Morgannwg was a medieval Welsh kingdom formed via the merger of the kingdoms of the Kingdom of Glywysing and the

Kingdom of Gwent Gwent ( owl, Guent) was a medieval Welsh kingdom, lying between the Rivers Wye and Usk. It existed from the end of Roman rule in Britain in about the 5th century until the Norman invasion of Wales in the 11th century. Along with its neighb ...

Formation of Morgannwg

First under King Morgan the Generous (fl. ) until the end of the reign of his descendant Ithel (d. c. 745), and later again under King Morgan the Old (r. 942-74), the kingdom merged with Gwent and changed its name to Morgannwg or Gwlad Morgan in honour of the Morgan Kings.Ashley, Mike (1998) ''The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens '' (Carol & Graf)Lloyd, John E. ''A History of Wales from the Earliest Times to the Edwardian Conquest'', Vol. 1
p. 274
Longmans, Green, & Co. (London), 1911. Accessed 22 Feb 2013. During such unions Glywysing and Gwent seem to have been together or occasional sub-kingdoms or principalities of the Kingdom of Morgannwg. After the death of Morgan the Old, Gwent and Glywysing were separated again from 974 to 1055, but Glywysing alone was often referred to as Morgannwg. Both areas were conquered by

Gruffydd ap Llywelyn Gruffydd ap Llywelyn ( 5 August 1063) was King of Wales from 1055 to 1063. He had previously been King of Gwynedd and Powys in 1039. He was the son of King Llywelyn ap Seisyll and Angharad daughter of Maredudd ab Owain, and the great-gre ...

in about 1055, subsequently

King of Wales King of Wales was a rarely used title, because Wales, much like Ireland, rarely achieved a degree of political unity like that of England or Scotland during the Middle Ages. While many different leaders in Wales claimed the title of "King of ...

, but on Gruffydd's death in 1063, Glywysing was regained by the native lineage under Caradog ap Gruffudd. Morgannwg, the union between Gwent and Glywysing, was reconstituted. How this occurred is unclear; possibly the Kings of Glywysing were also Kings of Morgannwg and the Kings of Gwent were semi-independent under-Kings, or vice versa.

Norman conquest

With Gwent increasingly overrun by the Norman conquest of Wales, the last native King of Morgannwyg and Glywysing was

Iestyn ap Gwrgan Iestyn ap Gwrgant (or Jestyn ap Gwrgant) ( eng, Iestyn, son of Gwrgant) (1014 – 1093) was the last ruler of the Welsh kingdom of Morgannwg, which encompassed the counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire. Lineage Iestyn ap Gwrgant was the l ...

(1081–1090), who was subsequently deposed by

Robert Fitzhamon Robert Fitzhamon (died March 1107), or Robert FitzHamon (literally, 'Robert, son of Hamon'), Seigneur de Creully in the Calvados region and Torigny in the Manche region of Normandy, was the first Norman feudal baron of Gloucester and the Nor ...

. Iestyn's sons became Lords of Afan, while Owain ap Caradog ap Gruffudd contented himself with Gwynllwg and founded the line of the Lords of

Caerleon Caerleon (; cy, Caerllion) is a town and community in Newport, Wales. Situated on the River Usk, it lies northeast of Newport city centre, and southeast of Cwmbran. Caerleon is of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman ...

. The name ''Morgannwg'' is still used in Wales for the former Marcher Lordship and county of

Glamorgan , HQ = Cardiff , Government = Glamorgan County Council (1889–1974) , Origin= , Code = GLA , CodeName = Chapman code , Replace = * West Glamorgan * Mid Glamorgan * South Glamorgan , Mot ...

(itself a corruption of the term ''Gwlad Morgan'') and its successor counties

List of rulers

The kingdom of Morgannwg was formed by the union of the kingdoms of Morgannwg and Gwent. Over time, in a few instances, the kingdoms were separate and independent.

Glywysing

Eugenius Eugenius (died 6 September 394) was a usurper in the Western Roman Empire (392–394) against Emperor Theodosius I. While Christian himself, Eugenius capitalized on the discontent in the West caused by Theodosius' religious policies targeting p ...

, son of

Magnus Maximus Magnus Maximus (; cy, Macsen Wledig ; died 8 August 388) was Roman emperor of the Western Roman Empire from 383 to 388. He usurped the throne from emperor Gratian in 383 through negotiation with emperor Theodosius I. He was made emperor in B ...

* Marius, son of Eugenius * Solar, son of Marius * Glywys, son of Solar (c. 470–c. 480), who gave his name to the kingdom ** Gwynllyw, son of Glywys, ruler of Gwynllwg (c. 480–523), cantref of Glywysing **

Pawl A pawl is a movable lever that engages a fixed component to either prevent movement in one direction or restrain it altogether. As such, it is a type of latch and can also be considered a type of dog. It typically consists of a spring-loaded ...

, son of Glywys, ruler of

Penychen Penychen was a possible minor kingdom of early medieval Wales and later a cantref of the Kingdom of Morgannwg. Penychen was one of three cantrefi that made up the kingdom of Glywysing, lying between the rivers Taff and Thaw, the other two being ...

