Cynan ap Hywel (ruled 999–1005) was a Prince of

Gwynedd Gwynedd (; ) is a county and preserved county (latter with differing boundaries; includes the Isle of Anglesey) in the north-west of Wales. It shares borders with Powys, Conwy County Borough, Denbighshire, Anglesey over the Menai Strait, and C ...

, one of the kingdoms or principalities of medieval

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

. He was the son of

Hywel ap Ieuaf Hywel ap Ieuaf (died 985) was a King of Gwynedd in north-west Wales from 979 to 985. Hywel was the son of Ieuaf ap Idwal who had ruled Gwynedd jointly with his brother Iago ab Idwal until 969. In that year the sons of Idwal quarrelled and Iago took ...

, a previous king from the line of

Idwal Foel Idwal Foel (Idwal the Bald; died c. 942) or Idwal ab Anarawd (Idwal son of Anarawd) was a 10th-century King of Gwynedd in Wales. A member of the House of Aberffraw, he inherited the throne from his father, Anarawd ap Rhodri. William of Malmesbury ...

(his grandfather). On Hywel's death, the realm was ruled by his brother, but almost immediately was seized by

Maredudd ab Owain Maredudd ab Owain (died ) was a 10th-century king in Wales of the High Middle Ages. A member of the House of Dinefwr, his patrimony was the kingdom of Deheubarth comprising the southern realms of Dyfed, Ceredigion, and Brycheiniog. Upon the d ...

. After the death in 999 of Maredudd, the rule of Gwynedd returned to the original dynasty in the form of Cynan ap Hywel. Cynan reigned until 1005 but very little has been recorded about his reign, and nothing is known about the circumstances in which he was supplanted by

Aeddan ap Blegywryd Aeddan ap Blegywryd (died 1018) was a King of Gwynedd in medieval Wales. He became ruler in 1005 but the circumstances of his accession are unclear as he does not seem to have been closely related to his predecessor, Cynan ap Hywel. Aeddan ap Bleg ...

, who was apparently out of the direct line of succession.

References

* Cynan ap Hywel, Prince of Gwynedd Monarchs of Gwynedd 11th-century Welsh monarchs 10th-century Welsh monarchs Year of birth unknown {{Wales-bio-stub

See also

References