Dukes of Dyfed (Welsh History Post Glyndwr)

&nbsp The Duchy of Dyfed is technically the area around the town of Newport (Pembs). It has at times doubled as the title for the far larger territory of the Duchy of Deheubarth. It was first created by King Hywel I for the brother of his Queen.

Gwilym Powell, son of the Earl of Pembroke was therefore raised to be the first Dug (Duke) within Wales. Such a move as not calculated to impress the other magnates of the realm and Dug Gwilym struggled to impose himself on the political scene. This changed with the death of Hywel and the minority of his heir, Hywel II of Wales. With the Queen Dowager (Eleanor of Pembroke) named as Llywydd (President) of the Council, the Dug was named as her proxy in Council. Their early dominance was ended by the Treaty of Woodstock (signed Oct 29th 1513) but this brief period of importance was enough to cement the Dug's position amoungst the Welsh nobility.

Duke of Dyfed (1st Creation)
Gwilym survived the ignomity of the treaty of Woodstock and continued to serve his nephew, Hywel. He died during the 1st Anglo-Welsh war in northern Somerset. He was succeeded to by his son Rhys who was the first to move the Ducal residence to Trefdraeth (OTL Newport Pembs) although the principal town of the Duchy was Abergwaun (OTL Fishguard).
 * 1) Gwillym Powell 1498-1537 - Duke 1498-1537
 * 2) Rhys I Powell 1506-1561 - Duke 1537-1561

With the death of Rhys in 1561 the title of Dug Dyfed reverted back to the Crown and was used by the monarch (Elen of Wales) when her youngest son was married. Rhys was the first Dug to use the Lion of Dyfed as his Ducal Standard.

Duke of Dyfed - 2nd Creation (Subsidary title to the Duke of Deheubarth 1st Creation)
When Prince Rhys of Wales married Margaret Howard (niece to the Duke of Norfolk), Queen Elen decided to raise him up to the rank of Royal Duke. Elen created a new title for Rhys, the Duke of Deheubarth. Deheubarth consisted of Dyfed, Ceredigion and Cantref Mawr and such the territory rivalled that of Gwynedd and Powys. Rhys would be the only Dug of this entire territory. Rhys's time as Dug was brief and ended during the Protestant Wars against his brother the king, Marc. Rhys used as his arms the Lion of Deheubarth and was the first since the days of the Lord Rhys to use it as a personal banner. With the birth of his son and heir, Dafydd, Rhys decided to seperate out the Ducal titles. With the consent of the Queen, Rhys gave up the title of Duke of Dyfed, though retaining overlordship of the title. Dafydd was raised to the rank of Royal Duke on his 3rd birthday. Though King Marc tried to remove the rank and title of Duke from Rhys.
 * 1) Rhys II MacGregor-Glyndwr 1568-1599 - Duke 1587-1591
 * 2) Dafydd MacGregor-Glyndwr 1588-1640 - Duke 1591-1640