Kingdom of Powys

Kingdom of Powys
Teyrnas Powys
c. 5th century? – before 886
c. 1124 – 1160
Arms of the lords of Southern Powys, later used by John Charlton, baron of Powys
Coat of arms
The borders of the region of Powys in c. 1201
CapitalNone
Common languagesOld Welsh, Middle Welsh, Latin
Religion
Roman Catholicism
GovernmentMonarchy
• c. 6th century
Cynan Garwyn
• d. 616
Selyf ap Cynan
• d. 755
Cyngen ap Cadell
• c. 1124 – 1132
Maredudd ap Bleddyn
• 1132–1160
Madog ap Maredudd
Historical eraMiddle Ages
613
• First attestation of the name
828
• Erection of the Pillar of Eliseg
c. 850
• Conquest of Powys by the Second Dynasty of Gwynedd
before 886
• Reestablishment of Powys by Maredudd ap Bleddyn
c. 1124
• Reign of Madog ap Maredudd
1132 – 10 February 1160
• Killing of Llywelyn ap Madog, division between Northern and Southern Powys
1160
Currencyceiniog
Preceded by
Succeeded by
sub-Roman Britain
Powys Wenwynwyn
Powys Fadog

The Kingdom of Powys (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈpowɪs]; Latin: Regnum Poysiae) was a Welsh successor state, petty kingdom and principality that emerged during the Middle Ages following the end of Roman rule in Britain. It very roughly covered the northern two-thirds of the modern county of Powys and part of today's English West Midlands (see map). More precisely, and based on the Romano-British tribal lands of the Ordovices in the west and the Cornovii in the east, its boundaries originally extended from the Cambrian Mountains in the west to include the modern West Midlands region of England in the east. The fertile river valleys of the Severn and Tern are found there, and this region is referred to in later Welsh literature as "the Paradise of Powys" (an epithet retained in Welsh for the modern UK county).