(c. 480–540), cantref of Glywysing ** Mechwyn, son of Glywys, ruler of

Gorfynydd Glywysing was, from the sub-Roman period to the Early Middle Ages, a petty kingdom in south-east Wales. Its people were descended from the Iron Age tribe of the Silures, and frequently in union with Gwent, merging to form Morgannwg. Name and ...

(c. 480–c.500), cantref of Glywysing * Cadoc, son of Gwynllyw, ruler of Gwynllwg (523–580) and Penychen (540–580), died without heirs ''Glywysing is ruled by the Kings of Gwent until Rhys ap Ithel'' * Rhys ap Ithel/

Rhys ab Idwal Rhys or Rhŷs is a popular Welsh given name (usually male) that is famous in Welsh history and is also used as a surname. It originates from Deheubarth, an old region of South West Wales, with famous kings such as Rhys ap Tewdwr. It is pronounce ...

, son of the Kings of Gwent (c. 755–785), with brothers, Rhodri and Meurig *

Arthfael Hen ap Rhys Arthfael Hen ap Rhys, also called Arthfael the Old, was the king of the Kingdom of Glywysing (in modern-day Wales) between 785 and approximately 825 AD. History Arthfael was the second son of Gweirydd ap Brochfael and a descendant of Saint Tewdr ...

(Arthfael the Old) (785–c. 825) with Brochfael ap Rhys *

Rhys ap Arthfael Rhys or Rhŷs is a popular Welsh given name (usually male) that is famous in Welsh history and is also used as a surname. It originates from Deheubarth, an old region of South West Wales, with famous kings such as Rhys ap Tewdwr. It is pronounce ...

, (c. 830–c. 840) * Hywel ap Rhys, (c. 840–886) * Owain ap Hywel (886–) **

Gruffydd ab Owain Gruffydd ab Owain (died ) was a joint king of Glywysing in Wales along with his brother Cadwgan. His other brother Morgan Morgan may refer to: People and fictional characters * Morgan (given name), including a list of people and fictional ch ...

(–934) King of Gower **

Cadwgan ab Owain Cadwgan ab Owain (died 951) was a joint king of Glywysing in Wales of the High Middle Ages along with his brother Gruffydd.Charles-Edwards, T. ''Wales and the Britons, 350–1064'', pp517537 Oxford Univ. Press, 2012. Accessed 20 Feb 2013. His ot ...

(–950) King of West Glywysing * Morgan the Old ( Morgan Hen or Morgan ab Owain or Moragn Hen Fawr) (930–974) ''united the former kingdoms of Gwent and Glywysing in 942 under the name of Morgannwg, but they were broken up again immediately after his death, remaining separate until about 1055'' * Morgan the Old's son, Owain ap Morgan (974–c. 983) * brothers of Owain ap Morgan (Idwallon, Hywel and Cadell) (dates unknown) * his son, Rhys ab Owain (c. 990–c. 1000) ''who ruled Glywysing jointly with his brothers'' * Ithel the Black, son Idwallon (990) **

Hywel ab Owain Hywel ab Owain was a Welsh king of a part of Glywysing Glywysing was, from the sub-Roman period to the Early Middle Ages, a petty kingdom in south-east Wales. Its people were descended from the Iron Age tribe of the Silures, and frequently i ...

(c. 990–c. 1043) ''and'' ** Iestyn ab Owain (c. 990–c. 1015) * his son,

Rhydderch ap Iestyn Rhydderch ap Iestyn (died 1033) was king of Gwent and Morgannwg in south Wales and later took over the kingdom of Deheubarth and controlled Powys. Comparatively little has been recorded about Rhydderch ab Iestyn in the annals. He appears to hav ...

(c. 1015–1033) * his son, Gruffydd ap Rhydderch (1033–1055) * Gwrgant ab Ithel the Black (1033 - 1070) *

, invader and prince of Gwynedd (1055–1063) * Gruffydd ap Rhydderch's son, Caradog ap Gruffydd (1063–1081) ''who was a subject of the King of Gwent and King of Morgannwg Cadwgan ap Meurig before he deposed him and took the kingdom for himself'' * Iestyn ap Gwrgan(t) (1081–1091) ''Iestyn was the last ruler of an independent Morgannwg, which was thereafter in the possession of the

Normans The Normans ( Norman: ''Normaunds''; french: Normands; la, Nortmanni/Normanni) were a population arising in the medieval Duchy of Normandy from the intermingling between Norse Viking settlers and indigenous West Franks and Gallo-Romans. ...

and became the lordship of

Gwent

* Anwn Ddu (the same person as ruled Dyfed at this time). Welsh legend claims he was appointed by

, who later became Roman Emperor (and hence referred to in Welsh as ''Macsen Wledig'' - ''Maximus the Emperor''). Some genealogies claim him to be Magnus' son. His realm was divided upon his death between his sons Edynfed and Tudwal. ; in Caer-Went * Edynfed ap Anwn - also ruler of Dyfed * ap Ednyfed, and his wife - St

