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Ffernfael ab Idwal

Not to be confused with the 9th-century king of Gwent, Ffernfael ap Meurig. For other Welsh rulers of the same name, see Ffernfael..

This Welsh name means Ffernfael son of Idwal.

Ffernfael ab Idwal or Ithel (died c. 775) was a late 8th-century king of Gwent in southeast Wales. His name seems to mean "strong ankles".[1] His father was Idwal or Ithel ap Morgan, (c. 690, reign 710–745), king of Glywyssing, Gwent, and Ergyng.[2]

Ffernfael's paternal grandfather was Morgan the Generous, or Benefactor (Mwynfawr in Welsh), also known as Morgan ab Athrwys (d. c. 665/710), King of Glywysing. He may have been the namesake of the later realm of Morgannwg (whence the modern name for Glamorgan is derived), although his descendant Morgan the Old is a more likely possibility.[3][2] Ffernfael's grandmother may have been Ricceneth, and he had an uncle named Gwyddnerth.[4]

Ffernfael was the great grandson of Athrwys ap Meurig and possibly Cenedlon ferch Briafael Frydig, and the great-great grandson of King Meurig ap Twedrig and Onbrawst, daughter of Gwrgan Fawr, the last King of Ergyng. This is thought to be how Ergyng became part of the territorial holdings of the family.[5]

Ffearnfael married Ceingaer as his queen.[4] They are both recorded in charters, including giving gifts to Bishop Cadwared of Llandaff. He is recorded as giving the church property jointly with his father Idwal and brother Meurig ap Ithel.[4] Ffernfael is also recorded as having sold a uilla to Iddon, son of Ceirio in conjuction with his father and brothers Meurig, Rhodri and Rhys, who are recorded as witnesses on the charter. These documents were later used as proof of the donors' ownerships when donating the land to the church at Llandaff.[4]

Ffernfael's father Idwal ap Morgan seems to have inherited his father Morgan's realm including lands in Gower, Glamorgan, and Gwent, and probably sovereignity of most of the region between the River Loughor and the River Wye as a whole. It is thought that he then divided it among his many sons: Ffernfael in much of Gwent and Rhys, Rhodri, and Meurig in parts of Glywysing.[6] Ergyng (now in western Herefordshire in England was apparently lost to the Saxon kingdom of Hwicce around this time. Alternatively, Ffernfael's brothers Rhodri and Rhys and his nephew Brochfael may have inherited in turn, but lost Gwent to Ffernfael for a time.[7]

Ffernfael's death is recorded by the undated Annals of Wales. Phillimore's reconstruction places the entry in the year 775.[8]

Children

See also

References

  1. ^ Todd, James H. & al. (trans.) Leabhar breathnach annso sis: the Irish version of the Historia Britonum of Nennius. Irish Archaeological Society (Dublin), 1848. Accessed 12 Feb 2013.
  2. ^ a b "MORGAN MWYNFAWR (fl. 730), ' the Benefactor ', or MORGAN ab ATHRWYS, king of Morgannwg | Dictionary of Welsh Biography". biography.wales. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  3. ^ Thornton, David E. (23 September 2004). Morgan Hen [Morgan Mawr] (d. 974), king of Morgannwg. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d Charles-Edwards, T. M. (2013). Wales and the Britons, 350-1064. OUP Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-821731-2. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  5. ^ "Morgan ab Athrwys (d. c. 665/710), king of Glywysing". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/19209. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  6. ^ The History Files: Celtic Kingdoms of the British Isles. "Gwent Archived 2011-10-01 at the Wayback Machine". Accessed 12 Feb 2013.
  7. ^ Ford, David N. Early British Kingdoms. "South Welsh Royal Pedigree". Accessed 12 Feb 2013.
  8. ^ Harley MS 3859. Op. cit. Phillimore, Egerton. Y Cymmrodor 9 (1888), pp. 141–83. (in Latin)