Descendants of Vortigern

 

Generation No. 1

 

1.  MAGNUS1 MAXIMUS1 was born 3002, and died 3882.  He married ELEN VERCH EUDAF3, daughter of EUDAF.  She died Unknown.

 

Notes for MAGNUS MAXIMUS:

[Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pgs. 91-92.]

[B64;P88] MAGNUS "MAXIMUS" or MACSEN "WLEDIG (LEADER)" or MAXIMIANUS
Emperor of Western Rome (Britain, Spain, Gaul), 25 August 383-28 July 388. the period from 367-383 had been an unsettling one in Britain. The island became increasingly subject to attacks, both from Germanic tribes and from Picts and Irish. By 367 the problem was at such a height, with the death of the Roman duke, Fullofaudes, that the emperor Valentinian sent an army into Britain under the command of Theodosius the Elder, a Spanish general. Magnus Maximus, another Spanish soldier, accompanied Theodosius. Within two years Theodosius had brought matters under control and established a new administration. However, the British nobility now felt the poorer, and the strict rule of the young new emperor, Gratian, caused unrest in Britain. In 383 the Roman army in Britain declared Maximus emperor. Maximus had stayed on in Britain after Theodisius's campaign and had established himself with considerable authority and popularity. It is probable that he had attained the title of duke. In 382 he had achieved a strong victory over another uprising of Picts. Within months of the soldiers declaring Maximus emperor, he raised an army and sailed to France where he engaged Gratian in battle outside Paris. After five days Gratian fled. Soldiers caught and killed him at Lyons on 25 August 383, though not under the orders of Maximus. Maximus was rapidly accepted as emperor in the West, a position acknowledged by Rheodosius the Younger, who was emperor in the East. Maximus held his court at Trier on the Moselle.
     Maximus was clearly a popular emperor, despite the fact that he had to levy high taxes to sustain his army. He was Christian and was highly respected by the Church, though his strict catholic outlook led to him ordering the death of heretics, particularly the Gnostic Priscillianists in Spain. By 386 he became increasingly certain that he needed to move into Italy which nominally was still under the control of the youth Valentinian II. He prepared his way carefully and, by January 388, was successfully installed in Rome. Now feeling under threat Theodosius brought his better trained forces against Maximus who, after a few engagements, was defeated and captured. Although Theodosius was prepared to be lenient, Maximus was killed by a group of soldiers on 28 July 388. His son, Victor, whom he had made Caesar, was captured in Gaul and killed.
     Maximus left a remarkable legacy in British folklore. He was readily adopted into the fabric of British history where he became Macsen "Wledig," the latter a title reserved for a few leaders who emerged from the landed gentry. He is reputed to have married Elen, or Helen, the daughter of Eudaf (or Odes, or OCTAVIUS) the Ruler of the Gewisse in southern Wales, and his own daughter Servia or Severa, married VORTIGERN, the later high king of Britain. Through his children Macsen became credited as the father of the later rulers of Gwent and Glamorgan, including ERB and the fabled ARTHUR, and Britain's first high king, OWAIN. Such was the impact of Maximus's achievement in attaining the throne of Rome, that many British rulers endeavoured  to claim descent from him. What is uncertain now is how many of these genealogies are rigged or whether there is some essence of truth. Maximus did live in Britain for sixteen years before being raised to the Purple, and he was evidently extremely popular.
   The legacy of Maximus's campaign was, however, to weaken an already weakening Britain. Although he did not withdraw all the forces from the island, he certainly withdrew a substantial number. There is no doubt that as a seasoned campaigner he would not have left the island undefended, and this is probably where the origins of other royal families arose. It is probable that Maximus installed some strong commanders in the territory between the Hadrianic and Antonine Walls who became the forebears of later rulers. These would include Quintilius, or Cinhil, the grandfather of CUNEDDA. It is also possible that Maximus established the arrangement of a strong Irish leadership, under EOCHAID in Demetia (south-west Wales), and the colony of Britons in Armorica (Brittany) in Northern France. His period as emperor was brief, but his impact on the emerging kingships in Britain was considerable.

Cause of Death: Killed in battle4

Known as: Macsen "Wledig (Leader)"5

Reign: Bet. 25 Aug 383 - 28 Jul 388, Emperor of Western Rome (Britain, Spain, Gaul)6

       

Children of MAGNUS MAXIMUS and ELEN VERCH EUDAF are:

2.                i.    SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, d. Unknown.

                  ii.    OWAIN MAXIMUS7, d. 4258.

Notes for OWAIN MAXIMUS:

[Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 109.]

