The Early Kingdoms of Dyfed and Brycheiniog
The high number of memorial stones found with Irish (Ogham) inscriptions in south-west Wales, tells us that Dyfed was subject to substantial Irish settlement following the fall of Rome in Britain. In particular, Aed Brosc, of the Deisi tribe from the County Waterford region of Ireland played a major role in the foundation of the Kingdoms of both Dyfed and Brycheiniog. His grandfather, Eochaid Allmuir (from Over the Sea) had left his homeland when a bid for independence by his people was severely crushed by their High-King and left them homeless, and the descendants of Aed’s eldest son, Urb, eventually founded the Kingdom of Brycheiniog, while his younger son, Triffyn Farfog, married the heiress of the King of Dyfed.
The connection with Brycheiniog was to be a recurring theme throughout the history of Dyfed, with Cloten ap Nowy in the mid seventh century becoming ruler of both kingdoms, and the future rulers of Dyfed all assumed some kind of influence over Brycheiniog to the east.
Dyfed
Demetia
The British kingdom based on the Celtic tribal territory of the Demetae, its earliest centre was at Castell Dwyan nr Narbeth in Pembrokeshire.
382 Irish raiders were causing the British widespread problems, and to combat this, Roman authorities put Anwn Dynod (Antonius Donatus Gregorius) son of Magnus Maximus in charge in much the same way as Cunedda was given Gwynedd as king of North Wales and asked for the help of Aed Brosc and the Deisi tribe in keeping Irish pirates away from the western coast of Britain
c.400 Ednyfed ap Anwn (Demetius). After his father's death, retains control of the region,
c.410 - c.421 Clotri ap Ednyfed (Clotrius). Last British ruler of Demetia.
Dyfed
The kingdom's name is altered by the Irish pronunciation of it so that, within a century, the accepted pronunciation is Dyfed.
c.421 - c.445 Triffyn Farfog the Bearded (Triphun mac Aed), son of Aed Brosc. married Gweldyr, heiress of Demetia. With Clotri's only male heir dead, his daughter Gweldyr, the sole heiress to the kingdom marries Triffyn, eventhough 35 years his junior.
c.432 - 436 Aurelius Ambrosius of Caer Gloui is apparently a leader of a Brittish council, which presumably answers to Vortigern. It is his decision to confirm the Irish Deisi as protectors of the Demetia area of the west coast to counter the threat of Irish raiders. This is motivated by the council's reluctance to depend entirely on Saxon mercenaries, with their constant demands for increased provisions, especially in an area were they would be lightly supervised. The Deisi have already been settled for some time and would be self-supporting.
c.467 Aergol Lawhir (Long-Hand) Aircol mac Triffyn.
His residence court was at Lis Castell (Lydstep nr Tenby) and may have had a second residence at Castell Argoel in Dyfed. He was patron of St Teilo Bishop of Glywissing. He welcomed King Budic II of Brittany when he was expelled from Brittany. Also Aergol was known to be an enemy of King Cynan Garwyn of Powys and they clashed at Crug Dyfed.
c.495 - 540 Vortepor mac Aricol (Vortiporius) , King or 'Protector' of Dyfed, ruled over an area approximately corresponding to the modern Pembrokeshire.
The only contemporary information about him comes from Gildas, who says he was king of Dyfed, that he was grey with age, that his wife had died, and that he had at least one daughter. Gildas also makes a condemnation of 5 British kings by likening them to the beasts of the Christian Apocalypse. Vortiporius is called "the spotted leopard" and the "tyrant of the Demetians" He alleges him to be the bad son of a good father and calls his daughter "shameless". The reasons for his derogatory remarks are not known.
c.550 Cyngar ap Gwrthefyr
c.570 Pedr ap Cyngar
c.590 The Bernician Angles successfully destroy the kingdom of The Peak (Southern Pennines) around this time and King Sawyl Penuchel is forced to flee to Wales. There is a story in the Life of St Cadoc that places him at Allt Cunedda near Kidwelly, The story about Sawyl in Wales has him and his warband stealing food from Llancarfan Abbey. St Cadoc follows them and finds them sleeping under a tree. He cuts off their hair and flees to a bog. When Sawyl and his men follow they drown in the bog.
c.595-c.615 Arthur ap Pedr Named after Arthur Pendragon
c.625 Nowy Hen (the Old) King of Dyfed and Brycheiniog
The Kingdom of Dyfed and Brycheiniog
c.650 Cloten ap Nowy (Gwlyddien) King of Dyfed marries Princess Ceindrych of Brycheiniog briefly uniting the two kingdoms for three generations. Making him King of Dyfed and Brycheiniog
c.670 Caten ap Cloten King of Dyfed and Brycheiniog
c.690 Cadwgan Tredylig ap Caten King of Dyfed and Brycheiniog
The Kingdom of Rheinwg
c.730 Teuder ap Regin (Tewdos)
? - 798 Meredydd ap Teuder
798 - 808 Rhein ap Maredydd
808 - c.810 Triffyn ap Rhein No heir
c.810 - 811 Owain ap Meredydd Owain was the last male descendent of Aed Brosc.
