Notes |
- Gwynedd is one of several Welsh successor states that emerged in 5th-century post-Roman Britain. It was based on the former Brythonic tribal lands of the Ordovices, Gangani, and the Deceangli which were collectively known as Venedotia in late Romano-British documents. Between the 5th and 13th centuries Gwynedd grew to include Ynys Môn and all of north Wales between the River Dyfi in the south and River Dee (Welsh Dyfrdwy) in the northeast.[1] The Irish sea (Môr Iwerddon) washes the coast of Gwynedd to the west and north and lands formerly part of the Kingdom of Powys border Gwynedd in the south-east.
Gwynedd's strength lay in part due to the region's mountainous geography which made it difficult for foreign invaders to campaign in the country and impose their will effectively.[2]
Popular tradition attributed to Nennius, a 10th-century Welsh chronicler, traced Gwynedd's foundation to Cunedda.[1] According to Nennius, Cunedda migrated with his sons and followers from Brythonic Lothian, in southern Scotland, in the 5th century. [1]
The heart of Gwynedd was originally at Deganwy Castle, where Maelgwn Gwynedd (died 547) had his stronghold. The senior line of descendants of Rhodri the Great would make Aberffraw on Ynys Mon as their principle seat, and later rulers of Gwynedd would adopt the title "Prince of Aberffraw" or "Lord of Snowdon".
The early 9th century saw a power struggle between two brothers, Hywel
and Cynan, for control of the north-western kingdom of Gwynedd. The
'Annales Cambriae' note:
813 "Battle between Hywel and Cynan. Hywel was the victor."
814 "Hywel triumphed over the island of Mona (Anglesey) and he drove
Cynan from there with a great loss of his own army."
816 "Hywel was again expelled from Mona. Cynan the king dies."
Nine years later (825), the 'Annales' succinctly announce:
"Hywel dies."
The direct male line appears to have ended with Hywel's death, and he
was succeeded by one Merfyn Frych ('the Freckled'). According to the
'Harleian Genealogies', Merfyn was the son of Cynan's daughter,
Essyllt (in other, later, genealogies, Essyllt appears as Merfyn's
wife). Kari Maund, in 'The Welsh Kings', writes:
In 825 a new dynasty came to power in Gwynedd following a civil war.
The new ruler, Merfyn Frych (the Freckled), founded the royal house,
which was to rule until 1283. His court was an important cultural
centre, which welcomed Irish scholars on their way to the continent.
Merfyn was succeeded in 844 by his son Rhodri Mawr (the great) who
brought much of Wales under his rule although this did not survive
him. He was regarded as a powerful ruler who succeeded in the face of
threats from both Saxons and Vikings. It was during the ninth century
that Viking raids on Wales began. The first recorded raid was in 853.
Gwynedd, being so near to one of the centres of Viking power in
Dublin, was particularly vulnerable, but Rhodri was usually able to
hold his own.
Merfyn's descent on his father's side is traced (Jesus College MS 20)
back, via the legendary late 6th/early 7th century bard Llywarch Hen,
who is associated with Powys (and who, incidentally, was at one time
thought to be the author of the 'Canu Heledd'), along a branch of the
line associated with the erstwhile kingdom of Rheged (north-west
England), to Coel Hen. Further, tradition has it that Merfyn came
"from the land of manaw". That could refer to either Manau Gododdin or
The Isle of Man. Merfyn's father was Gwriad. An inscribed stone on the
Isle of Man, which could date from the 9th century, reads "crux
guriat" (cross of Guriat). Guriat is usually identified with Gwriad.
At any rate, when Merfyn died (844), he was succeeded by his son
Rhodri. According to the genealogies in Jesus College MS 20, Rhodri's
mother was Nest of Powys, sister of Cyngen, king of Powys.
Cyngen is the Concenn who erected Eliseg's Pillar, in memory of his
great-grandfather, Eliseg (Elisedd). Elisedd would probably have been
a contemporary of the powerful Mercian king, Offa (757-796). The
pillar commemorates Elisedd's reclamation of Powysian territory from
the English, and the 'Annales Cambriae' record several campaigns
against the Welsh by Offa. At some point, Offa seems to have decided
that there should be no doubt where the border between the English and
the Welsh lay, and the massive earthwork, known as Offa's Dyke was
constructed. Whether Offa's Dyke was more symbolic than truly
defensive is the subject of debate. Even if it prevented Welsh
incursions into England, it certainly it didn't prevent English
incursions into Wales. 'Annales Cambriae' (822): "The fortress of
Degannwy (Gwynedd) is destroyed by the Saxons and they took the
kingdom of Powys into their own control."
Cyngen died in 854, possibly having been forced into exile by Rhodri.
Powys was subsequently annexed by Gwynedd. How this takeover was
achieved is not recorded, but Powys was ruled as a subsidiary of
Gwynedd until the late 11th century. In 853, the 'Annales Cambriae'
had noted:
"Mon (Anglesey) laid waste by black gentiles."
The phrase "black gentiles" (and variations thereof, e.g. dark
heathens, dark foreigners) means Danish, rather than Norwegian (fair
heathens, fair-haired foreigners), Vikings. The first recorded Viking
attack on Wales actually appears in the 'Annales' three years
previously (i.e. in 850). They were responsible for the killing of one
Cyngen, whose provenance is unknown.
(Source: http://www.stephen.j.murray.btinternet.co.uk/wales.htm)
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