Home | Main Menu | Castle Index | Historical Essays | Related Essays | What's New | Links
The table that immediately follows comes from
The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens
by Mike Ashley, Carroll & Graf Publishers, Inc. New York, 1998.
View, purchase or read reviews about this book at Amazon.com
The native British retained a degree of autonomy in Wales throughout the Roman occupation. Little is recorded about them that can be established as firm historical fact though it is possible that the Silures, Ordovices and Demetae continued to be ruled by tribal chieftains within the Roman administration. Towards the end of this period an influx of Irish from the west and British from the east began to test these tribal boundaries and new ones emerged based, initially, on the old tribes, but subsequently developing into four main kingdoms - Gwent, Gwynedd, Powys and Deheubarth.Deheubarth came into existence in 920 when Hywel Dda (depicted at right) combined the former kingdoms of Dyfed and Seisyllwg. Occasionally rulers of Deheubarth gained control over Gwynedd and vice versa. The Normans conquered Deheubarth in 1093, though descendants of the ruling family were allowed to hold authority over Cantref Mawr ("the Great Cantref") and Ystrad Tywi, and from this base the former kingdom of Deheubarth briefly re-emerged in the 12th century under Maredudd ap Gruffydd and the Lord Rhys. Thereafter Norman control was re-exerted and Deheubarth ceased to exits as a kingdom after 1234.
Ruler | Born | Reign | Died | Notes |
Hywel Dda (the Good) | c882 | 920-50 | 950 | also ruled Gwynedd and Powys 942-50 |
After Hywel's death Gwynedd regained its independence. Hywel's three sons split the kingdom of Deheubarth, but after Rhodri died in 953 and Edwin in 954, Owain was able to reconsolidate it. | ||||
Owain ap Hywel | 954-86 | 988 | retired | |
Maredudd ab Owain | 986-99 | 999 | also annexed Gwynedd from 986 | |
After Maredudd's death the combined kingdoms of Gwynedd and Deheubarth were ruled from Gwynedd by Cynan ap Hywel from 999-1005. | ||||
Edwin ab Einion | 1005-18 | |||
Cadell ab Einion | 1005-18 |
In 1018, Llywelyn ap Seisyll of Gwynedd, who married into the Deheubarth royal family, laid claim to Deheubarth and ruled until his death in 1023. Gwynedd and Deheubarth were then overrun by Rhydderch ab Iestyn of Gwent, who styled himself king of Deheubarth.
Rhydderch ab Iestyn | 1023-33 | 1033 | also ruled Gwent; killed in battle | |
Hywel ab Edwin | 1033-44 | 1044 | killed in battle | |
Hywel was overthrown by Gruffydd ap Llywelyn of Gwynedd in 1044 and, in the ensuing power struggle, Rhydderch's son Gruffydd laid claim to Deheubarth. | ||||
Gruffydd ab Rhydderch | 1047-55 | 1055 | also ruled Gwent; killed in battle | |
Conquered by Gruffydd ap Llywelyn of Gwynedd from 1055-63. | ||||
Maredudd ab Owain ab Edwin | 1063-72 | 1072 | killed in battle | |
Rhys ab Owain ab Edwin | 1072-78 | 1078 | killed in battle | |
Rhys ap Tewdwr | 1078-93 | 1093 | briefly overthrown in 1081; killed in battle |
Deheubarth was overrun by the Normans in 1093, remaining in their possession until 1155. Territory was granted to Rhy's son Gruffydd in 1116, and further land was progressively regained after the grand revolt of 1136/37.
Gruffydd ap Rhys | c1090 | 1116-37 | 1137 | ruled only Cantref Mawr; killed in battle |
Anarawd ap Gruffydd | c1116 | 1136-43 | 1143 | murdered |
Cadell ap Gruffydd | 1143-51 | c1175 | seriously injured and incapacitated | |
Maredudd ap Gruffydd | c1130 | 1151-55 | 1155 | rebuilt old kingdom of Deheubarth |
Rhys ap Gruffydd | c1133 | 1155-97 | 1197 | in 1158 submitted to Henry II and dropped title of king, being known as the Lord Rhys |
Gruffydd ap Rhys | 1197-1201 | 1201 | ||
Maelgwyn ap Rhys | c1170 | 1199-1230 | 1230 | gained control of Ceredigion, though he lost the northern part in 1207 |
Rhys Gryg (the Hoarse) | 1216-34 | 1234 | ruled Cantref Mawr (from 1204) and neighbouring territory; died of wounds |
After the deaths of Maelgwyn and Rhys the princes of Deheubarth were effectively minor lords subject to Gwynedd and ruling small commotes and cantrefs in Ystrad Tywi and Ceredigion with no real authority. Rhys ap Maredudd below was the last to make a stand in the South and was briefly proclaimed lord of Ystrad Tywi.
Rhys Mechyll | 1234-44 | 1244 | ruled Cantref Mawr only | |
Maredudd | 1244-71 | 1271 | ruled Cantref Mawr only | |
Rhys ap Maredudd | 1271-83 | 1291 | ruled Cantref Mawr only; executed for treason |
HYWEL DDA (d.950) = Elen, dau of Llywarch
Rhodri (d.953) Owain (d.988) Edwin (d.954)
Einon
Cadell
Tewdwr
RHYS
Gruffydd = Gwenllian
THE LORD RHYS (d.1197) = Gwenllian
Gruffydd Rhys Gryg Maelgwn Maredudd
Learn more about early Medieval Wales
Learn more about the early kingdoms of Wales
Home | Main Menu | Castle Index | Historical Essays | Related Essays | What's New | Links
Copyright © 2009 by Mike Ashley and the Castles of Wales Website