This article is about the Welsh king. For the health board, see Hywel Dda University Health Board.
Hywel Dda
Mid-13th-century depiction of Hywel Dda in a Latin copy of the Laws of Hywel Dda
King of Dyfed, Powys and Gwynedd Prince of Seisyllwg and Deheubarth
Reign
942–949/950
Predecessor
Idwal Foel ap Anarawd
Died
949/950
Spouse
Elen ferch Llywarch
Issue
Owain ap Hywel
Rhodri ap Hywel
Edwin ap Hywel
House
Dinefwr
Father
Cadell ap Rhodri
Map of the extent of Hywel Dda's power
Deheubarth, Hywel Dda's Kingdom
Combine to form Morgannwg
Hywel ap Cadell, commonly known as Hywel Dda, which translates to Howel the Good in English,[1] was a Welsh king who ruled the southern Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth and eventually came to rule most of Wales. He became the sole king of Seisyllwg in 920 and shortly thereafter established Deheubarth, and proceeded to gain control over the entire country from Prestatyn to Pembroke.[2] As a descendant of Rhodri Mawr through his father Cadell, Hywel was a member of the Dinefwr branch of the dynasty. He was recorded as King of the Britons in the Annales Cambriæ and the Annals of Ulster.
Hywel is highly esteemed among other medieval Welsh rulers.[3] His name is particularly linked with the codification of traditional Welsh law, which were thenceforth known as the Laws of Hywel Dda. The latter part of his name (Dda, lit. "Good") refers to the fact that his laws were just and good. The historian Dafydd Jenkins sees in them compassion rather than punishment, plenty of common sense and recognition of the rights of women.[3] Hywel Dda was a well-educated man even by modern standards, having a good knowledge of Welsh, Latin and English.[3]
The office building and original home of the Senedd is named Tŷ Hywel ("Hywel House" or "Hywel's House") in honour of Hywel Dda. The original assembly chamber, now known as Siambr Hywel ("Hywel's Chamber"), is used for educational courses and for children and young people's debates. The local health board of south-west Wales, covering an area roughly corresponding to the kingdoms of Dyfed and Seisyllwg of which Hywel was King, also bears his name.[4][5]
^Williams 1959
^Davies 1999, p. 85.
^ abcDavies 1999, p. 86.
^"Tŷ Hywel event spaces". senedd.wales. 24 September 2020.
^"Hywel Dda University Health Board". hduhb.nhs.wales.
Hywel ap Cadell, commonly known as HywelDda, which translates to Howel the Good in English, was a Welsh king who ruled the southern Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth...
HywelDda University Health Board (HDUHB) (Welsh: Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol HywelDda) is the local health board of NHS Wales for the west of Wales. Established...
sometimes described as the first Welsh parliament, called in 930 by King HywelDda to codify the native Welsh laws. Whitland takes its name from its medieval...
earliest Welsh text of the laws of HywelDda (Peniarth MS 29). Peniarth 32 is a 15th-century volume of the laws of HywelDda. The Peniarth 51 manuscript contains...
possibly identical to HywelDdaHywel ab Owain Gwynedd (died 1170), Welsh poet and military leader Syr Hywel y Fwyall or Sir Hywel ap Gruffudd (fl. 1356–died...
Liverpool,[which?] Liverpool, England The 14th century book, "Laws of HywelDda" (also known as the "Boston Manuscript"), was owned by the Massachusetts...
The following is a list of currently operating hospitals in Wales. They are sorted by health board or trust. Headquarters: Llanfrechfa Grange Hospital...
general hospital in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is managed by HywelDda University Health Board. The hospital started life in 1942 as a wartime...
currency of the medieval Welsh kingdoms such as Gwynedd and Deheubarth. HywelDda was the only ruler recorded as minting his own proper coins; however,...
all manuscripts known to contain versions of the Cyfraith Hywel first codified by HywelDda in the mid 10th century. Black Book of Chirk Peniarth 29 BL...
Whitland around 930 by HywelDda, king of most of Wales between 942 and his death in 950. The 'law of HywelDda' (Welsh: Cyfraith Hywel), as it became known...
lands whence Cunedda originated. Deheubarth was united around 920 by HywelDda out of the territories of Seisyllwg and Dyfed, which had come into his...
Maredudd ab Owain, king of Deheubarth, and the great-great-grandson of HywelDda. Gruffydd was the first and only Welsh king to unite all of Wales albeit...
Biography. National Library of Wales. Williams, Stephan Joseph (1959). "HywelDda (Hywel the Good) (died 950), king and legislator". Dictionary of Welsh Biography...
Rhodri (878–900) Llywelyn ap Merfyn (900–942) HywelDda (942–950); usurped from the Aberffraw line Owain ap Hywel (950–986); ruled thereafter by a cadet branch...
Rhodri ap Hywel (died 964) was a King of Deheubarth in South Wales, and son of HywelDda. On Hywel's death in 950 Deheubarth was shared between Rhodri...
jointly with Stephen J. Williams Cyfreithiau HywelDda yn ôl Llyfr Blegywryd, a text on Cyfraith Hywel, the medieval Welsh law), modern Greek, and Portuguese...
and Dyfed by HywelDda in 910. Owain ap Hywel (c. 900) Rhodri ap Hywel (d. 953) Edwin ap Hywel (d. 954) Rhydderch ap Iestyn (d. 1033) Hywel ab Edwin (d...
Owain ap Hywel (died c. 988) was king of Deheubarth in south Wales and probably also controlled Powys. Owain was one of the three sons of King Hywel the Good...
century Seisyllwg became the centre of power for HywelDda, who came to rule most of Wales. In 920 Hywel merged Seisyllwg with the Kingdom of Dyfed to form...
Many members of this family were influential in Welsh history, such as HywelDda, who codified Welsh law under his rule, and achieved the important title...
University. For services to Higher Education. Gina Beard. Lead Cancer Nurse, HywelDda University Health Board. For services to Cancer Nursing. Robert Duncan...
(complete list) – Llywelyn ap Merfyn, King (900–942) HywelDda, King (942–950) Owain ap HywelDda, King (950–986) Maredudd ap Owain, King (986–999) Llywelyn...
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