The ninth century gap
No one is quite sure what was happening in Dyfed in the middle of the ninth century as there is no real mention of any ruler of Dyfed. After the deaths of Triffyn ap Rhein and Owain ap Meredydd, there is no indication of who is in charge until the appearance of Hyfaidd ap Bledrig at the court of King Alfred the Great of Wessex in the 880s requesting assistance in resisting the inroads of Cadell ap Rhodri and his brother Anarawd of Gwynedd.
We know that Coenwulf of Mercia ravaged Dyfed in 818 as part of his great push into Wales and thus the kingdom may have been destabilised. The only clue is the reference in the Annales Cambriae for the year 860 to the expulsion of one 'Catgueithen' and a record of his death for the year 882. However since Dyfed bears the highest concentration of Viking place names in Wales there is therefore a suspicion that the kingdom may well have fallen under Viking control during the missing half century or so.
??? - 893 Hyfaidd ap Bledrig - Son of Tangwystyl the daughter of Owain ap Meredydd and Bledrig Aillt (or Bledrig 'the foreigner). Bledrig seems to have had no connection with the previous Demetian dynasty and it is thought he was either a low born Welshman, or of Viking extract
Hyfaidd was known as something of a tyrant who is reported as having plundered the Cathedral of Mynyw (St.Davids), expelling the monks. Dyfed was in conflict at this time with the brothers Cadell and Anarawd of Gwynedd and as a defensive measure, Hyfaidd submitted to the overlordship of King Alfred the Great of England in the 880s
893 - 904 Llywarch ap Hyfaidd
Dyfed becomes part of Seisyllwg
904 Rhodri ap Hyfaidd - Beheaded. King Cadell of Seisyllwg and his son, Hywel Dda, conquer Dyfed. Hywel is granted control of the kingdom, a position which is entirely legitimate thanks to his marriage to Elen, daughter of Llywarch ap Hyfaidd.
Deheubarth
916 Hywel Dda is the son of Cadell of Seisyllwg accedes to the throne and renames the new Kingdom of Dyfed, Ceredigion, Seisyllwg and Ystrad Tywi as Deheubarth
Brycheiniog
The Kingdom of Brycheiniog was an offshoot of Dyfed (Land of the Demetae), centred around Garth Madryn (Talgarth), it was founded (and named after) in the mid 5th century by Brychan, son of King Anlach of the Irish Deisi tribe (Waterford), who had peacefully taken control of the area by marrying Marchel, the heiress of Garth Madrun (There are ogham inscriptions on memorial stones in the area proving the presence of ethnic Irish within the kingdom). When Brychen was made king upon the death of this father, the area of Garthmadrun was renamed Brycheiniog in his. honour. Brychan fathered an extremely large number of children, many becoming saints in Wales and Cornwall. In the 7th century, Brycheiniog came under the control of Dyfed,as there was no male heir and the heiress Ceindrych married Cloten of Dyfed. The union with Dyfed lasted for about a century, until the invasion of Seisyll of the Ceredigion in the mid 8th century when the Kingdoms were separated again.
c.391 Urb mac Aed Son of Aed Brosc, leader of the Irish Deisi tribe (Waterford)
Aed Brosc was of the tribe of the Déssi who hailed from the County Waterford region of Ireland. His grandfather, Eochaid Allmuir (from Over the Sea) had left his homeland when a bid for independence by his people was severely crushed by their High-King. There is some evidence to suggest the Roman authorities asked for his help in keeping Irish pirates away from the Dyfed coast. His descendants in the area certainly used the Roman title of 'Protector' rather than king.