[DB1] OWAIN Alleged High King of Britain, c411-c425.
The very existence of Owain is dubious -  he is known only from the Welsh Triads. Yet it seems necessary to bridge the gap between the withdrawal of Britain from the Roman Empire under its own last claimant to the imperial throne, CONSTANTINE III, and the rise to power of local kings COEL and VORTIGERN. Tradition has made Owain the son of MAGNUS MAXIMUS, and synonymous with EUGENIUS, a former claimant to the Roman purple who survived briefly between 392 and 394. Since Eugenius was dead by 411, he cannot be the same Owain that tradition states was elected as the first High King of Britain since the arrival of the Romans, but tradition may have confused fact with fancy and Eugenius is the most likely candidate for Owain. Even if he did not exist he is a convenient personification for government in Britain after the removal of Roman authority. There was a strong need for some form of continuing control. Not only was there the threat from the Germanic armies in Gaul, but the Picts posed a constant threat to the north and the Irish to the west. According to Gildas, it was a period of civil war and famine. Owain's period as governor, king or administrator was thus fraught with problems, and there is no evidence that he was able to tackle them successfully. He has been associated with AMBROSIUS.

Reign: Bet. 411 - 425, Alleged High King of Britain9

                 iii.    VICTOR MAXIMUS10, d. Aft. 28 Jul 388, Gaul10.

More About VICTOR MAXIMUS:

Cause of Death: Captured by a group of soldiers and killed10

 

 

Generation No. 2

 

2.  SEVERA2 MAXIMUS (MAGNUS1)11 died Unknown.  She married VORTIGERN11.  He died 48012.

 

Notes for VORTIGERN:

[Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 109-110.]

[DB2;P94] VORTIGEN High King of Britain, c425-c466; c471-c480.
Vortigern is a title, not a name, and means "High King". Its Welsh equivalent was Gwrtheyrn Gwrthenau, or Vortigern the Thin. It is possible that his real name wa Vitalinus, or that this was his father's name, and evidence of his existence has been found in the archeological remains of a villa near Gloucester. Although the later literary tradition has blackened Vortigern's reputation, making him something of a traitor to the British, in the years after his death Welsh leaders were proud to claim their decent from him. It seems that his successors through PASCENT ruled mid-east Wales through Wroxeter, and four centuries after his death, CYNGEN AP CADELL of Powys claimed he was a direct descendant. It is difficult to extract the fact from fiction, but the essence is as follows. Vortigern came to power some time around the year 425. He was probably the first post-Roman ruler to be declared High King of Britain, though this title may also have been bestowed upon OWAIN the son of MAGNUS MAXIMUS or upon AMBROSIUS "THE ELSER". Tradition states that Vortigern married a daughter of Magnus Maximus called Servia. For over twenty years Vortigern led the organization and defence of Britain. Some of this may have been in conjunction with COEL "HEN" of Northern Britain, who seems to have been his contemporary. Vortigern was probably the High King at the time of the visit of Germanus in 428 or 429, who came at the request of the British church to root out and destroy the followers of Pelagius. This was a period of continued civil war, famine and raids from the Picts, Irish and Saxons. The first significant Saxon raid is recorded as happening at about the same time as Germanus's visit, in 429. At some stage Vortigern seems to have caused the enmity of Ambrosius the Elder for the two clashed in battle at Guoloph or Wallop in Hampshire in 437. Vortigern's endeavours to defend Britain became increasingly difficult and eventually, around the year 449, he and his council of elders took the decision to buy the help of Saxon mercenaries who had been displaced from their lands in Jutland. These mercenaries, under HENGEST, helped the British drive back the Picts and, in return, Vortigern gave them the Isle of Thanet in which to settle. Over the next five years the Saxon settlement grew in power and in 455 they rebelled. Later tradition states that Vortigern had become infatuated with Hengest's daughter Rowena, and had been given her in marriage in exchange for more land. The British now feared the Saxon might. VORTIMER, Vortigern's son, overthrew his father and embarked upon a war with the Saxons. He was, however, killed in battle (though other sources say he was poisoned), and Vortigern returned to rule. He was, however, now an old man, and unable to wield the authority he did in earlier years. It is possible that this later Vortigern is a different king, the son or grandson of Vortigern I, who assumed the title of High King. Aroun the year 466 AMBROSIUS "AURELIANUS" appears as rival warlord. He drove Vortigern into Wales where he remained a ruler around Powys.
     In addition to Vortimer and Pascent, Vortigern was the father of Cattegirn, who was killed fighting the Saxons, and Faustus, who became a bishop in Gaul. Gaustus was rumoured to be the child of an incestuous relationship between Vortigern and his daughter. There are many other legends associated with Vortigern, most notably his role in the discovery of Merlin, when he wanted to know why the fortress he was trying to build in Snowdonia kept collapsing. Merlin stated that it was built upon a site where two dragons fought and he predicted Vortigern's fate to be burned alive in his tower by Ambrosius.

