Banner of the Tywysogion of Gwynedd (by permission of Leoninia)
The Tywysogion Gwynedd were created as the senior Tywysogion of the Y Tywysogaethau Teiran (Tripartite Tywysogion) system introduced by King Owain V.
In 1487, by the Statute of Harlech, the three tywysogion of Gwynedd, Powys and Morgannwg were restored to political life. The King needed a strong base to provide financial security for the crown. To that end, historic Gwynedd was held for the Crown. The resurrected Gwynedd stretched from the Llyn Peninsula in the west to the English border in the east, encompassing almost the entirety of the old historic Gwynedd.
The Tywysogion was held in union with the Welsh Crown, so that all monarchs from Owain V would be Tywysogion Gwynedd within the Federalistic Monarchy as well as being his own liege lord in the person of the King. In practice the rule of the Tywysogion was devolved to the Prince's Household, headed by the Distain of Gwynedd and occasionally to the King's son, should he he old enough for such duties prior to his eventual ascension to the Welsh throne.
The Tŷ Glyndwr would continue to hold this Tywysogion up to the modern era even though they are no longer also monarchies of Cymru. Indeed, today descendants of Owain V continue to rule both the Y Tywysogaethau Teiran and Cymru. The Tŷ Fitzgerald-Glyndwr still rules in Gwynedd, the Tŷ Powys-Fadog, a cadet branch of the Tŷ Glyndwr rules in Powys (descendants of Owain V's younger son, Maredudd 1st, Tywysog Powys). Even the Tŷ Oldenburg-Morgannwg which rules both Cymru and Morgannwg is descended from Owain through the Gwenllian, daughter of Hywel IV and mother of Rhisiart I.
The Fall of Cymru in 1718 saw the beginning of the end for the connection between Gwynedd and the Crown. With the death of the last king of the TŷDehunbarth (Rhys) the Tywysogion Gwynnedd passed to the descendants of his GG Uncle, Gruffud, Lord of Aberffraw whilst the Crown of Cymru was voted to Rhisiart of Morgannwg by the Council in exile. With the restoration of Welsh Independence, the Tŷ Fitzgerald-Glyndwr lost the position of preeminence within Welsh nobility, descended as they now were from a younger branch than the Tŷ Powys.
The numbering of the Tywysogion of the Tripartite are accorded as of New Creation so do not take account of Tywysogion of those lands before the 1487 Statute.
Tywysogion Gwynedd - Tŷ Mathrafal (Glyndwr)[]
- Owain I Gwynedd 1487-1490 (Also Owain V Cymru)
- Hwyel I Gwynedd 1490-1512 (Also Hywel I Cymru)
- Hwyel II Gwynedd 1512-1545 (Also Hywel II Cymru)
- Rhodri I Gwynedd 1545-1554 (Also Rhodri Cymru)
- Elen I Tywysoges Gwynedd 1554-1598 (Also Elen, Brenhines Cymru)
Tywysogion Gwynedd - Tŷ Fitzgerald-Glyndwr[]
- Marc Gwynedd - Joint rule with Elen 1578-1600 (Also Marc Cymru)
- Mari, Tywysoges Waddolog Gwynedd (Dowager Princess) 1600-1616 - Wife of Marc
Tywysogion Gwynedd - Tŷ Deheubarth[]
- Dafydd I Gwynedd 1616-1648 (Also Dafydd IV Cymru)
- Hywel III Gwynedd 1648-1683 (Also Hywel III Cymru)
- Hywel IV Gwynedd 1683-1706 (Also Hywel IV Cymru)
- Dafydd II Gwynedd 1706-1718 (Also Dafydd V Cymru)
- Rhys I Gwynedd 1718-1750 (Also Rhys Cymru - Both titles held in Exile)
Tywysogion Gwynedd - Tŷ Fitzgerald-Glyndwr (Restored Line)[]
- Owain II Gwynedd 1750-1778 (Title held in Exile)
