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Ystrad Tywi (Welsh:[ˈəstradˈtəwi],Valley of theriver Towy) is a region of southwestWales situated on both banks of the River Towy (Welsh:Afon Tywi), it contained places such asCedweli,Carnwyllion,Loughor,Llandeilo, andGwyr (although this is disputed). Although Ystrad Tywi was never a kingdom itself, it was historically a valuable territory and was fought over by the various kings ofDyfed,Deheubarth,Seisyllwg,Gwynedd,Morgannwg and theNormans.
At the start of the 8th century Ystrad Tywi was part of the kingdom of Dyfed. Around the year 730Seisyll ap Clydog, king ofCeredigion, captured Ystrad Tywi fromRhain ap Cadwgan, king of Dyfed, and annexed it to his own kingdom. The nameSeisyllwg was given to the new enlarged kingdom. As a result,Brycheiniog was once again detached from Dyfed; Ystrad Tywi had previously joined the two.
In an attempt to regain the lands previously held by his fatherRhodri Mawr, in 894 kingAnarawd ap Rhodri of Gwynedd—together with aWessex force from his allyAlfred the Great—raided both Ystrad Tywi and Ceredigion.
In 920Hywel Dda united Seisyllwg and Dyfed to create the kingdom of theDeheubarth.
In medieval times Ystrad Tywi was divided into threecantrefi.[1]Cantref Mawr on the north bank;Cantref Bychan andCantref Eginawc on the south bank of the river.[citation needed] Eginawc (comprising the commotesGŵyr,Carnwyllion andKidwelly) which was fought over many times between the Welsh and the Normans in the 11th century, and for the rest of the Middle Ages only the other two cantrefi formed Ystrad Tywi.
Ystrad Tywi was transformed into the county of Carmarthen whenKing Edward I enacted theStatute of Rhuddlan in 1284 following the success of his war againstLlywelyn ap Gruffudd, Prince of Wales. Though Gŵyr had by now become part of Glamorgan, the rest of Eginawc was later restored to Ystrad Tywi, which was joined withGwarthaf (exceptEfelfre) to form the modern county ofCarmarthenshire.
In the first branch of the Four Branches of the Mabinogi, the talePwyll Pendefig Dyfed is told of the son of Pwyll,Pryderi, following his father on the throne of Dyfed and adding the three cantrefi of Ystrad Tywi and the four cantrefi of Ceredigion to his kingdom.
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