Cause of Death: Burned alive in his tower by Ambrosius13

Reign 1: Bet. 425 - 466, High King of Britain14

Reign 2: Bet. 471 - 480, restored as High King of Britain14

       

Children of SEVERA MAXIMUS and VORTIGERN are:

                   i.    VORTIMER3 AP VORTIGERN15, d. Unknown.

Notes for VORTIMER AP VORTIGERN:

[Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 110.]

[DB3;P95] VORTIMER or GWRTHEVYR Son of VORTIGERN and allegedly High King of Britain from about 466-471. He rebelled against his father's association with the Saxons for a while was elected High King in replacement of his father. He was apparently killed in battle against the Saxons, though other tales say that he was poisoned by his stepmother, Rowena, the daughter of HENGEST.

Reign: Bet. 466 - 471, High King of Britain15

3.               ii.    CATTEGIRN AP VORTIGERN, d. Unknown.

4.              iii.    PASCENT AP VORTIGERN, d. Unknown.

 

 

Generation No. 3

 

3.  CATTEGIRN3 AP VORTIGERN (SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)16 died Unknown.

       

Child of CATTEGIRN AP VORTIGERN is:

5.                i.    BRITTU4 AP CATTEGIRN, d. Unknown.

 

 

4.  PASCENT3 AP VORTIGERN (SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)16 died Unknown.

 

Notes for PASCENT AP VORTIGERN:

[Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pgs. 156-157.]

EF. GWERTHRYNION – BUILTH
This small kingdom was in the centre of Wales bounded by Powys, Ceredigion and Brycheiniog. Like Powys, it developed from lands once ruled by Vortigern in the mid fifth century. The name is derived from Vortigern's real name, Gwrtheyrn. The extent to which it remained an autonomous kingdom is not clear. It may at various stages have been subject to Powys, Brycheiniog, Gwent, and Gwynedd.
According to Nennius, after Vortigern it was ruled by his son Pascent (fl 460s) and then successively by Briacat (fl 490s), Idnerth (fl 510s), Meurig (fl 540s), Paul (fl 560s), Elaeth (fl 590s), Eldat (fl 610s), Moriud (fl 640s), Gwyddgant (fl 660s), Pascent (fl 690s), Tewdwr (fl 710s) and Fferfael, or Fernmail (fl 740s). Apart from Pascent, nothing is known about these rulers beyond their names.

[EF1] PASCENT Gwerthrynion, fl 460s.
Pascent is listed as the third son of VORTIGERN, who inherited the heartland of his father's lands in mid-south Wales, around Builth. There was, by all accounts, fighting between Pascent and his brothers as well as rival kings, especially EINION AP CUNEDDA and CADELL, but in time Pascent established a kingdom which would survive for a further twelve generations until the last ruler, Ffernfael, in the mid eighth century. Nothing is known of these later kings who must have been tenacious, clinging to their mountain fastness and surviving against all comers. One gets the impression more of a warrior band than of a formal kingdom. They may well have become vassal mercenaries to the Mercian kings who made incursions from the east during the seventh century. One of Pascent's descendants also bore the name and ruled in the late seventh century.
     Pascent does not figure as a good character in the traditional tales. He fled to Germany after his father's defeat by AMBROSIUS AURELIANUS, returned, fled again to Ireland where he was able to raise an army but was again defeated. He then resorted to subterfuge and bribed a Saxon woman to poison Ambrosius.

Reign: 460, Ruler of Gwerthrynion or Builth17

       

Child of PASCENT AP VORTIGERN is:

6.                i.    MORCANT4 AP PASCENT, d. Unknown.

 

 

Generation No. 4

 

5.  BRITTU4 AP CATTEGIRN (CATTEGIRN3 AP VORTIGERN, SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)18 died Unknown.

       

Child of BRITTU AP CATTEGIRN is:

7.                i.    CAMUIR5 AP BRITTU, d. Unknown.

 

 

6.  MORCANT4 AP PASCENT (PASCENT3 AP VORTIGERN, SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)18 died Unknown.

       

Child of MORCANT AP PASCENT is:

8.                i.    CYNGEN5 AP MORCANT, d. Unknown.

 

 

Generation No. 5

 

7.  CAMUIR5 AP BRITTU (BRITTU4 AP CATTEGIRN, CATTEGIRN3 AP VORTIGERN, SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)18 died Unknown.

       

Child of CAMUIR AP BRITTU is:

9.                i.    MILLO6 AP CAMUIR, d. Unknown.

 

 

8.  CYNGEN5 AP MORCANT (MORCANT4 AP PASCENT, PASCENT3 AP VORTIGERN, SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)18 died Unknown.

 

Notes for CYNGEN AP MORCANT:

[Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 152.]

[EE3] CYNGEN Powys, fl 550s.
With the first of this name the history of Powys emerges from the mists of time. The genealogies place Cyngen fourth in descent from CADELL through PASCENT. He lived in the mid sixth century before the rise of Mercia and it is likely that his kingdom extended beyond today's borders of Wales into what is now Shropshire and Hereford. His capital may well have been at Pengwern, the original site of Shrewsbury. The extent of his kingdom, though, is uncertain. His son was Brochfael.

