Thehistoryofwales.typepad.com Website Review

1J. THE EARLY KINGDOMS OF CEREDIGION, SEISYLLWG AND DEHEUBARTH 424 - 957. THE EARLY KINGDOMS OF CEREDIGION, SEISYLLWG AND DEHEUBARTH. The KINGDOM OF CEREDIGION was one of Welsh Kingdoms that emerged in 5th-century, it was originally part of the territory governed by Cunedda after he had warded off Irish invaders and granted the land to his son Ceredig (Ceretic) as his own kingdom in 424, and it was named after him. Ceredigion meaning the people of Ceredig.  The earliest form of the kingdom's name may have been Ceretica. Situated along the western coast of  Wales, its area corresponded roughly to that of the modern county of Ceredigion which includes modern towns of Aberaeron, Aberystwyth, Cardigan, Lampeter, Llanddewi brefi, New Quay, and Tregaron and it is where the rivers Severn and Wye have their source.  The Cambrian Mountains covered much of the east of the Kingdom and its hilly geography made it difficult for foreign invaders to conquer.  As a coastal Kingdom,  its creation was a very good strategic move as it sealed the vulnerable coastal gap between Dyfed and Gwynedd, thus preventing any further Irish gains in Wales.  It was bordered by the Kingdoms of Gwynedd, Powys and Dyfed, the River Teifi  formed the border with Dyfed for part of its length. In Ceredig's later years, when the kingdom is under threat of attack by Irish raiders and he is advised to abdicate in favour of his young grandson, Carannog, who is horrified at the prospect and flees the court later becoming St Carannog.  According to tradition he is also Seisyll, embarked on a series of conquests and added the three cantrefs of Ystrad Tywy to Ceredigion, the enlarged Kingdom of  Seisyllwg being named after him.  Note that the dates given for the reigns of Seisyll and his immediate descendents must be treated with caution, as they are are educated guesses. The only secure date we have is for the death of Gwgan derived from the Annales Cambriae.