The descendants of Aed’s eldest son, Urb, eventually founded the Kingdom of Brycheiniog, Like most Irish Royalty, Eochaid claimed descent from Belonus, the Celtic Sun-God, through his son, Miled. The Sons of Miled were traditionally the first Celts to come to Ireland, driving the Old Gods into the Otherworld and founding the Milesian dynasty of Irish Kings
C.407 Cormac mac Urb
c.420 Anlach mac Cormac
Kingdom of Brycheiniog
c.450 - c.490 Brychen Brycheiniog
Brychan Brycheiniog (Brecon) Born c.419 (His name implies he was a freckled baby). He was regarded as a saintly King dedicated to the Christian ChurchBrychan Brycheiniog was the son of King Anlach of Garthmadrun and Marchel, heiress of that kingdom. Brychan was born in Ireland but, soon afterward, moved with his parents to Wales, to Marchel's homeland of Garthmadrun (Talgarth). At the age of four, Brychan was sent to be tutored by a holy-man named Drichan beside the River Ysgir (Epynt), as a young man, war broke out between Anlach and Banadl, the usurping Irish King of Powys and Brychan was taken hostage, where he had a son, Cynog by the King’s daughter, Banhadlwedd. After the war, Brychan returned to Garthmadrun and became King on Anlachs' death. He successfully defended his kingdom many times, once against King Gwynllyw of Gwynllwg, who had abducted his daughter Gwladys, and on another occaison, he earned a great battle victory over Dyfed who had raided Brychan's Kingdom in order to dispel the boast "that no spoil could ever be taken from Brychan's land", and collected the dismembered limbs of the enemy as trophies! His reign was so successful that the kingdom was renamed Brycheiniog in his honour. In old age he is believed to have abdicated the throne of Brycheniog in order to become a hermit on Ynys Brychan (Lundy Island), where he died and was buried at a great age in the mid 5th century
The children of Brychan
Brychan married three times (Prawst, Banhadlwedd and Gwladys) and is reported to have farthered twenty-four sons and twenty-four daughters. Together they are known as one of the "Holy Families of Britain". Most of his children appear to have travelled from Brycheiniog to evangelise Cornwall and North Devon, where they are now venerated.
I list below some of his more well known children:-
Sons of Brychan
Rhain Dremrudd Suceeded his father as King of Brycheiniog
Cynog (also known as Saint Kynauc)
Reported as being a powerful Welsh prince . Cynog's mother was Banhadlwedd, daughter of Benadyl, King of Powys. He is said to have been murdered on the mountain called the Van in the Brecon Beacons, and buried in the church of Merthyr Cynog, which is dedicated to his memory.
Dingad Known as a late 5th century Welsh saint and early Christian church founder, he was patron of Llandingat Church (in Llandovery) and Dingestow (Monmouthshire).
Saint Nectan Feast day June 17th
The eldest of the 24 children of King Brychan Having received a vocation to become a monk earlier in his life, he sailed to north Devon where he lived as a hermit in the dense forest of Hartland. The Church of Saint Nectan in Hartland is dedicated to him. According to tradition he lived in the solitude of a remote valley where he helped a swineherd recover his lost pigs and in turn was given a gift of two cows. Nectan's cows were stolen and after finding them he attempted to convert the robbers to the Christian faith. In return he was attacked by robbers who cut off his head. Tradition also says that wherever Nectan's blood fell, foxgloves grew, and there is still a tradition of taking foxgloves to his well on 17th June, his feast day and the supposed day of his death
Daughters of Brychan
Saint Keyne Died on 5 October in 505.
It was said of her that she "grew up to be very beautiful, and many young men sought her hand in marriage, but she rejected them all." She is also recorded as being a dragon-slayer, on par with St George
Keyne was a pious virgin who lived in Keynsham in Somerset and founded St Keyne in Cornwall, where there is a well, whose waters are said to give the upper hand to whichever of two newly-weds first drinks of them, a plaque next to the well describes the spell which Saint Keyne cast upon the water of the well. 'The quality that man or wife whom chance or choice attains first of this sacred spring to drink thereby the mastery gains". In 490 she visited her nephew Saint Cadoc at St Michaels' Mount (Cornwall) where a granite chair supposedly is said to grant matrimonial advantage.
She was the original patron of St Martin-by-Looe (Penndrumm) and is linked with the River Kenwyn in Truro. She also founded chuches at Llangeinor in mid Glamorgan, Llangunnor and Llangain in Dyfed, at Rockfield (Llangennon), Runston, in Gwent and St Ceinwens' Church (Cerrigceinwen in Anglesey).
Saint Endelienta Feast day 29 April 29th.
She travelled to North Cornwall to join her siblings in converting the locals to Christianity, during her journey, she is said to have landed on the island of Lundy, where she is believed to have founded a small chapel, She subsequently moved on to the mainland where she stayed with her brother,Saint Nectan at Hartland, before eventually choosing to settle at Trentinney, south-west of the present day village of St Endellion, although she would return to Lundy from time to time on retreat for meditation.
Legend says that she was a goddaughter of King Arthur and lived as a hermit at Trentinney where she subsisted solely on the milk of a cow, and that the cow was killed by the Lord of Trentinney after straying onto his land. He in turn is said to have been killed by King Arthur, after Arthur was angered by the deed and sent his men to exact revenge. However, Endelienta was said to be unhappy that Trentinney had been killed in her name, and restored both the cow and the nobleman back to life
Following a vision of her death, the saint is said to have asked that upon her death, her body should be placed on a sledge or cart drawn by bullocks, and that she should be buried at the place where they stopped. She is thought to have died on 29 April , possibly at the hands of Saxon pirates. She was buried at the top of a hill, and a church built over her grave. The present church at St Endellion stands on that site.