Reign: 550, Ruler of Powys19

       

Child of CYNGEN AP MORCANT is:

10.              i.    BROCHFAEL6 AP CYNGEN, d. Unknown.

 

 

Generation No. 6

 

9.  MILLO6 AP CAMUIR (CAMUIR5 AP BRITTU, BRITTU4 AP CATTEGIRN, CATTEGIRN3 AP VORTIGERN, SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)20 died Unknown.

       

Child of MILLO AP CAMUIR is:

11.              i.    GINNAN7 AP MILLO, d. Unknown.

 

 

10.  BROCHFAEL6 AP CYNGEN (CYNGEN5 AP MORCANT, MORCANT4 AP PASCENT, PASCENT3 AP VORTIGERN, SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)20 died Unknown.

 

Notes for BROCHFAEL AP CYNGEN:

[Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pgs. 152-153.]

[EE4] BROCHFAEL "YSGYTHROG (OF THE TUSKS)" Powys, fl 570s.
The first ruler of Powys to establish himself in the bardic memory, where his name became synonymous with his kingdom. This suggests that it was brochfael more than any of his predecessors who carved out a recognizable kingdom from the mass of petty chieftainships that no doubt existed in eastern, northern and central Wales. Apparently his capital was at Pengwern, the Celtic fortress that became Shrewsbury, and his lands almost certainly extended north toward Chester and possibly westward as far as Builth. Brochfael must have maintained good relations with his neighbours, especially RHUN of Gwynedd and the long-lived MORGAN of Morgannwg, to have developed his kingdom without a history of bloodshed. In addition to his son CYNAN, Brochfael was the father of St Tysilio, whose cult spread throughout Wales and whose mission probably helped bond the emerging kingdoms of Wales for at least a brief period. It was Tysilio who established the ecclesiastical centre of Powys at Meifod.

Known as: Ysgythrog (of the Tusks)20

Reign: 570, Ruler of Powys21

       

Child of BROCHFAEL AP CYNGEN is:

12.              i.    CYNAN7 AP BROCHFAEL, b. Abt. 544, of County Powys, Wales; d. Unknown.

 

 

Generation No. 7

 

11.  GINNAN7 AP MILLO (MILLO6 AP CAMUIR, CAMUIR5 AP BRITTU, BRITTU4 AP CATTEGIRN, CATTEGIRN3 AP VORTIGERN, SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)22 died Unknown.

       

Child of GINNAN AP MILLO is:

13.              i.    ELBODGU8 AP GINNAN, d. Unknown.

 

 

12.  CYNAN7 AP BROCHFAEL (BROCHFAEL6 AP CYNGEN, CYNGEN5 AP MORCANT, MORCANT4 AP PASCENT, PASCENT3 AP VORTIGERN, SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)22 was born Abt. 544 in of County Powys, Wales23, and died Unknown.

 

Notes for CYNAN AP BROCHFAEL:

[Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 153.]

[EE5] CYNAN "GARWYN (the CRUEL)" AP BROCHFAEL Powys, fl c600.
The son of BROCHFAEL. His nickname means "the Cruel", but he was also renowned for his White Chariot. Whether this was a chariot of state for ceremonies, or whether he drove this into battle, is not stated, but it was probably the latter as, during Cynan's reign, the Mercians began to establish themselves in central and western England.

Ancestral File Number: QF5M-WF

Known as: Garwyn (the Cruel)24

Reign: 600, Ruler of Powys25

       

Children of CYNAN AP BROCHFAEL are:

14.              i.    TANDREG8 VERCH CYNAN, b. Abt. 569, of County Powys, Wales; d. Unknown.

                  ii.    SELYF AP CYNAN26,27, b. Abt. 571, of County Powys, Wales28; d. 61528,29.

Notes for SELYF AP CYNAN:

[Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 153.]

[EE6] SELYF AP CYNAN Powys, ?-613 (or 615?).
The son of CYNAN AP BROCHFAEL whose kingdom stretched down through the Welsh Marches from Chester to Shrewsbury, and possibly further south. His name is recorded in the annals because he was killed in the battle of Chester that marked the victory of ATHELFRITH of Northumbria over the Welsh princes of Gwynedd and Powys. Athelfrith's anger was directed toward EDWIN of Northumbria who had sought refuge amongst the Welsh kingdoms. It seems that Powys acted as a haven for several dispossessed rulers at this time. RHUN the son of URIEN of Rheged came to Powys as a monk. This suggests that Selyf was a benign and compassionate ruler. The fact that he is sometimes called Solomon may also indicate his wisdom. His death cast Powys into a period of turmoil before the emergence of CYNDDYLAN as its next strong ruler.

