This post was last updated on September 6th, 2024 at 02:52 pm
After the Romans withdrew from Wales, the Welsh tribes became more autonomous. Now free from outside government, chieftains ruled over small parts of Cymru. Territories became kingdoms. Gruffudd ap Llewelyn was the only ruler of all the ancient kings of Wales who united the country as a whole.
The story of the ancient kings of Wales begins with the Roman departure from Britain in 383 AD. Celtic tribal chieftains, freed from the yoke of Roman rule, fought amongst themselves to keep or establish control over their lands and defend their territory from invaders. These territories eventually became kingdoms.
The most important of these realms were Ceredigion (later known as Gwynedd), Seisyllwg (later Powys), Dyfed (later Deheubarth), and Morgannwg (formed of Glywysing and Gwent). Welsh kings and princes ruled their kingdoms until the Middle Ages when King Edward I of England overthrew Wales’ last ruler, Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, in 1282—over 200 years after Gruffudd ap Llewelyn’s death.
Known as “Llewelyn the Last,” like some other Welsh rulers, Llewelyn ap Gruffydd went by the title of “Prince” and not “King.” Why? The truth is that the Welsh used both titles at different times and for different reasons. One reason may have been to distinguish themselves from other independent rulers in Wales and set themselves apart from the English king. After Edward I conquered Llewelyn and gained control of the land, Edward gave his son the title “Prince of Wales.” Since then, the heir apparent to the English and British throne has always inherited the title.
This post is about Gruffudd ap Llewelyn, who has been called the last of the ancient kings of Wales.
Ancient Kings of Wales
Another reason Welsh rulers often used the title of “Prince” instead of “King” was that the kingdoms weren’t united—there was no “King of the Britons.” A single ruler seldom led them, and when he did, it wasn’t for long. The last Welsh ruler to hold the title of King was Gruffudd ap Llewelyn in the 11th century. Today, we sometimes refer to him as “the first and last king of Wales.” Not only did he unify Wales, but he also conquered some of the border lands the English had previously controlled. When Gruffudd was killed in 1063, the remaining Welsh leaders called themselves princes again.
While we hear more about Llewelyn ap Gruffydd in the 13th century, the last ruler of Wales before the English subdued it, Gruffudd ap Llewelyn (200 years earlier) was a key figure in history as the last of the ancient Welsh kings. By that, we should clarify that we’re referring to the title used more than how the rulers functioned. The princes in ancient Wales acted very much like kings in their capacities. They often ruled subkingdoms, smaller kingdoms within larger ones such as Gwynedd or Powys.
Gruffudd ruled as the King of Wales from 1055 – 1063. Something worth noting here is that Gruffudd’s given name also frequently appears with the spelling “Gruffydd.” In this article and throughout this website, we’re using “Gruffudd” as the spelling. Michael Davies and Sean Davies, the authors of the exceptional book The Last King of Wales: Gruffudd ap Llywelyn, c. 1013-1063, have listed the king’s name as above.
The Life of Gruffudd ap Llewelyn in the Ancient History of Wales
Historians believe Gruffudd was born a prince in 1010 or 1011 AD in Rhuddlan, in the Kingdom of Powys, North Wales. Although history hasn’t left us much about Gruffudd’s childhood, we know a bit from the stories of Walter Map, a writer and the courtier of King Henry II of England. Map said that Gruffudd was slow, downcast, and generally without direction in his youth. However, later in life, he became ambitious and took on responsibilities. It didn’t take long until his aspirations soared higher than anyone could have guessed!
In 1039, after Iago ab Idwal, the King of Gwynedd, was killed by his own men, Gruffudd took the lead and became king of both Powys and Gwynedd. He then took on the Saxons of Mercia, the neighboring kingdom to Welsh borders. He and his fighters achieved a victory in the battle of Rhyd-y-groes on the Severn River. As the Welsh kingdoms had been fighting the Saxons for hundreds of years, Gruffudd gained favor immediately among the Welsh people.
The Welsh Marches
Gruffudd’s victory over Mercia made the borderland between Wales and England known as the “Welsh Marches” safe for his people. Not only did this bring the Welsh more security, but it instantly boosted Gruffudd’s status and influence with his subjects. Quelling the Saxons gave him the support he needed to take the other Welsh kingdoms by force or bring them under his rule through diplomacy. By about 1055, Gruffudd ap Llewelyn had united all of Wales.
Alliance with Mercia
A critical reason that Gruffudd succeeded in solidifying his rule of the Welsh kingdoms was that he allied with Aelfgar, the Saxon King of Mercia. As Mercia was a neighboring English kingdom, this alliance only increased the security Gruffudd achieved with his victory over the Marches. How was this possible, especially since Wales and England had been enemies for centuries, and it was the Mercians who Gruffudd had defeated at Rhyd-y-groes? Aelfgar had his own enemies he needed help with—the Godwine family in Northumbria.
