Anarawd ap Rhodri and the Sons of Rhodri Mawr: Politics and Warfare

Medieval Welsh History 825-950: The Merfynion Dynasty Part 3: 

Hi all, and thank you for reading! As you can see in the title, this is the third part in a series of four article - make sure you have a look at my histories of Merfyn Frych and Rhodri Mawr for a good understanding of the period. If you're new here, you may want to check out my introduction and guide to self-studying Celtic Studies - and if you're up for anything Welsh, have a peek at my feminist take on the Mabinogi. 

So, without further ado...

Anarawd ap Rhodri and the Sons of Rhodri Mawr

It has been three years since the defeat of Rhodri by the Mercian King Ceolwulf II. Three years since the Mercians had likely exerted some king of overlordship over the proud, resentful Welsh sons of Rhodri. But it had also been three years since the victory of Alfred at Eddington over the Vikings, meaning that Mercia could no longer count itself safe from the growing power of Wessex. In 879, Ceolwulf himself died, while in 880 the foremost Viking, Guthrum, left Mercia for East Anglia, meaning that Alfred could march into Mercia. Overall this would have meant the promotion of Welsh autonomy. What happened in 881 had been brewing for a very long time. 

In 881 was one of the most decisive battles in the history of the early Merfynion - the Battle of Conwy, fought between the sons of Rhodri Mawr and the new Mercian king, Aethelred. Aethelred would have submitted to Mercia by 883 - but it is unknown whether Alfred's influence yet extended over the Battle of Conwy. The battle was a decisive victory, and great slaughter of Saxons is recorded. The Mercians were driven over the border. It is referred to as 'the avenging of Rhodri by God', and signalled the reclaiming of the Gwynedd lands by the British kings. 

                                           Image of Anglesey as it lies today...

Anarawd and the sons of Rhodri Mawr were at this point a political unit, and an effective one. Some date the annexation to this period rather than to that of Rhodri Mawr, although it seems unlikely so soon after the resumption of the kingdom. The real prize of the reign of Anarawd would have been the southern Welsh kingdoms - Dyfed, Gwent, Glywysing and Brycheiniog. This can be seen as a period of competition between the sons of Rhodri and the Mercians for overlordship of these battered kingdoms. Repeated attcks by Aethelred, the new king of the Mercians, were likely masterminded by Alfred, who pursued unification of kingdoms. Caving under the pressure, and fearful of the repeated invasions by the sons of Rhodri, Gwent and Glywysing submitted to Alfred. Anarawd and Cadell continued attacks into Dyfed and Brycheiniog. The submission of Dyfed to Alfred's overlordship by the proud king Hyfaidd was a response to these no doubt overwhelming pressures. In addition, repeated Viking attacks leading to permanent Viking settlements in Dyfed meant that it was surrounded; and therefore submission to Alfred's overlordship in exchange for protection would likely have seemed the only viable option. With the submission of Brycheiniog to Alfred, by the 890s the King of Wessex had obtained overlordship of all the southern kingdoms of Wales, and was thus in a powerful position. 

  The mounting pressures from Wessex and others meant that Anarawd needed powerful allies. He decided to ally himself to the Danish King of York. Yet this proved unsuccessful for unknown reasons. It is possible that the Danelaw had begun to act in Wales as a response to the alliance that was represented by the marriage of Aethelred and Aethelflaed. Finally, with no other option available to him, Anarawd allied himself to Alfred. The chronicler of the Life of King Alfred, Asser, tells is how in 894 Wessex gave aid to the Welsh so that they could repel the Vikings. 

  Yet one of the largest challenges to Anarawd's reign was yet to come. The 902 sacking of Dublin meant that there was an exodus of Vikings - warrior elite - under the fierce Ingimundr and it seems that many of these Vikings headed to Anglesey, which was hit with what was maybe the largest Viking attack on Wales during the Viking Age. The Vikings were supposed to have held 'Maes Osmeliaun' - of unknown location - in Anglesey before haviong been driven back. The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland even record that the Vikings were driven back by a son of Cadell ap Rhodri, brother to Anarawd. Therefore it may even have been the next most powerful Merfynion king, Hywel Dda ap Cadell, that defeated the Vikings. So the Welsh somehow managed to overcome the Viking attack, and drive Ingimundr and his following from Anglesey. The Annales Cambriae, however, continue in recording the death of Merfyn ap Rhodri by the hands of the Vikings. 

Besides the Viking issues, Anarawd was also determined to continue the long-standing expansionist policy of his father and grandfather, recorded as ravaging Ceredigion and Ystrad Tywi, likely in the wake of the death of Hyfaidd. This would have perhaps been the precursor to his brother, Cadell ap Rhodri's rule over Seisyllwg (Ceredigion and Ystrad Tywi), which would last until the year 910, when his son Hywel Dda would succeed him. The extent of Cadell's power is not certain, but he seems to have been second most powerful under the overlordship or heavy influence of Anarawd. His death seems to have come from natural causes. The death of Anarawd would come soon after in 916. 

It seems that after the death of Aethelred, the female Mercian ruler Aethelflaed held overlordship over the southern kingdoms. She obtained the submission of king Tewdyr of Brycheiniog in 916 - which was possible a response to the death of Anarawd as the Irish Chronicle records peace was maintained between the two rulers. 

An interesting aspect of this period is the extent of the unity of the Merfynion sons of Rhodri Mawr. This wasn't to last after the death of Anarawd, but it can be seen as representing a key reason for Merfynion success in obtaining power in the majority of Wales. Indeed, in some ways I think the sprawling, busy history of Anarawd's reign represents one of the most exciting periods of the Merfynion dynasty, where we see alliances, political compromise, and constant warfare. But that's just me. 

Want to know what happens next? Check out my post on Hywel Dda!

And thanks for reading!

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