| History |
Rhodri Molwynog ab Idwal Iwrch, king of Gwynedd, was born about 690, the son of Idwal Iwrch ap Cadwaladr Fendigaid, king of Gwynedd.
Comparatively little is known of Rhodri\'s life or accomplishments. There is even some debate as to when he actually assumed the throne of Gwynedd, with the years 712, 720, 722 or 730 being the most probable candidates. Legend suggests that Rhodri successfully invaded and occupied Dumnonia for a time, before being expelled by the Saxons. This story may indeed by apocryphal, and others have suggested that Rhodri instead focused on strengthening the island of Anglesey, which, by this time, had become the stronghold of the kingdom. This argument is based on the understanding that Aethelbald, king of Mercia and self-styled _Bretwalda_ (a ruler who had achieved overlordship over some or all the other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms) was continuing to press the kingdoms of Wales, and that Rhodri would have been far more likely to have been forced to adopt a defensive, rather than offensive, policy in dealing with incursions from Mercia and other Anglo-Saxon principalities.
Rhodri married an Irish princess, who bore him a son Cynan Dindaethwy. Because of the limited reliable information surrounding this period in Welsh history, it is not entirely clear who succeeded Rhodri upon his death in about 754, although the most likely candidate seems to be Caradog ap Meirion, a distant cousin, and not his son, who would ascend to the throne only after the death of Caradog. [1] |
Ellie Wood Keith Genealogy
Abt 690 - Abt 754 (~ 64 years)