RHODRI MAWR
(Reigned 844—878).
RHODRI MAWR succeeded his father as ruler of Gwynedd in 844.
Later in his reign he acquired the kingdoms of Powys and Seisyllwg
(Ceredigion and Ystrad Tywi), thus becoming the ruler of the whole of
North Wales, together with a substantial portion of South Wales.
His reign was in the period which saw the beginnings of the fierce and
devastating raids of the Vikings upon Western Europe. These raiders are
described in Brut y Tywysogion as “the pagans “ or “the black tribes.”
Wales, in common with other nations, suffered cruelly from these
terrible foes who wrought great destruction throughout the land, more
especially upon the monastic communities, many of which had been
established within easy reach of the sea.
But just as king Alfred of Wessex (871—899) was destined to become
the protector and deliverer of his people in face of the same enemy, so
Rhodri, who reigned earlier, became the strong shield of Wales.
The first Viking raid upon Wales occurred probably in 850, and from
time to time throughout his reign, Rhodri had to meet the attacks of the
invaders. In 853—54 Mon was ravaged by the Vikings. The following
year, during another incursion, Rhodri defeated the and slew their
chieftain Horm. In 876, after a battle fought in Mon on a Sunday, the
invaders forced Rhodri to seek refuge in Ireland for a time. In the
following year he was slain in battle, probably by the English.
According to Welsh custom, Rhodri’s territories were divided amongst
his six sons. One of these, Anarawd, king of Gwynedd, paid the first
ceremonial visit of a Welsh king to an English court. He journeyed to
pay his allegiance to king Alfred, who, by this time, was regarded as the
supreme protector of the Christian princes of the island against the
heathen invaders. This visit led to the formal demands of homage made
by the English crown from all Welsh rulers in later periods.
Rhodri is known as “Mawr” (the Great) because he united much of
Wales under his sway, thus giving later princes an ideal of unity; also
because he was energetic and powerful enough to prevent the Viking
raiders from making any permanent conquests or settlements in Welsh
territory. Moreover, the dynasty which he founded became the ruling
family in both North and South Wales. Later princes of Gwynedd and
Deheu-barth proudly acclaimed their descent from Rhodri, and were
often dependent upon this claim for their succession. The dynasty which
sprang from Rhodri persisted until the final days of native rule in Wales
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Richard James
CarmarthenshireFHS
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