Ethyllt ferch Cynan

Ethyllt ferch Cynan, also known as Esyllt ferch Cynan Dindaethwy, was an eighth century princess of the Kingdom of Gwynedd in North Wales. She was the daughter of King Cynan Dindaethwy ap Rhodri of Gwynedd (reigned c. 798 – c. 816).^[1]

Ethyllt ferch Cynan
Spouse	Gwriad ap Elidyr (m. 768)
Father	Cynan Dindaethwy ap Rhodri

Marriage and dynastic descents

Ethyllt ferch Cynan (ferch meaning "daughter of") was an eighth century princess of the Kingdom of Gwynedd in North Wales. In 768, she was married to Gwriad ap Elidyr, also known as Gwriad Manaw.^[2] It is possible this was a later invention to legitimise the claims to Gwynedd by the descendants of Merfyn Frych (Merfyn the Freckled), King of Gwynedd from c. 825 to 844, who also went by the names Merfyn ap Gwriad (Merfyn son of Gwriad) and Merfyn Camwri (Merfyn the Oppressor).^[3]

According to some source Merfyn was Ethyllt's son, in others he was her husband, which then made Esyllt the mother of Rhodri Mawr (Rhodri the Great)^[4] although Nest ferch Cadell, daughter of Cadell ap Brochfael of the Kingdom of Powys is considered a more likely candidate for this role.^[5]

Whichever the case, Ethyllt was a key matriarchal figure for the royal houses of Gwynedd and Deheubarth in Wales in the Early Middle Ages, giving a matrilineal link of descent to the line of King Cunedda.^[1]

After the death of Ethyllt's father Cynan in 816, the throne was secured by her uncle Hywel ap Rhodri Molwynog.^[6][7] On Hywel's death, the throne was claimed by Merfyn Frych with his descent via Ethyllt playing a part in his claim to the throne.^[3]

Records of Ethyllt's descent and descendants are found in the late fourteenth century Genealogies from Jesus College MS 20 complied from earlier but unidentified Welsh sources.^[8]