Rhodri Mawr

{{Infobox royalty

| name = Rhodri Mawr

| title = King of the Britons

| image = Rhodri Mawr - Historiae Cambriae.png

| caption = Depiction of Rhodri the Great from Historiae Cambriae

| succession = King of Gwynedd

| reign = 844–878

| predecessor = Merfyn Frych

| successor = Anarawd ap Rhodri

| birth_date = 820

| birth_place = Isle of Man

| death_date = 878

| death_place = Anglesey

| house = House of Aberffraw

| father = Merfyn Frych

| mother =

Nest ferch Cadell

| succession1 =

| reign1 =

| predecessor1 =

| successor1 =

| succession2 =

| reign2 =

| predecessor2 =

| successor2 =

| issue = Anarawd ap Rhodri
Cadell ap Rhodri
Meurig ap Rhodri
Merfyn ap Rhodri
Tudwal ap Rhodri
Gwriad ap Rhodri
Gwyddelig ap Rhodri

}}

Rhodri ap Merfyn, commonly known as {{langnf|cy|Rhodri Mawr|Rhodri the Great|italic=no}}, 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 the Isle of Man. Rhodri was the son of Merfyn, who, under enigmatic circumstances, assumed the kingship of Gwynedd following the death of Hywel ap Caradog in 825.{{Cite book |last=Edwards |first=Thomas |title=Wales and the Britons, 350-1064 |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-0198704911 |edition=2nd |pages=359 |language=en}} Rhodri ascended to the throne of Gwynedd following the passing of his father, Merfyn, in the year 844.{{Cite book |last=Davies |first=John |title=A History of Wales |publisher=Penguin |year=2007 |isbn=978-0140284751 |edition=Revised |pages=79 |language=en}}

Reign

Rhodri's reign unfolded against a tumultuous backdrop, as Wales confronted escalating Viking incursions. Among Rhodri's earliest recorded achievements was his defeat and killing of Gorm, a Danish chieftain, in a battle on Anglesey in 856.{{Cite book |last=Edwards |first=Thomas |title=Wales and the Britons, 350-1064 |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-0198704911 |edition=2nd |pages=484 |language=en}} This victory garnered international acclaim, reaching the ears of Charles the Bald whose realm Gorm had previously harried.{{Cite book |last=Davies |first=Sean |title=War and Society in Medieval Wales, 633-1283: Welsh Military Institutions |publisher=University of Wales Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-1783161393 |edition=2nd |pages=117 |language=en}}

File:Wales between 850 and 920.jpg

In that same year, Rhodri finalised his subjugation of Powys following the death of its exiled ruler Cyngen in Rome. In 871, Rhodri expanded his dominion further, into Ceredigion following the death of its King Gwgon.{{Cite book |last=Maund. |first=Kari |title=The Welsh Kings: Warriors, Warlords and Princes |publisher=The History Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-0752429731 |edition=3rd |pages=53 |language=en}}

During the year 873, Rhodri won two more successes against the Vikings by securing victories in the battles of Banolau and Ynegydd on Anglesey.{{Cite book |last=Davies |first=Sean |title=War and Society in Medieval Wales |publisher=University of Wales Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-1783161393 |edition=2nd |pages=116 |language=en}}

In 877, a Danish force, aided by their client king Ceolwulf, assailed Anglesey, intent on avenging Gorm's death and securing communication routes with Dublin. They succeeded in defeating Rhodri in the Battle of Sunday and seizing Anglesey, compelling him into exile on Ireland.{{Cite book |last=Edwards |first=Thomas |title=Wales and the Britons, 350-1064 |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-0198704911 |edition=2nd |pages=488 |language=en}} The subsequent year marked Rhodri's return from Irish exile, winning a battle against the Vikings to retake Anglesey. However, Rhodri and his son Gwriad later perished in a battle against the Anglo-Saxons of Mercia under King Ceolwulf II.{{Cite book |last=Davies |first=John |title=A History of Wales |publisher=Penguin |year=2007 |isbn=978-0140284751 |edition=Revised |pages=80 |language=en}}

Succession

Rhodri's realm remained unified upon his demise, passing to his eldest son Anarawd.{{Cite book |last=Maund |first=Kari |title=The Welsh Kings: Warriors, Warlords and Princes |publisher=The History Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-0752429731 |edition=3rd |pages=55 |language=en}} However, during Rhodri's exile, Ceredigion was conquered by Hyfaidd ap Bleddri, the King of Dyfed.{{Cite book |last=Edwards |first=Thomas |title=Wales and the Britons, 350-1064 |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-0198704911 |edition=2nd |pages=487 |language=en}} Subsequently, Anarawd and Rhodri's other sons managed to reclaim Ceredigion and eventually extended their rule to the rest of Dyfed. This expansion established a distinct branch within the Merfynion dynasty, with Rhodri's second eldest son, Cadell, at its helm.{{Cite book |last=Edwards |first=Thomas |title=Wales and the Britons, 350-1064 |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-0198704911 |edition=2nd |pages=495 |language=en}}

Children

References

External links

{{cite DNB| wstitle=Rhodri Mawr| volume=48| page=85}}
{{cite DWB| id=s-RHOD-MAW-0877 | title=Rhodri Mawr ('the Great') (died 877), king of Gwynedd, Powys, and Deheubarth| first=Thomas Jones | last=Pierce| year= 1959}}

{{s-bef

| rows = 2

| before = Merfyn Frych

}}

{{s-ttl

| title = King of the Britons

| years = 844–878

}}

{{s-aft

| rows = 3

| after = Anarawd ap Rhodri

}}