Ancestral File Number: QF5M-XL

Cause of Death: Killed in battle29

Reign: 615, Ruler of Powys29

15.            iii.    EILUDD AP CYNAN, b. Abt. 573, of County Powys, Wales; d. Unknown.

                 iv.    DINOGAN AP CYNAN30, b. Abt. 575, of County Powys, Wales30; d. Unknown.

More About DINOGAN AP CYNAN:

Ancestral File Number: QF5N-0W

 

 

Generation No. 8

 

13.  ELBODGU8 AP GINNAN (GINNAN7 AP MILLO, MILLO6 AP CAMUIR, CAMUIR5 AP BRITTU, BRITTU4 AP CATTEGIRN, CATTEGIRN3 AP VORTIGERN, SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)31 died Unknown.

       

Child of ELBODGU AP GINNAN is:

16.              i.    GWYTHERIAN9 AP ELBODGU, d. Unknown.

 

 

14.  TANDREG8 VERCH CYNAN (CYNAN7 AP BROCHFAEL, BROCHFAEL6 AP CYNGEN, CYNGEN5 AP MORCANT, MORCANT4 AP PASCENT, PASCENT3 AP VORTIGERN, SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)32 was born Abt. 569 in of County Powys, Wales32, and died Unknown.  She married CADFAN AP IAGO32, son of IAGO AP BELI.  He was born Abt. 569 in of Wales32, and died 62533.

 

More About TANDREG VERCH CYNAN:

Ancestral File Number: HS06-9J

 

Notes for CADFAN AP IAGO:

[Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 145.]

[ED8;P104] CADFAN AP IAGO Gwynedd, c615-c620.
Cadfan is remembered as a wise king, which suggests that not only did he administer the laws justly to his subjects, but that he also succeeded in maintaining peace at a time of growing hostility between the Welsh and the Angles, especially the Northumbrian king ATHELFRITH. Despite Athelfrith's victory at the Battle of Chester, Cadfan continued to shelter EDWIN, the Northumbrian prince whom Athelfrith was intent on killing. When Athelfrith was himself killed in battle four years later, Edwin was restored to his throne. He did not show any particular favouritism to his saviours, however; he became intent on conquering other Celtic lands, including Elmet, Rheged and Man, and was eventually killed by Cadfan's son CADWALLON.

Ancestral File Number: HPGD-4Q

Cause of Death: Killed34

Reign: Bet. 615 - 620, Ruler of Gwynedd35

       

Children of TANDREG VERCH CYNAN and CADFAN AP IAGO are:

                   i.    EFEILIAN9 VERCH CADFAN, b. Abt. 589, of Wales; d. Unknown.

                  ii.    CADWALLON AP CADFAN, b. Abt. 591, of Wales; d. 634, Heavenfield near Hexham by Hadrian's Wall, England.

                 iii.    VERCH CADFAN, b. Abt. 593, of Wales; d. Unknown.

 

 

15.  EILUDD8 AP CYNAN (CYNAN7 AP BROCHFAEL, BROCHFAEL6 AP CYNGEN, CYNGEN5 AP MORCANT, MORCANT4 AP PASCENT, PASCENT3 AP VORTIGERN, SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)36,37 was born Abt. 573 in of County Powys, Wales38, and died Unknown.

 

Notes for EILUDD AP CYNAN:

[Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 153.]

[EE7] EILUDD AP CYNAN Powys, 615?-?
The brother of SELYF, Eiludd presumably surbibed the battle of Chester and endeavoured to regain control of Powys. Since little is heard of Powys at this time it is possible that Eiludd ruled only as a client king of CADFAN of Gwynedd. This period of Powys's history is uncertain but it is probable that following the death of Selyf, his family were unable to sustain the large kingdom created by his grandfather, BROCHFAEL, and that Eiludd ruled only Northern Powys, whilst a scion of the family, perhaps a cousin, CYNDRWYN ruled Pengwern to the south.

Ancestral File Number: QF5M-ZR

Reign: 615, Ruler of Powys39

       

Child of EILUDD AP CYNAN is:

17.              i.    BELI9 AP EILUDD, d. Unknown.

 

 

Generation No. 9

 

16.  GWYTHERIAN9 AP ELBODGU (ELBODGU8 AP GINNAN, GINNAN7 AP MILLO, MILLO6 AP CAMUIR, CAMUIR5 AP BRITTU, BRITTU4 AP CATTEGIRN, CATTEGIRN3 AP VORTIGERN, SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)39 died Unknown.

       

Child of GWYTHERIAN AP ELBODGU is:

                   i.    HESSALIS10 AP GWYTHERIAN39, d. Unknown.

 

 

17.  BELI9 AP EILUDD (EILUDD8 AP CYNAN, CYNAN7 AP BROCHFAEL, BROCHFAEL6 AP CYNGEN, CYNGEN5 AP MORCANT, MORCANT4 AP PASCENT, PASCENT3 AP VORTIGERN, SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)39 died Unknown.

