King of Wales

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King of Wales was a rarely achieved title, much rarer than King of Scotland, as Wales was never as unified as Scotland. A more common title, but with different meaning, was King of the Britons.

[edit] Historical rulers upon whom the title King of Wales (or a related title) was bestowed

Name Reign Regional power base Recorded title or description Source Notes on bestowal
Geraint  ?670-c.710 Dumnonia King of the Welsh (=Britons) (in 710) Anglo-Saxon Chronicle may refer only to Britons in Dumnonia
Gruffudd ap Cynan 1136-1137 Gwynedd (insecurely from 1081) King of Wales (in 1137) Brut y Tywysogion probably retrospective
Owain Gwynedd 1137-1170 Gwynedd Leader of the Britons (in 1146); King of Wales, Prince of the Welsh Brut y Tywysogion; contemporary charters
Rhys ap Gruffydd 1171-1197 Deheubarth (from 1155) Head of all Wales (in 1197); Prince of the Welsh (in 1184), Prince of Wales Brut y Tywysogion; contemporary charters