Kingdom of Gwynedd
Also known as Gwynedd
kingdom in northwest Wales, 401–1283
Key facts
- Capital
- None , with a 'chief' court at Aberffraw
- Common languages
- Old Welsh , Middle Welsh , Latin
- Religion
- Roman Catholicism
- Government
- Monarchy
- C 520 547
- Maelgwn Gwynedd (first attested)
- 1282 1283
- Dafydd ap Gruffudd (last)
- Before 1170 tenure uncertain
- Llywarch ap Brân
- C 1190s c 1217
- Gwyn ab Ednywain
- C 1217 1246
- Ednyfed Fychan
- 1256 1268
- Goronwy ab Ednyfed Fychan
- 1268 1281
- Tudur ab Ednyfed Fychan
- 1281 1282
- Dafydd ab Einion Fychan
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Article
Today part ofWales
The Kingdom of Gwynedd was a Welsh kingdom which first appeared at the turn of the sixth century. Based in northwest Wales, the rulers of Gwynedd repeatedly rose to dominance and were acclaimed as "King of the Britons" before losing their power in civil wars or invasions. The kingdom of Gruffudd ap Llywelyn—the King of Wales from 1055 to 1063—was shattered by a Saxon invasion in 1063 just prior to the Norman invasion of Wales, but the House of Aberffraw restored by Gruffudd ap Cynan slowly recovered and Llywelyn the Great of Gwynedd was able to proclaim the Principality of Wales at the Aberdyfi gathering of Welsh princes in 1216. In 1277, the Treaty of Aberconwy between Edward I of England and Llywelyn's grandson Llywelyn ap Gruffudd granted peace between the two but would also guarantee that Welsh self-rule would end upon Llywelyn's death, and so it represented the completion of the first stage of the conquest of Wales by Edward I.