Seisyllwg ( Welsh: [sɛiˈsəɬʊɡ] ) was a petty kingdom of medieval Wales . It is unclear when it emerged as a distinct unit, but according to later sources it consisted of the former Kingdom of Ceredigion plus the region known as Ystrad Tywi . Thus it covered the modern county of Ceredigion , part of Carmarthenshire , and the Gower Peninsula . It is evidently named after Seisyll , king of Ceredigion in the 7th or early 8th century, but it is unknown if he was directly responsible for its establishment. In the 10th century Seisyllwg became the centre of power for Hywel Dda , who came to rule most of Wales. In 920 Hywel merged Seisyllwg with the Kingdom of Dyfed to form the new kingdom of Deheubarth .
8-524: It is unclear when Seisyllwg emerged as a distinct unit. It is assumed to have been named for Seisyll ap Clydog , King of Ceredigion in the 7th or early 8th century, and as such he is traditionally regarded as its founder. Seisyll appears in the Harleian genealogies for the Kings of Ceredigion, but no early sources attribute the foundation of Seisyllwg to him, and the name Ceredigion continues to be used into
16-529: A claim to kingship himself, he was able to install his and Angharad's younger son, Cadell , as the new King of Seisyllwg. Cadell ruled as a vassal to his father, and later, to his elder brother Anarawd , who established the Dinefwr family . After Cadell's death in 911, Seisyllwg was divided among his two sons, Hywel (later known as Hywel Dda, or Howel the Good), and Clydog. Hywel probably already had control over
24-463: Is said to include the four cantrefs of Ceredigion plus the three of Ystrad Tywi , a description which accords with that in the laws. In 872, Gwgon , the last in the traditional line of kings of Ceredigion, drowned, leaving no heir. Gwgon's sister, Angharad , was married to Rhodri Mawr (Rhodri the Great) of Gwynedd , who became steward over Gwgon's realm. While this gave Rhodri no standing to press
32-678: The 9th century. The name Seisyllwg appears in some later sources, such as the Book of Llandaff , the Welsh Triads , and the Welsh laws , the latter of which describes it as one of the three principal subdivisions of South Wales, along with Morgannwg and Reinwg (probably Dyfed ). However, the first clear description of the territory is in the First Branch of the Mabinogi , where Seisyllwg
40-523: The kings of Ceredigion. Here, he is named as the son of Clydog or Clitauc Artgloys, and is the sixth in descent from Ceredig , the traditional founder of Ceredigion. The Harleian also names him as the father of Arthgen , presumably the King of Ceredigion whom the Annales Cambriae record as dying in 807. Seisyll's name appears to derive from the notional Late Latin *Saxillus , which comes from
48-644: The neighbouring kingdom of Dyfed by that time; there are no known kings of Dyfed following the death of Llywarch ap Hyfaidd in 904, and Hywel is known to have been married to Llywarch's daughter, Elen. He certainly had control over it by the time Clydog died in 920, leaving the whole of Seisyllwg to Hywel. Hywel quickly merged Seisyllwg and Dyfed into the new kingdom of Deheubarth , which covered most of southwest Wales. From this power base, he later went on to unite almost all of Wales. 53°14′N 4°1′W / 53.233°N 4.017°W / 53.233; -4.017 Seisyll ap Clydog Seisyll ap Clydog
56-540: The same root as the Welsh sais , meaning Saxon or Englishman . Seisyll ap Clydog is generally taken to be the Seisyll for whom Seisyllwg was named. As such, historians such as John Edward Lloyd and Egerton Phillimore believed that he was the king who founded that kingdom. However, contemporary sources continue to use the name Ceredigion for the realm of Seisyll and his successors. As such, "Seisyllwg" may represent
64-476: Was King of Ceredigion in Wales some time in the late 7th or early 8th century. He gave his name to the later kingdom of Seisyllwg , which consisted of Ceredigion plus the region known as Ystrad Tywi ; as such he was possibly the king responsible for the expansion. However, there is no contemporary evidence of this, and almost nothing is known of his life or reign. Seisyll appears in the Harleian genealogies for
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