Following the departure of the Roman legions from Wales, the country had become fractured into divided territories, each with their own leaders. The first known person to actually call himself king was Rhodri Mawr, and being from Wales he was by extension called the King of Wales, although he did not control all of the country. Nonetheless, he did unite much of the land under his power, thus demonstrating that it could be possible for Wales to exist as a unified political entity. Though he died in 878, the legacy of what he had accomplished was significant enough to act as motivation for future Welsh leaders to aspire to. This would eventually lead to the rule of Gruffudd ap Llywelyn, the first true Welsh king.
The first and last King
From the smaller kingdoms of Wales eventually emerged four major powers: Powys, Gwynedd, Dyfed/Deheubarth, and Morgannwg. With Wales now developing into a more consolidated entity, it ultimately set the stage for Gruffudd ap Llywelyn in the mid-11th century. Alliances with Anglo-Saxon dynasties and Vikings helped him unite the country, and even conquer land belonging to the English. "In 1055 he absorbed Deheubarth as well, thus becoming in effect King of Wales". John Davies states that Gruffydd was "the only Welsh king ever to rule over the entire territory of Wales... Thus, from about 1057 until his death in 1063, the whole of Wales recognised the kingship of and notably peaceful rule by Gruffudd ap Llywelyn. For about seven brief years, Wales was one, under one ruler, a feat with neither precedent nor successor." After his betrayal and death at the hands of his own men, Wales fell into civil war from other leaders seeking to fill the void of power and become king. Gruffydd ap Llywelyn was referred to as King of Wales or Rex Walensium by John of Worcester. He was the last of a long line of paramount rulers among the insular Britons to have the title of King of the Britons bestowed upon him, and possibly the only one to truly rule over all the Britons. For by this time, if not earlier, Wales was the only part of Britain remaining under Brittonic rule.
After Gruffydd ap Llywelyn's death
According to Dr Sean Davies, “in these straitened circumstances, and with outside observers ridiculing the status of Welsh kings, ambitious native nobles adopted the novel title of prince in order to set them apart from their fellow ‘kings’. However, the title King of Wales was later used by at least one other Welsh ruler, Owain Gwynedd. "In his first two letters to Louis, Owain described himself as 'king of Wales' and 'king of the Welsh'" His direct rule was however limited to Gwynedd. Owain was also the first Welsh ruler to be known as Prince of Wales. He ruled over much of Northern Wales, but a lack of success in military campaigns limited his ability to extend his control. After the death of Owain Gwynedd in 1170, the mantle of paramount Welsh ruler was taken up by Rhys ap Gruffydd, who was called "Head of all Wales" by the Brut y Tywysogion on his death in 1197. His direct rule was limited to Deheubarth. For a list of Welsh rulers upon whom titles such as these were bestowed, see King of the Britons.
