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Ynyr Gwent was a mid-5th century monarch of the kingdom from which he took his epithet. A late and doubtful tradition makes him a son of Prine Dyfnwal of Dyfed and, therefore, great great grandson of the Emperor Magnus Maximus. Perhaps this was designed to explain his being named after the Emperor Honorius. Ynyr appears to have succeeded to the Gwentish throne, through his marriage to St. Madrun, the daughter and heiress of King Vortimer Fendigaid of Gwerthefyriwg (Gwent). Together the couple founded a dynasty which ruled until the Norman Conquest. Ynyr may have married a second time to Derwela, the sister of Prince Amon Ddu of Brittany. He was supposedly converted to Christianity by St. Beuno. This might just have been possible in extreme old age but the two were not really contemporary, giving rise to the suggestion that this was a different man of the same name. Upon Ynyr's death, the throne of Gwent passed to his eldest son, Iddon. Ynyr may have been the inspiration for Ynwyl of Cardiff (Caer-Teim) in the medieval romance of 'Gereint and Enid'. Records of Ynyr date back to the 11th century. It is possible that he is historic.
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