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1j. The early Kingdoms of Ceredigion, Seisyllwg and Deheubarth 424 - 957

The early Kingdoms of Ceredigion, Seisyllwg and Deheubarth

 

Ceredigion

WelshKingdoms
 

 

 

The Kingdom of Ceredigion was one of Welsh Kingdoms that emerged in 5th-century, it was originally part of the territory governed by Cunedda after he had warded off Irish invaders and granted the land to his son Ceredig (Ceretic) as his own kingdom in 424, and it was named after him. Ceredigion meaning "the people of Ceredig."  The earliest form of the kingdom's name may have been Ceretica.

Situated along the western coast of  Wales, its area corresponded roughly to that of the modern county of Ceredigion which includes modern towns of Aberaeron, Aberystwyth, Cardigan, Lampeter, Llanddewi brefi, New Quay, and Tregaron and it is where the rivers Severn and Wye have their source.  The Cambrian Mountains covered much of the east of the Kingdom and its hilly geography made it difficult for foreign invaders to conquer.  As a coastal Kingdom,  its creation was a very good strategic move as it sealed the vulnerable coastal gap between Dyfed and Gwynedd, thus preventing any further Irish gains in Wales.  It was bordered by the Kingdoms of Gwynedd, Powys and Dyfed, the River Teifi  formed the border with Dyfed for part of its length.

 

c.424 - 453  Ceredig  Fifth son of Cunedda

In Ceredig's later years, when the kingdom is under threat of attack by Irish raiders and he is advised to abdicate in favour of his young grandson, Carannog, who is horrified at the prospect and flees the court later becoming St Carannog.  According to tradition he is also the grandfather of St David. 

453–490  Usai 


490–525  Serwyl 


525–560  Boddw 


560–595  Arthfoddw 


595–630  Arthlwys 


630–665  Clydog I 

Seisyllwg

Seisyll, embarked on a series of conquests and added the three cantrefs of Ystrad Tywy to Ceredigion, the enlarged Kingdom of  Seisyllwg being named after him.  Note that the dates given for the reigns of Seisyll and his immediate descendents must be treated with caution, as they are are educated guesses. The only secure date we have is for the death of Gwgan derived from the Annales Cambriae.

665 - c.700  Seisyll ap Clydog.  Seisyll conquered Ystrad Towy (most of modernday Carmarthenshire), taking it from Dyfed. The enlarged kingdom of Ceredigion, which by then also included the Gower Peninsula, is renamed the kingdom of Seisyllwg in his honour

c.700 - c.735   Arthwyr ap Seisyll

c.735 - c.770  Dyfnwal ap Arthwyr

c.770 - c.807  Meurig ap Dyfnwal

by 800  The kingdoms of  Buellt and Gwerthrynion are taken by Seisyllwg

c.808 - 872  Gwgan ap Meurig 

872   Gwgon drowned  while crossing the River Llychwr in Gower whilst chasing off a Viking raid, leaving no heir. Gwgon's sister, Angharad, was married to Rhodri the Great of  Gwynedd, who became steward over Gwgon's realm. While this gave Rhodri no standing to press a claim to kingship himself, he was able to install his and Angharad's younger son, Cadell, as the new King of Seisyllwg.  Cadell ruled as a vassal to his father, giving Rhodri control of much of north and central Wales, and from this point onwards, Seisyllwg is ruled by a branch of the kings of Gwynedd as a sub-kingdom.

878  Cadell ap Rhodri confirmed King of Seisyllwg, upon the death of Rhodri Mawr, 

904  Cadell ap Rhodri and his son, Hywel Dda, conquer Dyfed 

911   Cadell died and Seisyllwg was divided among his two sons, Hywel Dda and Clydog

Deheubarth

 

1301247982471440
Map of Deheubarth showing the extent of Hywel Dda's power. Gwent and Glywising combine to form Morgannwg

 

 

920  Clydog died in 920, leaving the whole of Seissylwg to Hywel, who quickly merged Seisyllwg and Dyfed into the new kingdom of  Deheubarth, which covered most of southwest Wales.  From this power base, he later went on to unite almost all of Wales

950  The death of Hywel Dda, king of all Wales, leaves the country divided. Hywel's sons, Owain, Rhun, Rhodri and Edwyn, take possession of his estates in South Wales, with Rhodri becoming king of Deheubarth itself and Owain becoming prince of Ceredigion.

952 - 953  As part of the ongoing conflict between Deheubarth and Gwynedd, Owain leads an army into the North Wales Kingdom and engages its men at the Battle of Aberconwy. The fighting is so fierce that both sides are forced to withdraw, having sustained heavy losses. The following year, Gwynedd repays the compliment, invading and devastating Ceredigion, before being driven out by more fierce fighting.

957  Owain succeeds to the throne of Deheubarth and Ceredigion is fully reunited with it under him as its single ruler.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pages

  • 1a. Pre Roman Wales - The Celts
  • 1b. The Roman Invasion
  • 1c. The Roman Occupation and Settlement of Wales
  • 1d. Introduction to the Post Roman Era (The Dark Ages)
  • 1e. Battles and other significant events in Post Roman Wales (The Dark Ages)
  • 1f. The early Kingdom and Sub Kingdoms of Gwynedd 450 - 950
  • 1g. The early Kingdoms of Powys and Pengwern 425 - 854
  • 1h. The early Kingdoms of Dyfed and Brycheiniog 382 - 1045
  • 1i. The early Kingdoms of Ewyas, Gwerthefyriwg, Gwent, Ergyng, Cernyw, Glywyssing and Morganwg (383 - 1055)
  • 1j. The early Kingdoms of Ceredigion, Seisyllwg and Deheubarth 424 - 957
  • 1k. The early Kingdoms of Buellt and Gwrtheyrnion 406 - 800

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