British Prime Minister, David Cameron and his wife Samantha named their daughter Florence Rose Endellion after the village of St Endellion, reflecting the fact she was born whilst the Cameron family were holidaying in Cornwall.
Saint Dwynwen (Saint Dwynwen's Day, 25 January).
The Welsh patron saint of lovers and sick animals. Dwynwen lived in Anglesey, and her name is still recalled in place names such as Llanddwyn and Porthddwyn.
Tradition says that Dwynwen falls in love with a young man named Maelon, but rejects his advances, she is unable to marry him due to her father's refusal and prays to forget her love for him. An angel provides her with a potion, which Maelon drinks and turns into ice. Dwynwen then prays for three requests, that Maelon be released; that, through her, God look after all true lovers; and that she remain unmarried. She then retreats to the solitude of Llanddwyn Island off the west coast of Anglesey to become a hermit until she dies, in about AD 460.
Saint Eluned Feast day August 1st
Tradition says that Eluned became a Christian at a young age, but was pursued by a pagan prince. She spurned his advances and ran away to Slwch Twmp (nr Brecon), where the local lord enabled her to build herself a cell, where she lived until her spurned suitor found her. As she ran from him, he cut off her head with his sword. A spring of water appeared, which became associated with healing and other miracles.
Saint Tydfil Feast day August 23rd. She is said to have met her death at Merthyr Tydfil in 480, at the hands of Welsh pagans.
c.495 Rhein Dremrydd Red-Faced (Reginald) Uncle of Cadwg, king of Gwynllg and Penychen.
c.510 Rigenew ap Rhein
c.540 Llywarch ap Rigenew
c.580 Idwallon ap Llywarch
c.620 Rhiwallon ap Idwallon Last male descendant of Brychen.
Kingdom of Dyfed and Brycheiniog
c.640 - c.650 Rhiwallon ap Idwallons' daughter Ceindrych married the King of Dyfed, therefore Brycheiniog passes under Dyfed's control.
c.715 Rhein ap Cadwgn ap Caten ap Cloten
c.720 Awst ap Cadwgn
Kingdom of Brycheiniog
c.730 Tewdr ap Rhein
c.735 Elwystl ap Awst Rival claimant. Murdered by Tewdr.
c.750 Nowy Hen (the Old) ap Tewdr
c.770 Gryffydd ap Nowy
c.800 Tewdr ap Gryffydd
c.840 -885 Elisedd ap Tewdr Known to have attended the court of, and submitted to Alfred the Great, seeking protection against the expansionism of Anarawd of Gwynedd.
848 King Ithael of Gwent is killed in battle against Elisedd, perhaps sparking a feud that soon draws in Glywissing's king, Hywel ap Rhys.
856 - 886 Hywel ap Rhys of Glywissing comes into conflict with Elisedd ap Tewdr over the districts of Ystrad Yw (Crickhowell) and the remnant of Ewyas.
c.880 Construction of a crannog in the middle of Llangorse lake, believed to have been the capital of the Kingdom built by an Irish master builder to display the king's proud Irish heritage. Crannogs were unknown at this time outside Scotland or Ireland, and this is the only one of its kind in all of Wales.
c.890 Tewdr ap Elisedd
c.900 Gryffydd ap Elisedd
c.920 - 934 Tewdr Brycheiniog ap Gryffydd
916 The Anglo Saxon Chronicle records that Aethelflaed the 'Lady of Mercia' ( daughter of Alfred the Great, widow of Aethelred, 'Lord of Mercia' and sister of Edward the Elder), attacked and captured the Queen of Brycheiniog from Llangorse lake
921 Further Mercian assaults result in pushing the kings of Brycheiniog further into the arms of Deheubarth, as it is from the 920s that Hywel Dda, king of Deheubarth is generally considered to have extended his control over Brycheiniog. This appears to have been a relatively amicable affair as there is no break in the sequence of Brycheiniog's rulers, but Brycheiniog effectively becomes a sub-kingdom of Deheubarth.
934 King of Brycheiniog reported as attending the English court
c.940 Gwylog ap Tewdr
c.970 Elisedd ap Gwylog
c.1045 Gryfydd ap Elisedd Last king of Brycheiniog. Upon the death of Gryfydd the line of kings appears to come to an end and his lands are divided between his three sons, as Lords of Cantref Selyf, Cantref Tewdos and Cantref Talgarth. Effectively, they are part of the kingdom of Deheubarth, until the Normans conquer the south of Wales in the twelfth century.