- Gruffud I Gwynedd 1778-1788 (Title held in Exile)
- Rhys II Gywnedd 1788-1808 (Son of Iorwerth Fitzgerald-Glyndwr, brother of Owain II)
- Maredudd I Gwynedd 1808-1832
- Rhys III Gwynedd 1832-1852 (Led the Gwynedd Forces in the Civil War 1843-1849)
- Gruffud II Gwynedd 1852-1887
- Rhys IV Gwynedd 1887-1921
- Owain III Gwynedd 1921-1937
- Owain IV Gwynedd 1937-1941
- Iolo I Gwynedd 1941-1944 (Brother of Owain III)
- Owain V Gwynedd 1944-1992
- Gwenllian I Tywysoges Gwynedd 1992-Present
- Iorwerth, Edling Gwynedd
Titles and Styles of the Tywysogion Gwynedd[]
The Tywysogaeth Gwynedd is referred to as "the Ancient Seat of Vendotia" and the holders of the title Tywysog/es Gwynedd are afforded the simple style of "Ei Uchelder Tangnefeddus, X Tywysog/es Gwynedd" (His/Her Serene Highness, X the Prince/ess of Gwynedd)
Official charters issued by tywysogion (siarteri tywysogaidd / princely charters) use the full formal style such as "Y siarter hon, a gyhoeddwyd yn enw Ei Huchelder Tangnefeddus, Gwenllïan, Arglwyddes fonheddig sedd hynafol Vendotia, Tywysoges Gwynedd, Arglwyddes Aberffraw " (this charter, issued in the name of Her Serene Highness, Gwenllian, noble Lady of the ancient seat of Vendotia, Princess of Gwynedd, Lady of Aberffraw)
Subsidiary Titles[]
In addition to the title of Tywysog Gwynedd a number of other titles are linked to the Tŷ'r Tywysog
- Dug yr Wyddfa (Duke of Snowdon)
- Marcwis Caernarfon (Marquis of Caernarfon)
- Is-Iarll Aberffraw (Viscount Aberffraw)
- Is-Iarll Bodelwyddan (Viscount Bodelwyddan)
- Barwn Celyn (Baron Garth Celyn)
- Barwn Rhuddlan (Baron Rhuddlan)
- Arglwydd Aberffraw (Lord of Aberffraw) - Traditional original title to the heir.
Traditionally the heir to the Tywysog Gwynedd is created the Arglwydd Aberffraw at birth and raised to the title Is-Iarll Aberffraw on their twelfth birthday. On the heir's 18th birthday they are raised further to the title Marcwis Caernarfon. On the event of their marriage they are raised again to the title of Dug yr Wyddfa. The eldest child of the heir is created the Is-Iarll Bodelwyddan at birth. Younger siblings to the heir are usually granted one of the lifetime Baronies (Garth Celyn, Rhuddlan etc) these baronies are not inheirtable and any children of younger siblings are only accorded the honorific "arglwydd neu arglwyddes". Similarly younger children born to the heir are usually refered to as "Arglwydd neu Arglwyddes yr Wyddfa /Lord or Lady Snowdon".
The Coat of Arms of the Tywysogion of Gwynedd is the ancient arms of Gwynedd, "Quarterly Or and Gules, four lions passant guardant counter charged, armed and langued Azur".
The Princely Seat of Garth Celyn[]
The Palace of Garth Celyn
The official residence of the Tywysogion Gwynedd is the Palas Garth Celyn. The major rebuilding of the Palas first dates from the reign of Prince Marc and his Hapsburg wife, the Tywysoges Mary. She ordered the first major rebuilding work at the site and this continued over the years.
During the period of the grand reconstruction in the reign of Dafydd V, the Palace was almost entirely rebuilt in a new style. The English Occupation delayed the completion of this work which was completed by Maredudd of Gwynedd.
The Randy Tywysogaidd (Princely Apartments) at Castell Caernarfon are also held by the tywysog Gwynedd