Rhodri ap Merfyn (abt. 820 - abt. 878)

Born about 0820 in Wales

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 0878 at about age 58 in Anglesey, Wales

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Biography

Rhodri was king of Gwynedd, ^[1] Powys, and ultimately Wales. ^[2] Rhodri is cited in both the Brut y Tywysogyon and Annales Cambriae as merely "Rhodri" and those early manuscripts never attached "Mawr" to him.... The earliest he was called "Mawr" (great) was in the mid-1200's, some 350 or more years after his death. ^[3]

Rhodri Mawr Narrative Cross-Reference

The following links provide easy cross-referencing between key persons in the narrative of Rhodri Mawr:

• Rhodri Mawr ap Merfyn Frych
• Merfyn Frych ap Gwriad, born 764, father of Rhodri Mawr. Not married to Nest and Essyllt.
• Gwriad ab Elidir, b. 738, father of Merfyn and grandfather of Rhodri Mawr.
• Angharad ferch Meurig -- invented person, , born about 825 -- supposed wife of Rhodri Mawr
• Nest ferch Cadell-- invented person, supposed wife of Merfyn.
• Essyllt -- invented person, supposed wife of G and mother of Merfyn

Birth and Parents

820 Birth Year Estimation

Darrell Wolcott estimates a birth year of 820. ^[4]

Some popular genealogies have estimated his birth year as 789. Boyer wryly repeats Bridgeman's calculation stating that "according to Bridgeman he was slain about 876-877 at the age of 89, while defending Wales against the Saxons. ^[2]

Reflecting Wolcott's estimation, Rhodri would have been 36 when he won his great victory over the Danes. A birth year of 789 would make him 67 instead -- a much less likely age for great success in battle.

Wolcott estimates Tudwal Gloff's birth at say 865, and his father Rhodri Mawr's birth at about 820. ^[4]

Rhodri's place of birth is not known.

Rhodri was the son of Merfyn Frych ap Gwriad, king of Gwynedd, who died in 844. ^[1][2] Boyer states that Merfyn Frych is the earliest undisputed ancestor of this line. ^[2] Baldwin adds Gwriad as Merfyn's father and Rhodri's grandfather, but with speculation as to Gwriad's origins. ^[1]

Marriages and Conquests

Nothing is actually known of Rhodri's marriages. The earliest record of a marriage was written over five centuries after Rhodri's death, apparently to legitimize the conquests of Merfyn and Rhodri. As a result, a later author would write "Through marriage more than conquest, Rhodri was ruler of a realm stretching from Anglesey to the Gower peninsula by the time of his death in 877/78. Although the extent of his kingdom would have been enough to make Rhodri's fame, he was more reknowned as a warrior, a reknown that was noted in places as far afield as Ulster and Liege." ^[5]

Historian Maund writes, "In addition to the claims that Rhodri had a link by blood or marriage to Powys, the later pedigrees supply him with a link to Ceredigion. According to JC20 and ABT, he married Angharad ferch Meurig, the sister of Gwgan ap Meurig, king of Ceredigion. Gwgan drowned in 872, and like Cyngen of Powys, was to be the last knwon member of his dynasty to rule over Ceredigion....from the later ninth century, Ceredigion was absorbed into the political sphere of the Line of Merfyn, and -- unlike Powys -- it would not recover its independence from that house. ^[6]

(See Research Notes)

843 Reign over Welsh

The Gwentian Chronicle records that "Rhodri the Great, son of Mervyn the Freckled began to reign over the Welsh" in 843 ^[7]

King of Gwynedd. [The Gwentian Chronicle records that "Rhodri the Great opposed [Berthwrd king of Mercia]…with the assistance of Meuryg son of Hywel king of Glamorgan" in 843, adding that Meuryg was killed in the battle and was succeeded by "Ithel son of Hywel" who was killed by "the men of Brecknockshire" on his way to assist Rhodri. ^[7]

855 King of Powys

In 855 Rhodri succeeded his maternal uncle Cyngen ap Cadell as King of Powys. ^[7]