 

Notes for BELI AP EILUDD:

[Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 154.]

[EE10] BELI AP EILUDD Powys, fl 630s.
Beli features in the ancestry of ELISEDD of Powys, but the ancient genealogy provides us with a confusion over dates. If Beli was genuinely the son of EILUDD, and nephew of SELYF, then he must have lived in the decade or two after the Battle of Chester in 613. This would make him a contemporary with CADWALLON of Gwynedd, and there is little doubt that the rulers of Gwynedd and Powys at this time would have united in their campaign against the Northumbrians. Like Cadwallon, Beli was probably driven into exile by EDWIN. However, his son GWYLOG married the daughter of NOWY of Dyfed, and Nowy is a generation earlier than Beli, which would place him into at least the 590s if not earlier. This would make it impossible for Beli to be the grandfather of Elisedd who lived around 725. These anomalies are far from being resolved.

Reign: 630, Ruler of Powys39

       

Child of BELI AP EILUDD is:

18.              i.    GWYLOG10 AP BELI, d. Unknown.

 

 

Generation No. 10

 

18.  GWYLOG10 AP BELI (BELI9 AP EILUDD, EILUDD8 AP CYNAN, CYNAN7 AP BROCHFAEL, BROCHFAEL6 AP CYNGEN, CYNGEN5 AP MORCANT, MORCANT4 AP PASCENT, PASCENT3 AP VORTIGERN, SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)39 died Unknown.  He married SANAN VERCH NOWY39, daughter of NOWY AP ARTHWYR.  She died Unknown.

 

Notes for GWYLOG AP BELI:

[Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 154.]

[EE11] GWYLOG Powys, dates uncertain (fl 700s?).
Gwylog is shown both as the father of ELISEDD who lived about 725 and as the son of BELI who lived about 620, and these dates are incompatible. Gwylog also married Sanan, the daughter of NOWY of Dyfed, which would place Gwylog back around the period 620 or even earlier. clearly the genealogies are at fault. This is not surprising. The period from the Battle of Chester in 613 to the recovery of the lands of Powys under Elisedd in 725 was a dark age for the Welsh when many were driven into exile by the Northumbrians and Mercians, apart from the brief period of triumph of CYNDDYLAN who does not feature anywhere in the genealogies. We must conclude that at least two generations of Powys' rulers have been lost and that during these years the land was probably dominated by the rulers of Gwynedd.

Reign: 700, Ruler of Powys39

       

Child of GWYLOG AP BELI and SANAN VERCH NOWY is:

19.              i.    ELISEDD11 AP GWYLOG, d. Unknown.

 

 

Generation No. 11

 

19.  ELISEDD11 AP GWYLOG (GWYLOG10 AP BELI, BELI9 AP EILUDD, EILUDD8 AP CYNAN, CYNAN7 AP BROCHFAEL, BROCHFAEL6 AP CYNGEN, CYNGEN5 AP MORCANT, MORCANT4 AP PASCENT, PASCENT3 AP VORTIGERN, SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)39 died Unknown.

 

Notes for ELISEDD AP GWYLOG:

[Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 155.]

[EE12] ELISEDD (or ELISEG) Powys, 725-?
Elisedd was remembered by his great grandson, CYNGEN AP CADELL, a century later, for having rebuilt Powys and recovered lands from the English. He erected a stone column, now known as "Eliseg's Pillar" which commemorated his descent, tracing it all the way back to VORTIGERN. The genealogy provides us with some dating problems, but we must assume that Elisedd lived sometime in the early/mid eighth century. This coincides with the reign of the Mercian king ATHELBALD, a turbulent period where the Mercians generally had the upper hand but where some victories all the more significant. It is possible that Elisedd succeeded in regaining lands along the Welsh/Mercian border from this powerful king, which made his victories all the more significant. It is possible that Elisedd ruled (or was active as a battle leader) earlier, because there are Welsh border incidents recorded during the reign of the Mercian king CENRED, around the year 708. The fact that the Pillar was erected at Llangollen, well inside the later Welsh border, shows that these territorial gains were not permanent.

Reign: 725, Ruler of Powys39

       

Child of ELISEDD AP GWYLOG is:

20.              i.    BROCHFAEL12 AP ELISEDD, d. Unknown.

 

 

Generation No. 12

 

20.  BROCHFAEL12 AP ELISEDD (ELISEDD11 AP GWYLOG, GWYLOG10 AP BELI, BELI9 AP EILUDD, EILUDD8 AP CYNAN, CYNAN7 AP BROCHFAEL, BROCHFAEL6 AP CYNGEN, CYNGEN5 AP MORCANT, MORCANT4 AP PASCENT, PASCENT3 AP VORTIGERN, SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)39 died Unknown.

