The Early Welsh Kingdoms
Gwynedd

 

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. Gwynedd covered the territory of the Ordovices, but the kingdom established by Cunedda brought together migratory British from elsewhere in Britain. The territory was originally known as Venedotia, a name which mutated to Gwynedd over the next two centuries. The heart of Gwynedd was originally at Deganwy, but shifted to Anglesey and at one time included the Isle of Man. It became the most powerful kingdom in Wales.

Gwynedd was always the primary kingdom of Wales, even though it has moments when it was dominated by rulers from the south. It had several great rulers during its early years but the first to earn the title "the Great" was Rhodri ap Merfyn who by 871 had inherited Powys (855) and Seisyllwg, in addition to Gwynedd, and was effectively ruler of all northern and western Wales.

Upon Owain's death his lands were divided between his sons, of whom Maelgwyn inherited Anglesey. Civil War broke out from 1170-74, from which emerged two victors who eventually divided the kingdom between them. Another son, Cynan, succeeded in retaining his land at Merioneth and briefly re-establishing a ruling dynasty there.

 

With the death of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd in 1282 and his brother Dafydd the following year, 400 years of dominance in Wales by the house of Gwynedd came to an end. The kingdom had survived intense pressures from within Wales, as well as outside threats from Saxons, Vikings and Norman would-be-conquerors. It had survived and prospered through a combination of skilled military leadership and diplomacy, efforts that nevertheless failed to withstand the final determined assault from the English in the person of Edward I.   Learn more about Medieval Gwynedd Learn more about early Medieval Wales Learn more about the early kingdoms of Wales

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