The first leader of importance to emerge among the Welsh was the warrior king Rhodri Mawr (Rhodri the Great). In 855, through skilful alliances and practical marriages, he became king of Powys as well as much of the rest of Wales. Successful in warding off Danish attacks, even killing in battle the Viking leader Gorm, Rhodri gave his country a short but welcome period of unity and stability. ^[8]

856 Triumph against Danes

Rhodri's greatest triumph came in 856 against a force of Danes who made landing in Anglesey. ^[5]

"Rhodri Mawr was a forceful and effective military leader. There are records of a Viking raid on Gwynedd in 853, and in 856 Rhodri is known to have killed iln battle Ormr, the leader of a Viking band operating in Wales. It is possible that the relatively low incidence of recorded Viking activity within Wales in the lifetimes of Merfyn, Rhodri, and Rhodri's sons reflect their prowess." ^[9]

The struggles of Rhodri and his fellow Welsh leaders were not all with the Danes. An equally potent threat lay to the east of Offa's Dyke in the form of the English. The English kings of Mercia made several attempts to take Powys - with temporary success in 822.^[5]

877 Flight to Ireland

"In 877 Rhodri was briefly expelled from his kingdom by Viking raiders and fled to Ireland. In the same year, part of Mercia was settled by Vikings, leaving Wessex as the sole Englishkingdom free from Viking dominion. ^[10]

The Annals of Ulster record that "Rhodri son of Merfyn king of the Britons came in flight from the dark foreigners to Ireland" in 877 ^[7]

Boyer shows that it was In 867 that the Vikings defeated Rhodri in the "Sunday Battle", forcing him to flee to Ireland. ^[11]

877 Death

"Rhodri was reinstated in Gwynedd by 878, but his enjoyement of his restorationwas to be short-lived. He was killed iln battle that year, fighting the Anglo-Saxons." ^[10]

Rhodri Mawr died in 877/878. ^[11] According to the Annals of Ulster, Rhodri son of Merfyn, king of the Britons, was killed by the Saxons. ^[12] In the margins of the Annals of Ulster for the year 878, a poem records the death of 'Rhodri of Manu' (Isle of Man) Aed of Cenn Tíre (Kintyre), Donnchad and Gairíth of Macha (Armagh). ^[13]

The Annales Cambriæ record Rhodri's death, "Rotri et filius eius Guriat…jugulatur" in 877 by the Saxons. ^[7]

Unfortunately for the future of an independent Wales, Rhodri Mawr's death in 878 was followed by a period of internal strife, and the alliance of his sons with Alfred the Great, King of Wessex (849-899) led to Wales' dependence upon the English king for protection. Dependence upon its stronger neighbor to the east was to be a permanent feature for the rest of the history of Wales, always struggling, but seldom able to break its chains. ^[8]

Rhodri was killed in battle fighting an English army. It was left to his grandson, Hywel Dda (Howell the Good) to re-establish some sort of predominance among the various petty kingdoms of Wales by wisely keeping the peace with his English neighbors through a policy of conciliation. In his reign, lasting from 904-50, Hywel's territories were known as Deheubarth, which united with Gwynedd and Powys to cover most of Wales with the exception of Glamorgan, in the southeast. The only Welsh king to have earned the title "The Good," he is described in the great medieval history, "The Brut Y Tywysogion" (The Chronicle of the Princes) as "the chief and most praiseworthy of all the Britons." ^[8]

The Chronicle of the Princes of Wales records that "Rhodri and his brother Gwriad were killed by the Saxons" in 878. The Annals of Ulster record that "Rhodri son of Merfyn king of the Britons was killed by the Saxons" in 878. The Gwentian Chronicle records "the action…in Mona in which Rhodri and his brother Gwriad, and Gweirydd son of Owain of Glamorgan were killed by the Saxons" in 873 (dated in other sources to 878). ^[7]

Issue

Cawley states that Rhodri and his wife Angharad had four children, and names Gwriad, Anarawd, Cadell, and Merfyn. ^[7] Boyer, by contrast, following Bartrum, names six children (Anarawd, Cadell, Merfyn, Aeddan, Meurig, and Nest) by his first wife, two (Tudwal Gloff and Elise) by his second, and an additional four (Gwyddelig, Rhodri Fychan, Gwriad, and a daughter) undetermined.

