List of monarchs of Powys

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The kingdom of Powys covered the eastern part of central Wales. Regions included Builth and Gwerthrynion. It is important to note it was occupied by the Irish for a few years by Banadl (usually given as 441–447 AD),[citation needed] and was united with Gwynedd in 854 upon the death of Cyngen ap Cadell by his nephew Rhodri Mawr.

## Rulers of Powys

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### Kings of Powys

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Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Powys (-1160) then the Principality of Powys Wenwynwyn (1160-1283).

The sequence of, and relationships between several, of the earliest recorded rulers of Powys are known primarily from much later sources such as the Harleian Genealogies, which include several contradictory lines of Powysian kings and show every sign of scribal error and in some case deliberate alteration.[1][2] Therefore the following list, especially for the semi-legendary House of Gwertherion, cannot be considered certain.

#### House of Gwertherion

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* Gwrtheyrn (High-King Vortigern), allegedly married to Sevira, daughter of Magnus Maximus
* Cadeyern Fendigaid (c. 430–447), reputed to be the eldest son of Gwrtheyrn
* Cadell Ddyrnllwg (c. 447–460), said in the Historia Brittonum to have been blessed by Saint Germanus and succeeded Benlli Gawr, not Cadeyern.
* Rhuddfedel Frych (c. 480)
* Cyngen Glodrydd (c. 500)
* Pasgen ap Cadeyrn (c. 530)
* Mawgan ap Pasgen (c. 540)
* Brochwel Ysgithrog (c. 550)
* Cynan Garwyn (?–610)
* Selyf ap Cynan (610–613)
* Manwgan ap Selyf (613)
* Eiludd Powys (613–?)
* Beli ap Eiludd (655–695?)
* Gwylog ap Beli (695?–725)
* Elisedd ap Gwylog (725–755?)
* Brochfael ap Elisedd (755?–773)
* Cadell ap Brochfael (773–808)
* Cyngen ap Cadell (808–854) - throne usurped by Rhodri Mawr of Gwynedd and exiled to Rome where the family endured

#### House of Manaw

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* Rhodri Mawr (854–878) of Gwynedd, allegedly inheriting through his mother Nest, according to some manuscripts. Other manuscripts (eg. Mostyn manuscript 117) have his mother as Essyllt ferch Cynan (thought to be the daughter of Cynan Dindaethwy of Gwynedd).
* Merfyn ap Rhodri (878–900) (house of Aberffraw)
* Llywelyn ap Merfyn (900–942) (house of Aberffraw)
* Hywel Dda (942–950) (house of Dinefwr usurped from the Aberffraw line of Manaw)
* Owain ap Hywel (950–986) (Mathrafal dynasty, cadet branch of the House of Dinefwr)
* Maredudd ap Owain (986–999)
* Llywelyn ap Seisyll (999–1023), husband of Angharad, daughter of Maredudd ab Owain
* Rhydderch ap Iestyn (1023–1033)
* Iago ap Idwal (1033–1039)
* Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, invader and prince of Gwynedd (1039–1063)

### Mathrafal Princes of Powys

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* Bleddyn ap Cynfyn (1063–1075)
* Iorwerth ap Bleddyn (1075–1103 (part))
* Cadwgan ap Bleddyn (1075–1111 (part))
* Owain ap Cadwgan (1111–1116 (part))
* Maredudd ap Bleddyn (1116–1132)
* Madog ap Maredudd (1132–1160)

From 1160 Powys was split into two parts. The southern part was later called Powys Wenwynwyn after Gwenwynwyn ab Owain "Cyfeiliog" ap Madog, while the northern part was called Powys Fadog after Madog ap Gruffydd "Maelor" ap Madog.

## Family tree

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| | | | Rowena| | Gwrtheyrn| | Serena

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Madrun| | Vortimer (Brydw)| | Cadeyrn Fendigaid| | Pasgen| | Flaviana| | Edeyrn| | Scothnoe| | Faustus| |
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| | | | | Cadeyrn Ddyrnllug| | | | Rhuddfedel Frych| | | |
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Tegid| | | Gwynfyr Frych| | Cyngen Glodrydd| | Tudlwystl| | | Ystradwel| | | Ddewer| | | Cadeyrn

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Pasgen| | Brochfael Ysgithrog| | Arddun| | Sanan| | | Cadell| | | Ieuaf| | | Maig Myngvras| | | Mawn