When Aelfgar was exiled, he recruited an Irish mercenary fleet. Gruffudd also gathered a vast army, and together, he and Aelfgar attacked the Saxons and Normans under Earl Ralf. With Gruffudd and Aelfgar’s forces victorious, they set the town of Hereford afire. Aelfgar was later able to return to his own lands. Gruffudd then married Aelfgar’s daughter, Ealdgyth. The alliance of Gruffudd’s Wales and Aelfgar’s Mercia eventually culminated in a peace treaty with Edward the Confessor of Wessex in 1056.
The Death of Gruffudd ap Llewelyn
Unfortunately, Aelfgar’s death late in 1062 gave discontent members of the Godwine family the opportunity they’d been looking for. Harold Godwinesson, the Earl of Wessex, attacked Gruffudd’s court without warning. He then turned some of Gruffudd’s own compatriots against him. Not all the princes and other lords of Wales agreed with Gruffudd’s rule, so Harold used these rivalries to his advantage. In 1063, Gruffudd ap Llewelyn, the last king of Wales, was slain by his own men. The traitors then sent the earl Gruffudd’s head.
Gruffudd’s death left England and Wales vulnerable to the Norman rule that soon followed. For a brief time, of all the ancient kings of Wales, he had brought his country together in a way like no one before him. Gruffudd may have given the people of his time more than any other leader had. He brought vision, identity, and alliance with Anglo-Saxon England. We’ll always remember Gruffud ap Llewelyn’s story among famous Welsh kings and as a founding father of Cymru.
Ancient Kings of Wales in Order
Here is an ancient kings of Wales timeline showing the leaders of the kingdoms in Cymru in the order they ruled. While we don’t know the exact dates for many of these kings and princes, we do have a good idea of their approximate times of leadership based on historical records. Larger kingdoms, like Gwynedd, often had a king with princes ruling over sub-kingdoms within it. This king of Wales list includes some rulers of petty kingdoms, cantrefs, and commotes (subdivisions of cantrefs).
Kingdom of Gwynedd
| King of Gwynedd | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Cunedda Wledig ap Edern | 370 | |
| Einion Yrth ap Cunedda | Einion the Impetuous | 410 |
| Cadwallon Lawhir ap Einion | Cadwallon Long Hand | 440 |
| Maelgwn Hir ap Cadwallon | Maelgwn the Tall, Maelgwn Gwynedd | died 547 |
| Rhun Hir ap Maelgwn | Rhun the Tall | 500 |
| Beli ap Rhun | ||
| Iago ap Beli | died approx. 616 | |
| Cadfan ap Iago | 565 | |
| Cadwallon ap Cadfan | died 634 | |
| Cadafael ap Cynfeddw | Cadfael the Battle-Shirker | |
| Cadwaladr Fendigaid ap Cadwallon | Cadwaladr the Blessed | died 664 |
| Idwal Iwrch ap Cadwaladr | Idwal Roebuck | 660 |
| Rhodri Molwynog ap Idwal | Rhodri the Bald and Gray | died 754 |
| Caradog ap Meirion | died 798, Prince of Rhos | |
| Cynan Dindaethwy ap Rhodri | died 816 | |
| Hywel ap Caradog | ||
| Merfyn Frych ap Gwriad | died 844 |
Kingdom of Dunoding (Sub-kingdom)
| Princes of Dunoding | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| 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 |
Kingdom of Rhufoniog (Sub-kingdom)
| Princes of Rhufoniog | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Rhufon ap Cunedda Wledig | 400 | |
| Breichiol of Rhufoniog | 830 | |
| Mor ap Breichiol | 870 | |
| Aeddan ap Mor | 900 | |
| Morudd ap Aeddan | 930 | |
| Mor ap Morudd | 970 |
Kingdom of Dogfeiling (Sub-kingdom)
| Princes of Dogfeiling | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| 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 |
Kingdom of Rhos (Sub-kingdom)
| Princes of Rhos | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Owain Ddantgwyn ap Einion Yrth | 440 | |
| Cynlas Goch ab Owain Gwyn | 470 | |
| St Einion (Llŷn) ap Owain | 470 | |
| Maig ab Owain ap Cynlas | 500 | |
| Cadal Crysban | 560 | |
| 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 |
Ancient Kings of Wales: Kingdom of Dyfed
| Kings and Princes of Dyfed | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Triffyn Farfog | 430 | |
| Aergol Lawhir | 460 | |
| Vortiporius | ||
| Cloten ap Nowy ap Arthur | Also called “Gwlyddein” | 600 |
| Maredudd ap Tewdwr | died 796 | |
| Rhain ap Maredudd | died 808 | |
| Owain ap Maredudd | died 811 | |
| Triffyn ap Rhain | died 814 | |
| Hyfaidd ap Bleddri | died 893 | |
| Llywarch ap Hyfaidd | died 904 | |
| Rhodri ap Hyfaidd | died 905 |
Kingdom of Morgannwg
Kingdom of Ewyas (Sub-kingdom)
The Kingdom of Ewyas (also spelled “Ewias”) was a regional kingdom existing in what is now Wales and Herefordshire, England.
| Kings of Ewyas | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Clydog ap Clydwyn | Grandson of Brychan | 400 |
Kingdom of Ergyng (Sub-kingdom)
| Kings of Ergyng | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Peibio Clafrog ap Erb | 525 | |
| Cynfyn ap Peibio | 550 | |
| Gwrfoddw | ||
| Gwrgan Fawr ap Cynfyn | 650 |
Kingdom of Glywysing (Sub-kingdom)
| Kings of Glywysing | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Glywys ap Solor | 430 | |
| Pawl Penychen | 465 | |
| Mechwyn | ruler of Gorfynydd, which was possibly a cantref of Glywysing | |
| Ithel ap Morgan | ruled from 710–745 | |
| Hywel ap Rhys | died around the year 886 | |
| Gruffydd ab Owain | King of Gower | died in 934 or 935 |
| Cadwgan ab Owain | King of Margam | died 949 |
| Hywel ab Owain | King of Glad Forgan – Glamorgan | died 1043 |
| Prince of Glywysing | ||
| Athrwys ap Meurig | 620 |
Cantref of Gwynllŵg
Gwynllŵg was a cantref (a medieval land division similar to a county) in Glamorgan (Gwent).
| Rulers of Gwynllŵg | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Gwynllyw ap Glywys | ruler of Gwynllwg, cantref of Glywysing | 460 |
| Saint Cadoc | son of Gwynllyw, ruler of Gwynllwg | 495 |
Kingdom of Gwent (Sub-kingdom)
| Kings of Gwent | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Ynyr Gwent | 450 | |
| Caradoc ap Ynyr | 480 | |
| Ffernfael ab Idwal | ||
| Ithel ap Hywel | ||
| 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 | died 848 | |
| Arthfael ap Noe | 930 | |
| Rhodri ab Elise | ||
| Gruffudd ap Elise | ||
| Edwyn ap Gwriad | 1020 |
The Kingdom of Morgannwg (Sub-kingdom)
The Kingdom of Morgannwg was sometimes an independent kingdom, and at other times, it was formed from the two Kingdoms of Morgannwg and Gwent.
| Kings of Morgannwg | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Ithel ab Athrwys ab Meurig | 650 | |
| Owain | King of Morgannwg | 930 |
| Morgan Hen ab Owain | died 974 | |
| Owain ap Morgan Hen | 974 |
The Kingdom of Ceredigion
| Kings and Princes of Ceredigion | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Ceredig ap Cunedda | possibly 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, Ceredigion, and Ystrad Tywi | 690 |
| Arthen ap Seisyll | died 807 | |
| Dyfnwallon ab Arthen | 750 | |
| Meurig ap Dyfnwallon | 780 | |
| Gwgon ap Meurig | died 872 |
Kingdom of Powys
| Kings of Powys | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Vortigern | High-King Gwrtheyrn. Ruled Buellt and Gwrtheyrnion | 365 |
| Cadeyern Fendigaid | Also called Cateyrn ap Gwrtheyrn | 400 |
| Rhuddfedel Frych | ||
| Morgan ap Pasgen | Also called Mawgan ap Pascen | 430 |
| Cadell Ddyrnllwg | son of Cadeyern | 430 |
| Cyngen Glodrydd | son of Cadell | 460 |
| Pasgen ap Cyngen | ||
| Brochwel Ysgithrog | 490 | |
| Cynan Garwyn | 520 | |
| Selyf ap Cynan | Also called Selyf Sarffgadau | 550 |
| Manwgan ap Selyf | Also called Mael Myngan ap Self Sarffgadau | 580 |
| Eiludd Powys | ||
| Beli ap Eiludd | son of Manwgan/Myngan | |
| Elisedd ap Gwylog | 680 | |
| Brochfael ap Elisedd | Also called Brochwel ap Elise | 705 |
| Cadell ap Brochfael | Also called Cadell ap Brochwel ap Aeddan | |
| Cyngen ap Cadell | Also called Cyngen ap Cadell ap Brochwel | died 855 |
| Merfyn ap Rhodri | Son of Rhodri the Great (Rhodri Mawr) | died 904 |
| Llywelyn ap Merfyn | Grandson of Rhodri the Great | 870 |
Kingdom of Pengwern (Petty Kingdom)
Pengwern was a petty kingdom located in what is now the Midlands. It was possibly near the Wrekin, a hill in Shropshire, England.
