Featured Article Summary #229

Brochfael ap Meurig, who ruled around 872, was king of Gwent in south-east Wales. He ruled together with his brother, Ffernfael ap Meurig. At different times Gwent and the nearby territory of Glywysing were treated as one kingdom, but Glywysing’s king usually had the higher status. Although their father Meurig ab Arthfael ruled both areas as king of Glywysing, Brochfael and Ffernfael were only kings of Gwent and were lower in rank than their cousin Hywel ap Rhys, king of Glywysing. In the late 880s, Brochfael, Ffernfael, and Hywel chose to submit to Alfred the Great of Wessex for protection from the rule of Æthelred of Mercia. Several of Brochfael’s charters survive, and after he died with no heirs, he was succeeded by Owain ap Hywel, Hywel’s son. In early medieval Wales, kingdom boundaries and names changed over time. By the 7th century, south-east Wales was the kingdom of Gwent, but by the 9th century it was split between Glywysing (later Morgannwg/Glamorgan) and Gwent, with the ruler of Glywysing having higher status. From the early 9th century, the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia claimed control over much of Wales, defeating Rhodri Mawr of Gwynedd around 878, though Rhodri’s sons later won key battles, including defeating Mercia’s ruler at Conwy in 881. Brochfael became king of Gwent around 872, along with his brother Ffernfael ap Meurig, and both were sons of Meurig ab Arthfael. Historians disagree about when Meurig died, with suggestions ranging from the mid-840s to around 874. Asser later described both brothers as kings, and although both appear as witnesses to charters with their father, surviving records suggest Brochfael was the main ruler while Ffernfael may have been subordinate. Brochfael and Ffernfael ruled Gwent together, while their cousin Hywel ap Rhys ruled Glywysing. Hywel likely had higher authority, acting as an over-king, and most of his family’s grants were focused on Gwent rather than Glywysing. There is disagreement about their father Meurig ab Arthfael, with one view saying he ruled and granted land in both territories, and another view by Patrick Sims-Williams claiming charters placing him in Glywysing were forged and that he only had power in Gwent. After Æthelred was defeated in 881, Mercian control over north and west Wales ended, but he still tried to control south-eastern Wales. His harsh rule drove Welsh kings, including Brochfael and Ffernfael of Gwent, to seek King Alfred’s protection, and Brochfael later submitted to Alfred as well.