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Morgan| | Cynan Garwyn| | Tysilio| | Mawn| | Iago
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Acca| | Selyf Sarffgadau| | | | | | | | Eiludd| | Dinogan| | Afandreg
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| | Manwgan| | | | Donan| | | | | |
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Beli
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Gwylog| | Sanan

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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Elisedd
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Brochfael
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| | | | | | | | | | | | Cadell| | | | | | Cyngen
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| | | | | | | | | Nesta| | | | Cyngen

## See also

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* List of rulers of Wales
* Powys Fadog
* Powys Wenwynwyn
* Mechain
* Edeirnion

## References

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1. ^ Rev. A. W. Wade-Evans (1930). "Beuno Sant". Archeologica Cambrensis. 85: 337–338. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
2. ^ A.W. Wade-Evans (1951). R.C. Reid (ed.). "Who was Ninian?" (PDF). Transactions of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society. Third series. XXVIII. Dumfries: Council of the Society: 86–88. Retrieved 6 April 2025.

## External links

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* The History Files: Celtic Kingdoms of the British Isles – Pagenses / Paganes (Romano-Britons)
* The History Files: Celtic Kingdoms of the British Isles – Powys (Wales)
* Kings of Powys: British Monarchs

* v
* t
* e

Rulers of medieval Wales

|  | Territories/dates[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] | Powys | Dogfeiling | Gwynedd | Dunoding | Ceredigion | Ystrad Tywi | Dyfed | Brycheiniog | Glywysing | Gwent | Ergyng

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400–600  | Sub-Roman Britain

Kingdom of Powys
Gwrtheyrn Catigern Cadell Ddyrnllwg Rhuddfedel Frych Cyngen Glodrydd Brochwel Ysgithrog Cynan Garwyn Selyf ap Cynan Manwgan ap Selyf | Kingdom of Gwynedd | Kingdom of Dyfed
Triffyn Farfog
Aergol Lawhir
Vortiporius | Brycheiniog
Anlach mac Cormac Brychan | Glywysing
Mor Solor Glywys
Gwynllŵg
Gwynllyw Cadoc |
Kingdom of Gwent
Ynyr Gwent
Caradoc Vreichvras | Ergyng
Peibio Clafrog
Cynfyn
Gwrfoddw
Gwrgan Fawr
Dogfeiling
Dogfael ap Cunedda Wledig Elno ap Dogfael Glas ap Elno Elgud ap Glas ap Elno Elaeth ab Elgud Meurig ap Elaeth |
House of Gwynedd
Cunedda Wledig Einion Yrth ap Cunedda Cadwallon Lawhir Maelgwn Gwynedd Rhun Hir ap Maelgwn Beli ap Rhun Iago ap Beli Cadfan ap Iago Cadwallon ap Cadfan Cadafael Cadwaladr | Dunoding
Dunod ap Cunedda Eifion ap Dunod Dingad ab Eifion Meurig ad 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 Bleiddud ap Caradog Cuhelyn ap Bleiddud |
Kingdom of Ceredigion
Ceredig ap Cunedda Usai ap Ceredig Serwyl ab Usai Boddw ap Serwyl Arthfoddw ap Boddw Athrwys ab Arthfoddw Clydog ab Athrwys
600–613  | Cloten Cathen ap Gwlyddein Cadwgan ap Caten Rhain ap Cadwgan | Tewdrig
Meurig ap Tewdrig
613–642  | Eluadd ap Glast (Eiludd Powys)
642–645  | Manwgan ap Selyf Beli ab Eiludd Gwylog ap Beli Elisedd ap Gwylog Brochfael ab Elisedd Cadell ap Brochfael Cyngen ap Cadell
645–682  | Athrwys ap Meurig Morgan ab Athrwys Ithel ap Morgan Meurig ab Ithel
682–740  | Idwal Iwrch Rhodri Molwynog Caradog ap Meirion Cynan Dindaethwy Hywel ap Caradog
730–745  | Seisyllwg
Seisyll ap Clydog Arthen ap Seisyll Dyfnwallon ab Arthen Meurig ap Dyfnwallon Gwgon ap Meurig | Dyfed
Tewdos (Tewdwr) Maredudd ap Tewdws Rhain ap Maredudd Owain ap Maredudd Triffyn ap Rhain Bleddri (Bledrig) Hyfaidd ap Bleddri Llywarch ap Hyfaidd Rhodri ap Hyfaidd Hywel Dda | Brycheiniog
745–825  | Glywysing
Rhys ab Ithel Rhodri ab Ithel Meurig ab Ithel Rhys ap Arthfael Hywel ap Rhys Owain ap Hywel | Gwent
Brochfael ap Meurig Ffernfael ap Meurig Brochwel ap Meurig Arthfael ap Hywel Ithel ab Athrwys ap Ffernfael | Mercia
825–854  | House of Aberffraw
Merfyn Frych Rhodri Mawr
854–872  | Rhodri Mawr
871–878  | Rhodri Mawr
878–909  | Powys
Merfyn ap Rhodri Llywelyn ap Merfyn | Gwynedd
Anarawd ap Rhodri | House of Dinefwr
Cadell ap Rhodri
909–913  | Deheubarth
Hywel Dda
913–925  | Kingdom of England
Archenfield
916–930  | Idwal Foel | Owain ap Hywel
930–942  | Glywysing
Gruffydd ab Owain Cadwgan ab Owain | Gwent
Morgan Hen ab Owain
942–950  | Hywel Dda
950–986  | Powys
Owain ap Hywel Dda | Gwynedd
Ieuaf Iago ab Idwal Hywel ap Ieuaf Cadwallon ab Ieuaf | Deheubarth
Owain ap Hywel Dda | Morgannwg
Morgan Hen ab Owain Hywel ab Owain ap Morgan Hen Rhydderch ab Iestyn Gruffudd ap Rhydderch
988–999  | Maredudd ab Owain
999–1022  | Powys
Llywelyn ap Seisyll | Gwynedd
Cynan ap Hywel Aeddan ap Blegywryd | Deheubarth
Rhain the Irishman Cadell ab Einion
1018–1023  | Llywelyn ap Seisyll
1023–1033  | Powys
Rhydderch ab Iestyn | Gwynedd
Iago ab Idwal ap Meurig | Deheubarth
Rhydderch ab Iestyn Gruffudd ap Rhydderch
1033–1039  | Iago ab Idwal ap Meurig Gruffudd ap Llywelyn
1045–1055  | Gruffudd ap Rhydderch
1055–1063  | Gruffudd ap Llywelyn
1063–1075  | House of Mathrafal
Bleddyn ap Cynfyn | Deheubarth
Maredudd ab Owain ab Edwin Rhys ab Owain Rhys ap Tewdwr | Glywysing
Caradog ap Gruffudd | Gwent
Cadwgan ap Meurig
1075–1081  | Powys
Iorwerth ap Bleddyn Cadwgan ap Bleddyn Owain ap Cadwgan Maredudd ap Bleddyn Madog ap Maredudd | Gwynedd
Trahaearn ap Caradog | Morgannwg
Caradog ap Gruffudd Iestyn ap Gwrgant
1081–1093  | Gruffudd ap Cynan Owain Gwynedd Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd Llywelyn ab Iorwerth
1088–1116  | Norman occupation
1095–1160  | Deheubarth
Gruffydd ap Rhys Anarawd ap Gruffydd Cadell ap Gruffydd Maredudd ap Gruffydd Rhys ap Gruffydd Gruffydd ap Rhys II Maelgwn ap Rhys Rhys Gryg | Lordship of Brecknock |
Lordship of Glamorgan
1160–1216  | Powys Fadog
Gruffydd Maelor I
Madog ap Gruffydd Maelor Gruffydd II ap Madog Madog II ap Gruffydd Gruffudd Fychan I | Powys Wenwynwyn
Owain Cyfeiliog Gwenwynwyn
1216–1241  | Principality of Wales
Llywelyn ab Iorwerth
1241–1283  | Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn | Dafydd ap Llywelyn Owain Goch ap Gruffudd Llywelyn ap Gruffudd Dafydd ap Gruffudd
1283–1287  | (English conquest of Wales)

1535–1542  | Laws in Wales Acts

1. ^ Rulers with names in italics are considered fictional
2. ^ Bartrum, Peter Clement (1993). A Welsh Classical Dictionary: People in History and Legend Up to about A.D. 1000. National Library of Wales. ISBN 0907158730.
3. ^ biography.wales (Dictionary of Welsh Biography)
4. ^ Davies, John (1994). A History of Wales. Penguin Books. ISBN 9780140145816.
5. ^ Encyclopaedia of Wales. University of Wales Press. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6.
6. ^ Lloyd, John Edward (1912). A History of Wales from the Earliest Times to the Edwardian Conquest. Longmans, Green, and Co.
7. ^ Turvey, Roger (2010). Twenty-One Welsh Princes. Conwy: Gwasg Carreg Gwalch. ISBN 9781845272692.

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