ap Gwriad

    Rulers of Gwynllŵg

Kings and Lords in the cantref of Gwynllwg, in Glamorgan.
  • Gwynllyw ap Glywys, ruler of Gwynllwg, cantref of Glywysing
  • *Saint Cadoc, 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
  • Owain, King of Morgannwg
  • Morgan Hen ab Owain
  • Owain ap Morgan Hen

    Kingdom of Powys

Kings of Powys

  • Gwrtheyrn, ruled Buellt and Gwrtheyrnion
  • *Cadeyrn Fendigaid
  • **Cadell Ddyrnllug
  • ***Cyngen Glodrydd
  • **Rhuddfedel Frych
  • *Pasgen ap Gwrtheyrn, ruled Buellt and Gwrtheyrnion
  • **Mawgan ap Pasgen
  • Brochwel Ysgithrog
  • Cynan Garwyn
  • Selyf ap Cynan
  • Manwgan ap Selyf
  • Eiludd Powys
  • Beli ab Eiludd, son of Manwgan/Myngan
  • Gwylog ap Beli
  • Elisedd ap Gwylog
  • Brochfael ab Elisedd
  • Cadell ap Brochfael ab Aeddan
  • Cyngen ap Cadell ap Brochwel
    Descendants of Rhodri Mawr
  • Merfyn ap Rhodri
  • Llywelyn ap Merfyn

    Pengwern

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

    Welsh regional kingdoms

All of Wales

of Wales as a modern territory by 1055.
  • Gruffydd ap Llywelyn

    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

    Kings and Princes of Buellt and Gwrtheyrnion

  • Pasgen ap Gwrtheryn, son of Vortigern
  • Pawl ap Mepurit
  • Eldog ap Pawl
  • Eldad ab Eldog ap Paul
  • Morudd ab Eldad
  • Pasgen Buellt ap Gwyddaint
  • Tewdwr ap Pasgen
  • Gloud ap Pasgn Buellt
  • Ffernfael ap Tewdwr

    Ceredigion, Meirionnydd, Gwynedd

King of an enlarged Gwynedd, including Ceredigion, Meirionnydd and Dyffryn Clwyd, making his realm North West and West Wales.
Kingdoms in the west and northwest of Wales.
  • Maredudd ab Owain
  • Aeddan ap Blegywryd
  • Llywelyn ap Seisyll

    Deheubarth, Gwynedd, Powys

North and Mid to Southwest Wales.
  • Rhodri Mawr

    Dyfed, Brycheiniog

  • Cathen ap Gwlyddein
  • Cadwgon ap Cathen
  • Rhain ap Cadwgan, and Ystrad Tywi

    Dyfed, Gwynedd, Powys, Seisyllwg

King of all of Wales, except for Morgannwg and Gwent.
  • Hywel Dda

    Ergyng, Gwent

  • Erb

    Glywysing, Gwent

Southeast of Wales.
  • Tewdrig
  • Meurig ap Tewdrig
  • Morgan ab Athrwys
  • Meurig ab Ithel
  • Arthfael Hen ap Rhys
  • Owain ap Hywel
  • Caradog ap Gruffydd
  • Iestyn ap Gwrgan

    Gwent, Morgannwg

South and Southeast of Wales.
  • Meurig ap Hywel
  • Cadwgan ap Meurig

    Welsh Royal Houses (870s–1283)

The three royal houses of Wales' regions were first divided by Rhodri the Great in the 9th century. Of his children, two of King's sons began royal dynasties. Anarawd reigned in Gwynedd, and Cadell founded Deheubarth, then another son Merfyn reigned in Powys.

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

    Aberffraw King of Ceredigion

  • Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd

    Aberffraw Prince of Anglesey

  • Maelgwn ab Owain Gwynedd

    Aberffraw Princes of Gwynedd

  • Rhodri ab Owain Gwynedd
  • Owain Goch ap Gruffydd

    Dinefwr

The Kingdom of Deheubarth was formed by the union of the Kingdoms of Ceredigion and Dyfed by Hywel Dda in 910.