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1k. The early Kingdoms of Buellt and Gwrtheyrnion 406 - 800

Cantref

A cantref  (derived from the  welsh "Cant" meaning a hundred)was division of land in Medieval Wales, it was a unit of land made up of 100 tref, a tref was a small village or settlement, the equivalent word in England for a cantref was a hundred.  Later as populations inceased, the commote 0r cymwd became the unit used for 100 tref, and the cantref became a larger unit, cantref could vary considerably in size; most were divided into two or three commotes but the largest, the "Cantref Mawr" or "Great Cantref" in Ystrad Tywi (now in Carmarthenshire) was divided into seven commotes, and the island of Anglesey was divided into three cantrefi, Cemais, Aberffraw and Rhosyr.

 

The early Kingdoms of Buellt and Gwrtheyrnion 

 

 

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433px-Map_of_the_Cantrefs_and_Commotes_of_Rhwng_Gwy_a_Hafren.svg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buellt  was a cantref in medieval Mid Wales east of the River Wye.  It seems to have developed along earlier Celtic tribal boundaries, its boundaries were rivers Wye and Tywi and north of a line drawn roughly between Erwood and Llanwrtyd as far as the Cambrian Mountains.  It got its name from the Welsh words 'Bu' and 'Allt',  be translated as 'The Wild Ox of the Wooded Slope'.  Its capital was at Caer Beris

Unlike most cantrefs it was not part of any of the major Welsh kingdoms, and was instead ruled by an autonomous local dynasty, the first of whom was Pasgen.  Pasgen was the third son of Vortigern. Though their father was deposed, Pasgen reached an agreement with the new ruler of Britain,Ambrosius Aurelianus.whereby they were able to retain the major part of their family’s lands. Pasgen was thus recognised as King  Buellt and Gwerthrynion (which was named after his father). 

According to folklore, Buellt is the location  Carn Cabal, which was created when King Arthurs' dog Cabal stepped on a stone and marked it with his pawprint during the hunt for the divine boar Troit. Afterward, Arthur placed the stone on top of a hill, and anyone who tried to move it would find it back in place the next day.  The placename survives in modern Wales as  Carn Cafall near Rhayader. 

 

Gwrtheyrnion was a cantref in medieval Mid Wales north of the River Wye.  It is said to have been named after Vortigern (in Welsh Gwrtheyrn) as the place he fled to after Saint Germanius of Auxerre had castigated him for his various sins.   Vortigerns', family probably stemmed from the Gloucester area, with the seat of his power probably in Cirencester. Gwrtheyrnion could have been his personal estate, acquired at the end of Roman rule, or it may have the place he moved to before or after the fall of Gloucester in 577 as a result of the British defeat at Dyrham at the hands of the West Saxons.

When Vortigern died, his son Pascent was put in charge of Gwrtheyrnion and Buellt by Ambrosius Aurelianus.  Generally, its boundaries were the cantrefs of Arwystli to the north, Maelienydd  to the east, Elenydd to the west, Efael to the southeast, and Buellt to the southwest, with its capital at  Rhayader, (from which Radnorshire was later named).  Between 406 and 760, it was ruled directly from Buellt and subject to its rule and by 800 had ceased to exist, being absorbed by Seisyllwg and then Deheubarth.



 

 

 

Rulers of Buellt and Gwrtheyrnion

c.406 - c.440  Pasgen ap Gwrtheyrn

c.440 - c.475  Braigad ap Pasgen  Joint ruler

c.442  Morgan ap Pasgen  Joint ruler

c.475 - c.510  Idnerth ap Briagad

c.510 - c.545   Meurig ap Idnerth

c.545 - c.580   Pawl ap Meurig  Sub-king to Brycheiniog for a time.

c.580 - c.615  Elaed ap Eldoc ap Pawl

c.615 - c.650  Morwd ap Elaed

c.650 - c.685  Gwyddgan ap Morwd

c.685 - c.715  Pasgen Buellt

c.715 - c.745  Tedwr ap Pasgen  Joint ruler

c.720   Glowd ap Pasgen  Joint ruler

c.745 - ?  Ffernfael ap Tewdr  Last king of  Buellt and Gwrtheyrnion.

c.785  Braustud ferch Glowd  Daughter of Glowd, married Arthfael Hen (the Old) of Glywissing.

by 800  The kingdom ceases to exist, being absorbed by Seisyllwg and then Deheuberth.

 

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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