 

Notes for BROCHFAEL AP ELISEDD:

[Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 155.]

[EE13] BROCHFAEL AP ELISEDD Powys, fl 760s.
The son of ELISEDD, little is known of his reign, except that it would have paralleled

that of Mercia's greatest king, OFFA. Whatever lands Elisedd had gained in the first half of the century, Brochfael probably lost in the second half. Offa undertook many raids into Wales during his reign, some as far west as Dyfed, and Powys was little more than a doorstep to his mighty army. Although the dates of Brochfael's reign are not known, it is possible he reigned for a considerable period. It was during his reign that Offa's Dyke was constructed, a remarkable feat of engineering which must have taken many men many years. It is a sign of Offa's power that it could be achieved at all, and it is probable that it was the men of Powys and of Glywysing who were pressed into service to complete the work. It served as much as a line of demarkation as a defence, and as such shows that Offa effectively agreed a border between the Welsh and the English which would help sustain peace. Brochfael would therefore have benefitted from the Dyke in the short term, though in the long term it spelled the end for Powys. Brochfael was succeeded by his son CADELL.

Reign: 760, Ruler of Powys39

       

Child of BROCHFAEL AP ELISEDD is:

21.              i.    CADELL13 AP BROCHFAEL, b. Abt. 740, of County Powys, Wales; d. 808.

 

 

Generation No. 13

 

21.  CADELL13 AP BROCHFAEL (BROCHFAEL12 AP ELISEDD, ELISEDD11 AP GWYLOG, GWYLOG10 AP BELI, BELI9 AP EILUDD, EILUDD8 AP CYNAN, CYNAN7 AP BROCHFAEL, BROCHFAEL6 AP CYNGEN, CYNGEN5 AP MORCANT, MORCANT4 AP PASCENT, PASCENT3 AP VORTIGERN, SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)39 was born Abt. 740 in of County Powys, Wales40, and died 80840.

 

Notes for CADELL AP BROCHFAEL:

[Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 155.]

[EE14] CADELL AP BROCHFAEL Powys, ?-808.
Ruler of Powys during the oppressive reign of the Mercian CENWULF. Cadell died before Cenwulf's main drive into Wales, and he may have benefitted from the comparative peace that followed the construction of Offa's Dyke. However, in the last year of Offa's reign, the Mercians penetrated into Rhuddlan, and this was a signal of the fragile relationship that would exist between Welsh and Mercians for the next thirty years. Cadell was succeeded by CYNGEN.

Ancestral File Number: S2R7-1G

Reign: 808, Ruler of Powys41

       

Children of CADELL AP BROCHFAEL are:

                   i.    CYNGEN14 AP CADELL42, d. 855, Rome, Italy43.

Notes for CYNGEN AP CADELL:

[Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pgs. 155-156.]

[EE15] CYNGEN AP CADELL Powys, c808-853.
The last king of the first dynasty of Powys. He succeeded his father, CADELL, at a time when the Mercians under CENWULF and later CEOLWULF were making a concerted drive into Wales. Their efforts were concentrated in North Wales, though they also penetrated as far south as Dyfed. In 823, Beornwulf (penetrating into Gwynedd) captured the Welsh citadel at Deganwy, and claimed that the whole of Powys was in his hands. Beornwulf was killed soon after, and Mercia's power declined under a series of rival claimants until it fell easy prey to the power of EGBERT of Wessex. From 826 to 830 Mercian energies were directed elsewhere and this would have given Cyngen an opportunity to regain his lands. It was probably at this time that he erected the stone column now called "Eliseg's Pillar" both as a tribute to his own achievement and to that of his forefathers. It was a proud declaration of the antiquity of Powys. It did not last for long. In 830 Egbert sent his army into Powys to subdue Cyngen and, although the record is quiet on the matter, Cyngen may have had to recognize Egbert as overlord. The next twenty years saw the rise in power of RHODRI who succeeded to Gwynedd in 844. Rhodri's mother was Cyngen's sister Nest and, although Cyngen had three sons of his own, it probably became evident in Cyngen's later years that Rhodri had every intention of claiming Powys as his inheritance. In 853 the Mercians under BURGRED, with the help of ATHELWOLF, began a new offensive into Wales, and again overran Powys. Although they were not able to penetrate into Gwynedd, it seems that Rhodri was content to sacrifice Powys whilst defending his own lands. In 853 Cyngen retired and went on a pilgrimage to Rome, where he died two years later. Records suggest he was a sad and embittered man. He was old, having ruled for forty-five years. It is not clear whether his sons pre-deceased him, of whether they died soon after, for their is no record of them attempting to claim the throne of Powys. Instead Rhodri annexed it to Gwynedd and it remained part of the frontier between England and Wales, constantly changing hands, until the death of BLEDDYN AP CYNFYN in 1075.

