Rhodri Mawr

Rhodri Mawr
Rhodri Mawr
King of the Britons
	Depiction of Rhodri the Great from Historiae Cambriae
King of Gwynedd
Reign	844–878
Predecessor	Merfyn Frych
Successor	Anarawd ap Rhodri
Born	820; Isle of Man
Died	878; Anglesey
Issue	Anarawd ap Rhodri; Cadell ap Rhodri; Meurig ap Rhodri; Merfyn ap Rhodri; Tudwal ap Rhodri; Gwriad ap Rhodri; Gwyddelig ap Rhodri
House	House of Aberffraw
Father	Merfyn Frych

Rhodri ap Merfyn,commonly known asRhodri Mawr(Welshfor 'Rhodri the Great'), was a Welsh king whose legacy has impacted the history of Wales. Rhodri rose to power during a tumultuous era, where the fate of Welsh kingdoms was often determined by the power of their leaders.

Early life

Rhodri was born in the 9th century on theIsle of Man.Rhodri was the son ofMerfyn,who, under enigmatic circumstances, assumed the kingship ofGwyneddfollowing the death ofHywel ap Caradogin 825.^[1]Rhodri ascended to the throne ofGwyneddand following the passing of his father,Merfyn,in the year 844.^[2]

Reign

Rhodri's reign unfolded against a tumultuous backdrop, asWalesconfronted escalatingVikingincursions. Among Rhodri's earliest recorded achievements was his defeat and killing of Gorm, aDanishchieftain, in a battle on Anglesey in 856.^[3]This victory garnered international acclaim, reaching the ears ofCharles the Baldwhose realm Gorm had previously harried.^[4]

Walesc. 850– 920

In that same year, Rhodri finalized his subjugation ofPowysfollowing the death of its exiled rulerCyngeninRome.In 871, Rhodri expanded his dominion further, intoCeredigionfollowing the death of its KingGwgon.^[5]

During the year 873, Rhodri won two more successes against theVikingsby securing victories in the battles of Banolau and Ynegydd onAnglesey.^[6]

In 877, aDanishforce, aided by their client kingCeolwulf,assailedAnglesey,intent on avenging Gorm's death and securing communication routes withDublin.They succeeded in defeating Rhodri in the Battle of Sunday and seizingAnglesey,compelling him into exile onIreland.^[7]The subsequent year marked Rhodri's return from Irish exile, winning a battle against theVikingsto retakeAnglesey.However, Rhodri and his sonGwriadlater perished in a battle against the Anglo-Saxons of Mercia under King Ceolwulf II.^[8]

Succession

Rhodri's realm remained unified upon his demise, passing to his eldest sonAnarawd.^[9]However, during Rhodri's exile,Ceredigionwas conquered byHyfaidd ap Bleddri,the King of Dyfed.^[10]Subsequently,Anarawdand Rhodri's other sons managed to reclaimCeredigionand eventually extended their rule to the rest ofDyfed.This expansion established a distinct branch within theMerfyniondynasty, with Rhodri's second eldest son,Cadell,at its helm.^[11]

Children

References

^Edwards, Thomas (2014).Wales and the Britons, 350-1064(2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 359.ISBN 978-0198704911.
^Davies, John (2007).A History of Wales(Revised ed.). Penguin. p. 79.ISBN 978-0140284751.
^Edwards, Thomas (2014).Wales and the Britons, 350-1064(2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 484.ISBN 978-0198704911.
^Davies, Sean (2014).War and Society in Medieval Wales, 633-1283: Welsh Military Institutions(2nd ed.). University of Wales Press. p. 117.ISBN 978-1783161393.
^Maund., Kari (2006).The Welsh Kings: Warriors, Warlords and Princes(3rd ed.). The History Press. p. 53.ISBN 978-0752429731.
^Davies, Sean (2014).War and Society in Medieval Wales(2nd ed.). University of Wales Press. p. 116.ISBN 978-1783161393.
^Edwards, Thomas (2014).Wales and the Britons, 350-1064(2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 488.ISBN 978-0198704911.
^Davies, John (2007).A History of Wales(Revised ed.). Penguin. p. 80.ISBN 978-0140284751.
^Maund, Kari (2006).The Welsh Kings: Warriors, Warlords and Princes(3rd ed.). The History Press. p. 55.ISBN 978-0752429731.
^Edwards, Thomas (2014).Wales and the Britons, 350-1064(2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 487.ISBN 978-0198704911.
^Edwards, Thomas (2014).Wales and the Britons, 350-1064(2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 495.ISBN 978-0198704911.

External links

Lee, Sidney,ed. (1896)."Rhodri Mawr".Dictionary of National Biography.Vol. 48. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 85.
Pierce, Thomas Jones (1959)."Rhodri Mawr ('the Great') (died 877), king of Gwynedd, Powys, and Deheubarth".Dictionary of Welsh Biography.National Library of Wales.

Regnal titles
Rhodri Mawr House Of Merfyn Born:820Died:878
Preceded by Merfyn Frych	King of the Britons 844–878	Succeeded by Anarawd ap Rhodri
Preceded by Merfyn Frych	King of Gwynedd 844–878
Preceded by Cyngen ap Cadell	King of Powys 856–878
Preceded by Gwgon ap Meurig	King of Ceredigion 871–878	Succeeded by Hyfaidd ap Bleddri

[1] Edwards, Thomas (2014).Wales and the Britons, 350-1064(2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 359.ISBN 978-0198704911.

[2] Davies, John (2007).A History of Wales(Revised ed.). Penguin. p. 79.ISBN 978-0140284751.

[3] Edwards, Thomas (2014).Wales and the Britons, 350-1064(2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 484.ISBN 978-0198704911.

[4] Davies, Sean (2014).War and Society in Medieval Wales, 633-1283: Welsh Military Institutions(2nd ed.). University of Wales Press. p. 117.ISBN 978-1783161393.

[5] Maund., Kari (2006).The Welsh Kings: Warriors, Warlords and Princes(3rd ed.). The History Press. p. 53.ISBN 978-0752429731.

[6] Davies, Sean (2014).War and Society in Medieval Wales(2nd ed.). University of Wales Press. p. 116.ISBN 978-1783161393.

[7] Edwards, Thomas (2014).Wales and the Britons, 350-1064(2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 488.ISBN 978-0198704911.

[8] Davies, John (2007).A History of Wales(Revised ed.). Penguin. p. 80.ISBN 978-0140284751.

[9] Maund, Kari (2006).The Welsh Kings: Warriors, Warlords and Princes(3rd ed.). The History Press. p. 55.ISBN 978-0752429731.

[10] Edwards, Thomas (2014).Wales and the Britons, 350-1064(2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 487.ISBN 978-0198704911.

[11] Edwards, Thomas (2014).Wales and the Britons, 350-1064(2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 495.ISBN 978-0198704911.

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