Kingdom of Gwynedd

Gwynedd was one of the kingdoms or principalities of medieval Wales. Covering an area in the north-west of the country around Snowdonia and including the island of Anglesey, its rulers—such as Owain Gwynedd, Llywelyn the Great and Llywelyn the Last—usually held ascendancy over their rivals. The region's geography made it difficult for English kings to impose their will on the local rulers.

Gwynedd covered the territory of the Ordovices, but tradition traced the kingdom's foundation to Cunedda, who migrated with his sons and followers from what is now southern Scotland. The territory was originally known as Venedotia, a name which mutated to Gwynedd over the next two centuries. The heart of Gwynedd was originally at Deganwy, but later moved to Anglesey.

During the period of the Norman conquest of Wales, between the years 1066 and 1282, Gwynedd was a centre of national resistance, the last stronghold of the native Welsh princes against the kings of England.

List of Kings

• Cunedda Wledig (the Imperator) (c.450-c.460)
• Einion Yrth (the Impetuous) (c.470-c.480)
• Cadwallon Lawhir (Longhand) (c.500-c.534)
• Maelgwn Hir (the Tall) (c.520-c.549)
• Rhun Hir (the Tall) (c.549-c.580)
• Beli ap Rhun (c.580-c.599)
• Iago ap Beli (c.599-c.613)
• Cadfan ap Iago (c.613-c.625)
• Edwin of Northumbria (overran Gwynedd between c.620 and c.627)
• Cadwallon ap Cadfan (c.620-634)
• Cadfael Cadomedd ap Cynfeddw (Battle-Shirker) (634-c.655)
• Cadwaladr Fendigaid ap Cadwallon (the Blessed) (c.655-c.682)
• Idwal Iwrch ap Cadwaladr (Roebuck) (c.682-c.720)
• Rhodri Molwynog ap Idwal (the Bald and Gray) (c.720-c.754)
• Caradog ap Meirion (c.754-c.798)
• Cynan Dindaethwy ap Rhodri (c.798-816)
• Hywel Farf-Fehinog (Greasy-Beard) (814-825)
• Merfyn Frych (the Freckled) (825-844)
• Rhodri Mawr (the Great) (844-878)

(Later kings of Wales can be found under List of rulers of Wales.)