Birth year estimation: If Rhodri's marriage is correctly estimated for 843, when, if his birth year estimation of 820 by Wollcott is correct, he would have been aged 23, then in the absence of other data, the birth of his children may be estimated beginning in 844 and continuing at 2 year intervals thereafter. Allowing for children who did not survive infancy would make the intervals longer.

Children by Rhodri's first wife

1. Anarawd ap Rhodri (-[913/15]). Estimated birth 844. Boyer, following Bartrum, identifies him as the eldest son. ^[2] [The Gwentian Chronicle records the division of territories effected by "Rhodri the Great" and that "Gwynedd he conferred upon his son Anarawd and his palace was at Aberffraw in Mona"[85].] King of Gwynedd. The Gwentian Chronicle is contradicted by Gerald of Wales´s Descriptio Kambriæ which records that “Rothericus magnus, qui Britannice Rotheri Maur dicebatur” had “tres filios...Mervinum, Anaraut et Cadelh” who divided Wales between them, “Mervino...Nortwallia, Anaraut Powisia, Cadelh...Sudwallia”[86]. [The Gwentian Chronicle records that "Anarawd king of Gwynedd devastated Ceredigion, the territory of his brother Cadell" in 892[87].] The Annales Cambriæ record the death in 915 of "Anaraut rex"[88]. The Chronicle of the Princes of Wales records the death in 913 of "Anarawd son of Rhodri, king of the Britons"[89]. [The Gwentian Chronicle records that "Anarawd son of Rhodri the Great, king of the Britons" died in 913 and then "Hywel son of Cadell ruled over all Wales"[90].] m ---. The name of Anarawd´s wife is not known. ^[7]
   1. Anarawd, b. 850, no place.
   2. Anarawd, b. 857 Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire.
2. Cadell (-[900/09]). Estimated Birth, say, 846. Boyer, following Bartrum, identifies Cadell as the second son. [The Gwentian Chronicle records the division of territories effected by "Rhodri the Great" and that "Cadell his eldest son had Ceredigion and his palace at Dinevwr…[with] the supremacy to the oldest of the three diademed princes"[99].] King of Ceredigion. [The Gwentian Chronicle records that "Cadell son of Rhodri subjugated his brother Mervyn and took Powys from him, and then ruled over all Wales" in 877[100]. The Gwentian Chronicle records that "Anarawd king of Gwynedd devastated Ceredigion, the territory of his brother Cadell" in 892[101].] Cadell succeeded as King of South Wales [Deheubarth], bordered by the Irish Sea, the Severn and the rivers Wye and Dovey, with his residence at Dinevawr on the river Towy in Carmarthenshire[102]. Gerald of Wales´s Descriptio Kambriæ records that “Rothericus magnus, qui Britannice Rotheri Maur dicebatur” had “tres filios...Mervinum, Anaraut et Cadelh” who divided Wales between them, “Mervino...Nortwallia, Anaraut Powisia, Cadelh...Sudwallia”, and adds that Cadell acquired the whole of Wales after the death of his brothers[103]. Bridgeman records that Cadell´s kingdom at first approximately corresponded to the 19th century Welsh counties of Cardigan, Pembroke, Carmarthen, Glamorgan, Monmouth and Brecknock[104]. The Annales Cambriæ record the death in 909 of "Catell filius Rodri rex"[105]. The Chronicle of the Princes of Wales records the death in 907 of "Cadell son of Rhodri"[106]. [The Gwentian Chronicle records that "Cadell son of Rhodri the Great" died in 900[107].] m ---. The name of Cadell´s wife is not known. ^[7]
   1. Cadell, b. 854.
   2. Cadell, b. 861, Caer Seiont.
3. Merfyn (-killed [892/903]). Estimated birth, say, 848. Boyer identifies him as the third son. ^[2] [The Gwentian Chronicle records the division of territories effected by "Rhodri the Great" and that "Powys he gave to his son Mervyn and his palace was at Mathraval"[137].] King of Powys. The Gwentian Chronicle is contradicted by Gerald of Wales´s Descriptio Kambriæ which records that “Rothericus magnus, qui Britannice Rotheri Maur dicebatur” had “tres filios...Mervinum, Anaraut et Cadelh” who divided Wales between them, “Mervino...Nortwallia, Anaraut Powisia, Cadelh...Sudwallia”[138]. [The Gwentian Chronicle records that "Cadell son of Rhodri subjugated his brother Mervyn and took Powys from him, and then ruled over all Wales" in 877[139].] The Annales Cambriæ record the death in 903 of "Merwyn filius Rodri"[140]. [The Gwentian Chronicle records that "Mervyn king of Powys was slain by his own men" in 892[141].] Mervyn Manaw (Rhodri) Ap Rhodri , b. 859, Caer, Wales ^[7]
   1. Mervyn, no date, no place.
   2. Mervyn, b. 859, Caer.
   3. Merfyn, b. 859, Caer
4. Aeddan ^[2] Estimated birth, say, 850
5. Meurig Ap Rhodri No dates, Caer, Wales. Meurig^[2] Estimated birth, say, 852.
6. Nest Verch (Rhodri) Ferch Rhodri, b. 870 Deheubarth. Nest, married Owain. ^[2] Estimated birth, say, 854.

