The Early Welsh Kingdoms (original) (raw)

The links below lead to simplified genealogies for the main ruling houses of early Medieval Wales. It should be noted that these genealogies are taken from several different sources that do not always agree.

Mike Ashley in The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens, says that:

The native British retained a degree of autonomy in Wales throughout the Roman occupation. Little is recorded about them that can be established as firm historical fact though it is possible that the Silures, Ordovices and Demetae continued to be ruled by tribal chieftains within the Roman administration. Towards the end of this period an influx of Irish from the west and British from the east began to test these tribal boundaries and new ones emerged based, initially, on the old tribes, but subsequently developing into four main kingdoms - Gwent, Gwynedd, Powys and Deheubarth.

The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens by Mike Ashley, Carroll & Graf Publishers, Inc. New York, 1998.

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Gwent & Glamorgan

Gwynedd: main line of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd

Powys: main line, southern kingdom

Powys: northern kingdom, line of Madog ap Maredudd & Owain Glyndwr

Deheubarth: line of Rhys ap Gruffydd

Learn about early Medieval Wales Learn more about Medieval Powys Learn more about Medieval Gwynedd