| Kings of Pengwern | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Cyndrwyn | 535 | |
| Cynddylan ap Cyndrwyn | alive during 642 |
Kingdom of Brycheiniog
| Kings of Brycheiniog | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Anlach mac Cormac | ||
| Brychan Brycheiniog ap Anlach | 400 or 470 | |
| Tewdwr ap Rhain | 700 | |
| Nowy | 725 | |
| Gruffudd ap Nowy | 750 |
Ancient Kings of Wales: Welsh Regional Kingdoms
All of Wales
| Gruffudd ap Llywelyn | Ruler of all of Wales by 1055 | 1039–1063 |
North Wales
Gwynedd and Powys
| Kings and Princes of Gwynedd and Powys | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Iago ab Idwal | died 942 | |
| Bleddyn ap Cynfyn | died 1075 | |
| Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn | died 1070 |
South Wales
| Cadell ap Rhodri | 878–910 |
Cantref of Buellt and Commote of Gwrtheyrnion
Note: A “commote” is a territorial division under a cantref.
| Kings and Princes of Buellt and Gwrtheyrnion | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Pasgen ap Gwrtheryn | Also called Pascent. Son of Vortigern | 400 |
| 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 |
Deheubarth and Gwynedd
Regions: West and Northwest of Wales.
| Kings of Deheubarth, Gwynedd | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Maredudd ab Owain | Owain ap Hywel’s son | died 999 |
| Aeddan ap Blegywryd | died 1018 | |
| Llywelyn ap Seisyll | died 1023 |
Ceredigion, Meirionnydd, Gwynedd
Regions: Kingdom of Gwynedd when it encompassed a larger area, including Ceredigion (Deheubarth), Meirionnydd, and Dyffryn Clwyd, making the king’s realm Northwest and West Wales. He also ruled Rhos and Rhufoniog.
| Gruffudd ap Cynan | King of Gwynedd | 1081–1137 |
Deheubarth, Gwynedd, Powys
Regions: North and Mid to Southwest Wales.
| Kings of Dyfed, Brycheiniog | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Cathen ap Gwlyddein | 625 | |
| Cadwgon ap Cathen | 650 | |
| Rhain ap Cadwgan | Also called Cadwgon. Also ruled Ystrad Tywi in Southwest Wales. | 675 |
| King of Deheubarth, Gwynedd, Powys | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Rhodri Mawr | 872–878 |
| King of Dyfed, Gwynedd, Powys, Seisyllwg | ||
| Hywel Dda | Hywel the Good. King of all of Wales, except for Gwent and Morgannwg in the south. | died 950 |
Ergyng, Gwent
Region: Southeast of Wales
| King of Ergyng, Gwent | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Erb | 500 |
Glywysing, Gwent
Region: Southeast of Wales
| Kings of Glywysing, Gwent | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Tewdrig | Glywysing and Gwent | 575 |
| Meurig ap Tewdrig | Glywysing and Gwent | 590 |
| Morgan ab Athrwys | Glywysing and Gwent | 650 |
| Meurig ab Ithel | born approx.. 720, reign 745–775 | |
| Arthfael Hen ap Rhys | Arthfael the Old | 760 |
| Owain ap Hywel | 860 | |
| Caradog ap Gruffydd | died 1081 | |
| Iestyn ap Gwrgan | Lord of Glamorgan. Also called Iestyn ap Gwrgant. | 1081–1093 |
Gwent, Morgannwg
Regions: South and Southeast of Wales
| Kings of Gwent, Morgannwg | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Meurig ap Hywel | Gwent and Morgannwg | |
| Cadwgan ap Meurig | Gwent and Morgannwg |
Who Is the King of Wales Now?
No one has held the title “King of Wales” since Gruffudd ap Llewelyn. However, Charles III held the title “Prince of Wales” for 64 years. He acceded to the British throne on 8 September 2022, upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Since then, Charles III has been the king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The UK consists of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland (but not the Republic of Ireland).
If you’d like to see an ancient kings of Wales map, this one on Britain Express shows the major kingdoms of Cymru from 500 to 700 AD.
This post was about Gruffudd ap Llewelyn, who has been called the last of the ancient kings of Wales.
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