Children, by which wife unknown.

1. [Gwria (-killed Anglesey 878). Estimated birth based on battle in Anglesey; if born 856, would have been aged 22 when killed in battle. Gwraid was born, say, 845 if his parents were married about 843. The Chronicle of the Princes of Wales records that "Rhodri and his brother Gwriad were killed by the Saxons" in 878[81]. The Gwentian Chronicle records "the action…in Mona in which Rhodri and his brother Gwriad, and Gweirydd son of Owain of Glamorgan were killed by the Saxons" in 873[82]. The Annales Cambriæ record that "Rotri et filius eius Guriat…jugulatur" in 877 by the Saxons[83]. With these contradictory sources, it is uncertain whether Gwriad was the brother or son of Rhodri, although the later passage quoted below, which names Gwriad´s son, suggests that he was Rhodri´s son.] m ---. The name of Gwriad´s wife is not known. Gwriad & his wife had one child: (a) GWGAWN (-killed 955). The Chronicle of the Princes of Wales records that "Gwgawn son of Gwriad son of Rhodri the Great" was killed in 955[84]. ^[7]
   1. Gwriad, no birth year, born Caer.
2. Gwyddelig. Estimated birth, say, 858
3. Rhodri Fychan. Estimated birth, say, 860.
4. Daughter Estimated birth, say, 862

Child of Other Relationship

1. [Idwal (-killed in battle 943). Estimated birth, say, 864. Cawley states that Rhodri had [one illegitimate child by an unknown mistress]. The Gwentian Chronicle, the Annales Cambriæ, and the Chronicle of the Princes of Wales all name "Idwal son of Rhodri" as shown in the passages quoted in this section. The difficulties of this parentage are discussed below. King of Gwynedd.

Children known to be by his second wife .

1. Tudwal (Rhodri) ap Rhodri, . Wolcott says Tudwal b. 865 and his father Rhodri Mawr born 820. Tudwal Gloff of Uchelogoed Gwynedd; issue. Some popular genealogies show his birth about one hundred years later.
2. Elise. Estimated birth, say, 867.

Children attached on WikiTree and not documented as children

1. Elen (Rhodri) verch Rodri, b. 880, Wales. AFTER FATHER'S DEATH IN 878.

Descendants

Mael Maelienydd was the son of

Cadvael ap

Clydawg ap

Cadell ab

Rodric Mawr, King of Wales. ^[14]

Research Notes

Who was Rhodri's mother?

