Morgannwg was a medieval Welsh kingdom formed via the merger of the kingdoms of
Glywysing and
Gwent.
Formation of Morgannwg
First under King
Morgan the Generous (fl. c. 630-730) 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.[2][3] During such unions Glywysing and Gwent seem to have been together or occasional sub-kingdoms or principalities of the Kingdom of Morgannwg.[2]
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 in about 1055, subsequently
King of Wales, but on Gruffydd's death in 1063, Glywysing was regained by the native lineage under
Caradog ap Gruffudd.[2] 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.[2]
With Gwent increasingly overrun by the
Norman conquest of Wales, the last native King of Morgannwyg and Glywysing was
Iestyn ap Gwrgan (1081–1090), who was subsequently deposed by
Robert Fitzhamon. 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.[2]
The name Morgannwg is still used in Wales for the former
Marcher Lordship and county of
Glamorgan (itself a corruption of the term Gwlad Morgan) and its successor counties
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
Glywys (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, son of Glywys, ruler of
Penychen (c. 480–540), cantref of Glywysing
Mechwyn, son of Glywys, ruler of
Gorfynydd (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
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
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
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 as a dowry.
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
Iestyn was the last ruler of an independent Morgannwg, which was thereafter in the possession of the
Normans and became the lordship of
Glamorgan
Owain ap Caradog (1081-1113/1116)
References
^The three cantrefs composing Glywysing were based at
Allt Wynllyw on
Stow Hill (modern
Newport);
Nant Pawl; and
Llaniltud Fawr. These were sometimes independent and sometimes controlled one another. Cf. The History Files: "Celtic Kingdoms of the British Isles:
Cernyw / Glywyssing" (Accessed 14 Feb 2013).
^
abcdeAshley, 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.