Petty Kingdom - Wales

Wales

Rarely has the country of Wales formed one cohesive kingdom. For the greater part of its history, Wales evolved into four petty kingdoms, or principalities, following the Roman withdrawal from Britain in the 5th century. Mountainous geography, forested glens, river valleys, and upland moors contributed to a strong sense of localism and autonomy, though the Welsh people shared a deeply felt sentiment of nationality, as reflected in Welsh law codified in the 10th century. According to historian Professor John Davies, there are four geographic regions more or less equal in terms of resources and population, from which four principalities emerged: Ynys Môn for Gwynedd, the Severn river valley for Powys, the Vale for Glamorgan and the lands up to the Wye (Morgannwg), and the Ystrad Tywi (Valley of the Tywi) for Deheubarth. Rhodri the Great inherited Gwynedd from his father and Powys through his mother, and married Angharad of Seisyllwg (Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire) and ruling there by right of his wife. Rhodri exerted great influence in the rest of Wales as well, and after his death his realms were divided amongst his sons. Nevertheless, the House of Aberffraw of Gwynedd, as the senior line descendants of Rhodri the Great, claimed overlordship over the whole of Wales, though they would encounter resistance by junior dynasts of Dinefwr. It would not be until the 1216 Council of Aberdyfi that the Aberffraw line under Llywelyn the Great would be able to secure their position as Prince of the Welsh.

• Gwynedd 5th century–1282 (conquest by Edward I of England)
  • See also History of Gwynedd during the High Middle Ages
  • See also Culture of Gwynedd during the High Middle Ages
  • Meirionydd
  • Rhos
  • Edeyrnion
• Deheubarth 920-1116 (Merged with Gwynedd to form the defacto Principality of Wales)
  • Seisyllwg, a petty kingdom from 680–920, comprising Ceredigion and Ystrad Tywi. In 871, Princess Angharad inherited Seisyllwg, and her husband Rhodri of Gwynedd-Powys administered it by right of his wife on her behalf, and incorporated it into his kingdom. Later, Angharad and Rhodri gave Seisyllwg to their second son Cadell ap Rhodri to rule as a vassal and appendage of Gwynedd. Cadell founded the Dinefwr dynasty of Deheubarth.
    • Ceredigion
    • Ystrad Tywi
    • Dyfed, a petty kingdom between c. 410–920, merged into Deheubarth through inheritance.
• Powys
  • Brycheiniog
  • Gwrtheyrnion
  • Buellt
  • Pengwern
  • Elfael
  • Maelienydd
• Kingdom of Morgannwg
  • Kingdom of Glywysing
  • Kingdom of Gwent
    • Ergyng
• Dumnonia
  • Kingdom of Cornwall
• Rheged
  • Elmet
  • Gododdin
    • Deira
    • Bryneich