Maund notes that "according to the pedigree in Oxford, Jesus College MS 20 (JC20), Rhodri's mother was Nest, the daughter of Cyngen, king of Powys. However, the pedigrees in National Library of Wales, Mostyn MS117 (MG) and in the Achau Brenhinoedd y Thywysogion Cymru, give his mother as Essyllt ferch Cynan. There are no very good grounds for accepting either as reliable. What the confusion tells us is that a claim connecting the Line of Merfyn by marriage to the old royal house of Powys was considered credible, and perhaps necesssary by the time of the composition of the ealiest pedigrees involved." ^[15]

Cawley states that Rhodri ap Merfyn "Mawr/the Great", was the son of Merfyn "Frych/the Freckled" ap Gwriad King of Gwynedd & his wife Nest of Powys ^[7]

Baldwin, however, shows Rhodri's mother as unknown; Welsh sources name no mother for Rhodri until a fourteenth century manuscript. ^[1] Wolcott concurs, stating that there was no mention of a Nest ferch Cadell of Powys earlier than c. 1400 and it is exceedingly doubtful any such lady existed. ^[16] Wolcott adds that the first medieval manucripts to mention this lady are contradictory, one making her the mother of Merfyn Frych and the other Merfyn's wife. Wolcott suggests that both were drafted by authors seeking to show that Rhodri inherited Powys via this Nest, and Baldwin adds that "since Nest probably never existed, the supposed line of descent through her from the kings of Powys is probably not valid." ^[1]

Rhodri Mawr's ancestry in history and legend is presented at Legendary Ancestors of Rhodri Mawr and Angharad.

Whom did Rhodri marry?

Cawley and others show Rhodri having married Angharad, daughter of Meurig, King of Ceredigion & his wife, stating that Angharad's parentage and marriage are recorded in a manuscript now at Jesus College.] ^[7] Boyer, following Bartrum, accepts Angharad as Rhodri's first wife, assigning some, but not all, of Rhodri's childrfen to her. ^[2]

Baldwin, however, states that while JC.20-1, a fourteenth century manuscript, gives Angharad ferch Meurig as the wife of Rhodri Mawr, it is the earliest known source to mention Angharad. Baldwin notes that "Patrick Sims-Williams has argued persuasively that Angharad is a late invention, and I find his arguments convincing." Baldwin adds that "the main problem is that JC, the earliest source for this and other marriages, shows a disturbing tendancy to have suspiciously convenient sisters marrying just the right people, suggesting invention....Since Angharad probably never existed, the supposed line of descent from the kings of Ceredigion which has been traced through her is probably not valid. ^[1]

Was Rhodri ever king of Seisyllwg?

Cawley shows Rhodri succeeding in 872 as King of Seisyllwg. ^[7]

In 872 Gwgon, ruler of Seisyllwg in southern Wales, was accidently drowned, and Rhodri added his Kingdom to his domains by virtue of his marriage to Angharad of Seisyllwg, Gwgon's sister and heiress.^[17]

Wolcott notes, however, that Gwgan was King of Ceredigion, not some legendary larger area called Seisyllwg ^[18]

Wolcott notes that Gwgon's death by drowning is recorded by The Brut but "calling it accidental is pure conjecture. Some have suggested Rhodri had a hand in it, not to take his kingdom, but merely his manor."