Reign: Bet. 808 - 855, Ruler of Powys43

22.             ii.    NEST VERCH CADELL, b. Abt. 770, of County Powys, Wales; d. Unknown.

 

 

Generation No. 14

 

22.  NEST14 VERCH CADELL (CADELL13 AP BROCHFAEL, BROCHFAEL12 AP ELISEDD, ELISEDD11 AP GWYLOG, GWYLOG10 AP BELI, BELI9 AP EILUDD, EILUDD8 AP CYNAN, CYNAN7 AP BROCHFAEL, BROCHFAEL6 AP CYNGEN, CYNGEN5 AP MORCANT, MORCANT4 AP PASCENT, PASCENT3 AP VORTIGERN, SEVERA2 MAXIMUS, MAGNUS1)44 was born Abt. 770 in of County Powys, Wales45, and died Unknown.  She married MERFYN AP GWRIAD46,47, son of GWRIAD AP ELIDYR and ESYLLT VERCH CYNAN.  He was born Abt. 764 in of Wales48, and died 844 in Battle of Cyfeiliog, Ketell, Wales48.

 

More About NEST VERCH CADELL:

Ancestral File Number: RKJR-5M

 

Notes for MERFYN AP GWRIAD:

[Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 149.]

[ED17] MERFYN "FRYCH" (THE FRECKLED) Gwynedd, 825-844.
Merfyn came to power following the death of HYWEL ap Caradog, and his accession marked the end of a period of turmoil in Gwynedd's affairs and the start of a new dynasty. Merfyn was the son of GWRIAD, the king of the Isle of Man, through whom he could claim descent from LLYWARCH "HEN". His mother was Esyllt, the daughter of CYNAN ap Rhodri, who was descended from the main line of Venedotian kings since the days of CUNEDDA. Merfyn married Nest, the daughter of CADELL AP BROCHFAEL of Powys, thus uniting the two great North Wales royal families. Someone of Merfyn's strength of character was needed at this time. The seas around Wales, Man and Ireland were being patrolled by viking pirates. Merfyn must have been regarded as having authority over the seas-his name means "sea ruler", not a great surprise for someone descended from the rulers of Man, who relied upon their marine skills for their livelihood. But Merfyn was obviously also a skilled negotiator and statesman. His alliance with Powys meant that the two kingdoms presented a powerful front to the Saxons in the east. Merfyn thus established a stable, if uneasy peace. It was during the early part of Merfyn's reign that the "History of the Britons" was completed. This is attributed to Nennius, a cleric and scholar of Gwyneddwho may well have been requested by Merfyn to establish a history of Britain. Some evidence suggests that Nennius had already started on this, either for his own interests or perhaps at the instigation of Hywel ap Caradog, but it seems almost certain that it was Merfyn who recognized the project for its true worth and promoted it. Interestingly it was not used as a way of demonstrating the power and might of Merfyn, as he is not mentioned anywhere in the "History". Nevertheless it demonstrates that during Merfyn's reign scholarship was encouraged, which is always the sign of a strong but compassionate king. Merfyn passed these and other qualities on to his son RHODRI "Mawr" who would become king of all North Wales...

Ancestral File Number: FLH5-XQ

Reign: Bet. 825 - 844, Ruler of Man and Gwynedd49

       

Child of NEST VERCH CADELL and MERFYN AP GWRIAD is:

                   i.    RHODRI15 AP MERFYN, b. Abt. 789, of Caer Seiont, County Carnarvonshire, Wales; d. 878, County Anglesey, Wales.

Endnotes

 

1.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 67.

2.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 83.

3.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 67.

4.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 83.

5.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 67.

6.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 83.

7.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 67.

8.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 108.

9.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 109.

10.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 92.

11.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 67.

12.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 108.

13.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 110.

14.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 108.

15.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 110.

16.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 151.

17.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 156.

18.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 151.

19.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 150.

20.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 151.

21.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 150.

22.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 151.

23.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (R),  (Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998), "Electronic."

24.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 151.

25.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 150.

26.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (R),  (Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998), "Electronic."

27.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 151.

28.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (R),  (Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998), "Electronic."

29.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 151.

30.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (R),  (Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998), "Electronic."

31.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 151.

32.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (R),  (Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998), "Electronic."

33.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), page 139.

34.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 145.

35.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), page 139.

36.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (R),  (Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998), "Electronic."

37.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 151.

38.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (R),  (Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998), "Electronic."

39.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 151.

40.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (R),  (Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998), "Electronic."

41.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 151.

42.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 347.

43.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 151.

44.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (R),  (Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998), "Electronic."

45.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (R),  (Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998), "Electronic," id'ed at 742, but was incorrect.

46.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (R),  (Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998), "Electronic."

47.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 96.

48.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (R),  (Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998), "Electronic."

49.  Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens,  (Carroll and Graf Publishers, New York, 1998), pg. 141.

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