Gruffudd ap Llywelyn, Last of the Ancient Kings of Wales

This post was last updated on March 26th, 2025 at 08:14 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 discontented 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 Cadell	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 Cadell
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.