In any event, the Kingship of Ceredigion probably went to a man paternally related to Gwgan: Einion ap Meurig of a cousin line also descended from Ceredig ap Cunedda. That family continued to hold Ceredigion for another 200 years until it became extinct in the male line ^[19]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Baldwin, Ancestor Table
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9} Boyer, p. 282.
3. ↑ Probably the oldest manuscript to attach "Mawr" to Rhodri was Peniarth Ms 17, often called The History of Gruffudd ap Cynan, believed to date from the mid-1200's. The pedigrees contained in a 10th century manuscript, Harleian 3859, simply call him Rhodri. Darrell Wolcott, Ancient Wales Studies. Wikipedia's Lame Biography of Rhodri Mawr Accessed February 17, 2017 jhd
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Darrell Wolcott, Ancient Wales Studies. The Clan of Tudor Trevor. Accessed August 26, 2015. jhd
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} David Ross, Editor. Britain Express: Passionate about British Heritage Rhodri Mawr (Rhodri the Great) Acessed July 31, 2018 jhd
6. ↑ Maund, 52-53
7. ↑ ^{7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13} Charles Cawley. Entry for Rhodri.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} Britannia, Ch 3
9. ↑ Maund, 53
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Maund, 54
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Boyer, Introduction, page xi
12. ↑ Celt: Annals of Ulster : U878.1
13. ↑ Celt: Annals of Ulster : U878.3
14. ↑ Jacob Youde William Lloyd. The History of the Princes, the Lords Marcher, and the ancient... Volume VI, p. 344. https://books.google.com/books?id=6DwLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA344&lpg=PA344&dq=Powys+OR+820+%22Rodric+Mawr%22&source=bl&ots=deczv6-j4t&sig=ZIk8ZTTRLW_5Izu4cH1zMgBDUNE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjk_pXmjvzRAhVE-GMKHaPIAlYQ6AEIKjAD#v=onepage&q=Powys%20OR%20820%20%22Rodric%20Mawr%22&f=false. Accessed Feb 6, 2017 jhd
15. ↑ Maund, 49-50
16. ↑ See Wolcott's paper "Nest ferch Cadell ap Brochwel" on his site under the Royal Family of Powys. Darrell Wolcott. Ancient Wales Studies. Wikipedia's Lame Biography of Rhodri Mawr.Accessed Feb 17, 2017 jhd
17. ↑ Quote from Wikipedia's entry for Rhodri the Great in Wolcott's article, "Wikipedia's Lame Biography of Rhodri Mawr".
18. ↑ Wolcott has written a paper, "The Legendary Kingdom of Seisyllwg" . Darrell Wolcott. Ancient Wales Studies. Wikipedia's Lame Biography of Rhodri Mawr. Accessed Feb 17, 2017 jhd
19. ↑ Owain, the son of Einion ap Meurig, appears to have divided Ceredigion between his sons Teithwalch and Meirchion. The portion held by Teithwalch ap Owain was carried to Eunydd ap Pyll of Meirionydd by his granddaughter Morfydd ferch Odwin c. 965. The family headed by Meirchion ap Owain ended in an heiress, Morfydd ferch Llywarch Llwyd, who carried his portion to her husband c. 1045...probably a man of Dyfed. Darrell Wolcott. Wikipedia's Lame Biography of Rhodri Mawr. Ancient Wales Studies. http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id165.html Accessed Feb 17, 2017 jhd

Bibliography of Frequently Cited Works

• Baldwin, Stewart. Llywelyn ap Iorwerth ancestor table. Material originally appeared on GEN-MEDIEVAL/soc.genealogy.medieval. Accessed 5 August 2022 jhd
• Boyer, Carl, 3rd. Medieval Welsh Ancestors of Certain Americans. Generally follows Bartrum. By the author: Santa Clarita, California, 2004. Rhodri Mawr is #2 on page 282.
• Maund, Kari. The Welsh Kings: Warriors, Warloard and Princes.' Stroud: Gloucestershire, The History Press, 2006.
• Cawley, Charles. "Medieval Lands": A prosopography of medieval European noble and royal families © by Charles Cawley, hosted by Foundation for Medieval Genealogy (FMG). See also WikiTree's source page for MedLands.

See also:

• http://www.thepeerage.com/p10258.htm#i102580
• Davies, John. A History of Wales. Revised edition, Penguin Books, 2007
• Loyd, David Nash, HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY of the EARLY BRITISH KINGDOMS PART 5: AD 805-937
• Lewys Dwnn, Heraldic Visitation, Vol 2, p. 106.
• Britannia - A Brief History of Wales
• Castle Wales, Rhodri Mawr, King of Wales
• Ross, David, Rhodri the Great
• Wikipedia entry for Rhodri the Great
• The Cambrian Quarterly Magazine and Celtic Repertory, Volume 1. Publisher : proprietors, 1829. Original: from the University of Michigan. Digitized: Jun 8, 2007