Ithel or Idwal ap Morgan (c. 690, reign 710–745) was a

king King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...

of Gwent and

Glywysing Glywysing was, from the sub-Roman period to the Early Middle Ages, a petty kingdom in south-east Wales. Its people were descended from the Iron Age tribe of the Silures, and frequently in union with Gwent, merging to form Morgannwg. Name ...

(i.e., Morgannwg) in southeastern

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

in the eighth century. His father was

Morgan the Generous __NOTOC__ Morgan ap Athrwys or Morgan Mwynfawr ('Morgan the Generous'; fl. ) was a king of Gwent and Glywysing (i.e., Morgannwg) in southeast Wales. He was the grandson of Meurig ap Tewdrig and the son of Athrwys ap Meurig. Reign Morgan was t ...

, or Benefactor (Mwynfawr in Welsh), also known as Morgan ''ab'' Athrwys (''d.'' ''c.'' 665/710), King of Glywysing, who may have been the namesake of the later realm of Morgannwg (whence modern

Glamorgan Glamorgan (), or sometimes Glamorganshire ( or ), was Historic counties of Wales, one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolishment in 1974. It is located in the South Wales, south of Wales. Originally an ea ...

), although his descendant

Morgan the Old Morgan may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Morgan – A Suitable Case for Treatment'', also called ''Morgan!'', a 1966 comedy film * ''Morgan'' (2012 film), an American drama * ''Morgan'' (2016 film), an American science fiction thriller * ...

is a more likely possibility.Lloyd, John E. ''A History of Wales from the Earliest Times to the Edwardian Conquest'', Vol. 1
p. 274
Longmans, Green, & Co. (London), 1911. Accessed 22 Feb 2013. Ithel's mother may have been Ricceneth, and he had a brother named Gwyddnerth. Ithel may have been named for his paternal uncle Ithel. Ithel was the grandson of

Athrwys ap Meurig Athrwys ap Meurig (c. 605–655) was a prince, and possibly king, of Gwent and Glywysing in Wales. He was the son of King Meurig ap Tewdrig and the father of the later king Morgan ab Athrwys. It is possible he died before his father Meurig and ...

and possibly Cenedlon ferch Briafael Frydig, and the great grandson of King Meurig ap Twedrig and Onbrawst, daughter of

Gwrgan Fawr Gwrgan Fawr (meaning ''Gwrgan the Great''; also, in Latin language, Latin, Gurgantius; English language, English Fergus; died c. 645) was a king of Ergyng, a South Wales, south-east Welsh kingdom of the Early Middle Ages. He was the son of Cynf ...

, the last King of

Ergyng Ergyng (or Erging) was a Brittonic kingdom of the sub-Roman and early medieval period, between the 5th and 7th centuries. It was later referred to by the English as ''Archenfield''. Location The kingdom lay mostly in what is now western Herefor ...

, an early medieval Welsh kingdom in what is now western

Herefordshire Herefordshire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England, bordered by Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the south-east, and the Welsh ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. Ithel is recorded in the

Book of Llandaff The Book of Llandaff (; , ', or '), is the cartulary of the cathedral of Llandaff, a 12th-century compilation of documents relating to the history of the diocese of Llandaff in Wales. It is written primarily in Latin but also contains a signific ...

as selling a uilla of land, in conjunction with his mother and father, Ricceneth and Morgan. He is also recorded as having sold a uilla to Iddon, son of Ceirio in conjunction with his sons, who are recorded as witnesses on the charter Arthfael, (possibly a misreading of Fearnfael), Meurig, Rhodri and Rhys. These documents were later used as proof of the donors' ownerships when donating the land to the church at Llandaff. Ithel seems to have inherited his father's realm including lands in Gower,

, and Gwent, and probably sovereignity of most of the region between the River Loughor and the

River Wye The River Wye (; ) is the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, fourth-longest river in the UK, stretching some from its source on Plynlimon in mid Wales to the Severn Estuary. The lower reaches of the river forms part of Wales-England bor ...

as a whole, but then divided it among his many sons: Ffernfael in Gwent and

Rhys Rhys or Rhŷs is a popular Welsh language, Welsh given name (usually male) that is famous in Welsh history and is also used as a surname. It originates from Deheubarth, an old region of South West Wales, with famous kings such as Rhys ap Tewdwr. ...

, Rhodri, and Meurig in parts of Glywysing. Ffernfael married Ceingaer and they are both recorded in charters, including giving gifts to Bishop Cadwared of

Llandaff Llandaff (; ; from 'church' and ''River Taff, Taf'') is a district, Community (Wales), community and coterminous electoral ward in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It was incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Bisho ...

.Anscombe, Alfred. "Landavensium Ordo Chartarum (Conclusion)." ''The Celtic Review'', vol. 7, no. 25, 1911, pp. 63–67. ''JSTOR'',. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025. Ithel may be the king who is commemorated by and with Abbot Sampson on a decorated and inscribed cross found in the churchyard of Llanilltud Mawr.

References

Welsh royalty {{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan, Ithel ap