- Meurig ap Tewdrig
-
Meurig ap Tewdrig (Latin: Mauritius) was the son of Tewdrig (St. Tewdrig), and a king of the early Welsh kingdoms of Gwent and Glywysing. He is thought to have lived sometime between 400 and 600 AD.
Meurig took over the Gwent throne upon his father's abdication. According to tradition, Tewdrig became a hermit at Tintern, but later came to the assistance of Meurig, and they repelled the invading Saxons in a battle at Pont y Saeson (Bridge of the Saxons). Tewdrig died after the battle, and Meurig buried him at Mathern, giving the surrounding land (including the area of the later village of Pwllmeurig, named after Meurig), in his memory to the bishops of Llandaff.
Meurig reunited his kingdom with Ergyng (Archenfield) by marrying Onbrawst, the daughter of King Gwrgan Fawr (the Great) of that kingdom. He was later claimed to have been a great patron of the ecclesiastical centre at Llandaff, where he was said to be buried.
He was the father of Athrwys ap Meurig, one of a number of figures that researchers have claimed as the "real King Arthur". Athrwys is believed to have pre-deceased Meurig, who was succeeded by his grandsons, Ithel and Morgan Mwynfawr.
Categories:- Monarchs of Gwent
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.