Madrun Saint Materiana is a Welsh saint, patron of two churches in Cornwall and one in Wales. Alternative spellings are Madrun and Madryn. The name was corrupted to "Marcelliana" in medieval times. Another spelling of her name sometimes used is "Mertheri ...

ferch Gwerthefyr (Welsh rendering of ''Honorius'') * Iddon ap Ynyr (480 - 490) * Caradog (Strongarm) * Meurig ap Caradog and his wife - Dyfwn ferch Glywys * Erbic ap Meurig ? ; in Caer-Leon * Tudwal ap Anwn * Teithrin ap Tudwal * Teithfallt ap Teithrin (Welsh rendering of ''Theudebald'') * Tewdrig, son of Teithfallt (490 – 493/517) (Welsh rendering of ''Theodoric''). Traditionally, Tewdrig had a daughter - Marchell verch Tewdrig - for whom he carved out

Brycheiniog Brycheiniog was an independent kingdom in South Wales in the Early Middle Ages. It often acted as a buffer state between England to the east and the south Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth to the west. It was conquered and pacified by the Norman ...

as a dowry. * Meurig ap Tewdrig King of Gwent (493/517 – 530–540) * Athrwys ap Meurig King of Gwent (530–540 - 573) * Frioc ap Meurig, with Idnerth ap Meurig ? * Ithel ap Athrwys * Morgan the Great ? * Morgan the Courteous and Benefactor ? (-654) * Anthres ap Morcant ? (654-663) * Morgan the Generous (-730) *

Ithel ap Morgan Ithel or Idwal ap Morgan was a king of Gwent and Glywysing (i.e., Morgannwg) in southeastern Wales. His father was Morgan the Generous, the probable namesake of the later realm of Morgannwg (whence modern Glamorgan).Lloyd, John E. ''A History o ...

(710/715 - 735/740/745/755) *

Ffernfael ab Idwal Ffernfael ab Idwal or Ithel (died ) was a late 8th-century king of Gwent in southeast Wales. His name seems to mean "strong ankles".Todd, James H. & al. (trans.) ''Leabhar breathnach annso sis'': the Irish version of the ''Historia Britonum' ...

(-774/777) * Athrwys ap Ffernfael (774-810) * Idwallon ap Gwrgant (810-842) *

Ithel ap Hywel Ithel or Idwal ap Hywel (died ) was a king of Gwent in southeastern medieval Wales. He was called king of Gwent and Morgannwg (i.e., Glywysing) by the Chronicle of the Princes.''Archæologia Cambrensis'', Vol. X, 3rd Series. "Chronicle of the P ...

or ap Athrwys ?(842-848) * Meurig ap Hywel or ap Ithel ? (848-849) *

Meurig ap Arthfael Hen Meurig is a Welsh name of Brittonic origin and may refer to: *Meurig ap Tewdrig (, the son of Tewdrig (St. Tewdrig), and a king of the early Welsh kingdoms of Gwent and Glywysing * Meurig ap Idnerth, king of Buellt, a Welsh kingdom from c. 510 to 5 ...

(849-874) * Ffernfael ap Meurig (874-880) * Brochfael ap Meurig (880-920) * Arthfael ap Hywel (-916/927) * Owain ap Hywel (920-930) * Cadell ap Arthfael (930-940/943) * Morgan the Old, Morgan Hen or Morgan ab Owain or Morgan Hen Fawr (940/943–955) ''united the former kingdoms of Gwent and Glywysing in 942 under the name of Morgannwg but they were broken up again immediately after his death and remained separate until about 1055'' ** Nowy ap Gwriad ap Brochfael ap Rhodri ap Arthfael Hen ''ruled Gwent'' (c. 950–c. 970) ''while Glywysing was ruled jointly by brothers of Owain ap Morgan (dates unknown), probably under Morgan the Old'' * his son, Arthfael ap Nowy (about 970–983) * his cousin, Rhodri ap Elisedd (983–c. 1015) ''who ruled jointly with his brother,'' * Gruffydd ap Elisedd (983–c. 1015) * his cousin (?)

Edwyn ap Gwriad Edwyn ap Gwriad was a Welsh king of Gwent from 1015 to 1045. He was imprisoned and blinded by his successor, Meurig ap Hywel, the son of Hywel ab Owain. The Anglo-Saxon name "Edwyn" along with Gwent's proximity to the English marches In med ...

(1015–1045) * Hywel ab Owain's son, Meurig ap Hywel (1045–1055) ''who ruled jointly with'' * his son, Cadwgan ap Meurig (1045–1055) *

, invader and prince of Gwynedd (1055–1063) * Cadwgan ap Meurig (1063–1074) ''who was also King of Morgannwg, ruling Glywysing through'' * Gruffydd ap Rhydderch's son, Caradog ap Gruffydd (1075–1081) ''who seized Gwent and the Kingdom of Morgannwg'' * Iestyn ap Gwrgan(t) (1081–1091) ''Iestyn was the last ruler of an independent Morgannwg, which was thereafter in the possession of the

and became the lordship of

'' * Owain ap Caradog (1081-1113/1116)

References

{{Welsh kingdoms History of Glamorgan History of Monmouthshire