Discover

'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.

Contents

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

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