Reign 808 – 855 AD Name Cyngen Cadell Children Elisedd ap Cyngen Predecessor Cadell Siblings Nest ferch Cadell | House Gwertherion Parents Cadell ap Elisedd Grandparents Elisedd ap Gwylog Father Cadell Successor Rhodri the Great Nephews Rhodri the Great | |
Issue GruffyddEliseddIeuafAeddan | ||
Cyngen ap Cadell (English: Cyngen son of Cadell) or also (Concenn), was King of Powys from 808 until his death in 855 during a pilgrimage to Rome.
Biography
Cyngen was of the line of Brochwel Ysgithrog, after a long reign as king of Powys he went on a pilgrimage to Rome and died there in 855. He is thought to be the first Welsh ruler to visit Rome after the healing of the breach between the Welsh branch of the Celtic Church and Rome over the date of Easter.
Cyngen raised a pillar, originally a round-shafted cross, in memory of his great-grandfather Elisedd ap Gwylog which stands near the later abbey of Valle Crucis. This memorial had a lengthy inscription and is known as the Pillar of Eliseg owing to a typographical mistake by the original carver.
Cyngen was the last of the original line of kings of Powys. He had three sons, but on his death Powys was annexed by Rhodri Mawr, ruler of Gwynedd who claimed it as the son of Cyngen's sister, Nest ferch Cadell.
Cyngen had the following children: