Meurig ap Tewdrig was the son of Tewdrig

Tewdrig

Tewdrig or Tewdrig ap Teithfallt was a king of the post-Roman Kingdom of Glywysing. He abdicated in favour of his son Meurig and retired to live a hermitical life, but was recalled to lead his son's army against an intruding Saxon force...

 (St. Tewdrig), and a king

King

- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...

 of the early Welsh

Wales

Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...

 kingdoms of Gwent and Glywysing. He is thought to have lived sometime between 400 and 600 AD.

Meurig took over the Gwent throne upon his father's abdication. According to tradition, Tewdrig became a hermit at Tintern

Tintern

Tintern is a village on the west bank of the River Wye in Monmouthshire, Wales, close to the border with England, about 5 miles north of Chepstow...

, but later came to the assistance of Meurig, and they repelled the invading Saxons

Saxons

The Saxons were a confederation of Germanic tribes originating on the North German plain. The Saxons earliest known area of settlement is Northern Albingia, an area approximately that of modern Holstein...

 in a battle at Pont y Saeson (Bridge of the Saxons). Tewdrig died after the battle, and Meurig buried him at Mathern

Mathern

Mathern is a historic village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, about 5 km south west of the town of Chepstow, close to the Severn estuary, the Bristol Channel and the M48 motorway. The village is designated as a Conservation Area...

, giving the surrounding land (including the area of the later village of Pwllmeurig, named after Meurig), in his memory to the bishops of Llandaff

Llandaff

Llandaff is a district in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales, having been incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Church in Wales Bishop of Llandaff, whose diocese covers the most populous area of South Wales. Much of the district is covered by parkland known as Llandaff...

.

Meurig reunited his kingdom with Ergyng

Ergyng

Ergyng was a Welsh 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:...

 (Archenfield) by marrying Onbrawst, the daughter of King Gwrgan Fawr (the Great) of that kingdom. He was later claimed to have been a great patron of the ecclesiastical centre at Llandaff

Llandaff Cathedral

Llandaff Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff, head of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff. It is situated in the district of Llandaff in the city of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The current building was constructed in the 12th century over the site of an earlier church...

, where he was said to be buried.

He was the father of Athrwys ap Meurig

Athrwys ap Meurig

Athrwys was a Prince, possibly a King, from Gwent in Wales, who is generally accepted as having lived in the early 7th century.-Lineage:...

, one of a number of figures that researchers have claimed as the "real King Arthur

King Arthur

King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...

". Athrwys is believed to have pre-deceased Meurig, who was succeeded by his grandsons, Ithel and Morgan Mwynfawr.