Snyder Family 2016 - Person Sheet
NameRhodri “Mawr” ap Merfyn 
Birthabt 789, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
Death878, Anglesey, Wales
FatherMerfyn “Frych” ap Gwriad King of Gwynedd (~764-843)
MotherEsyllt verch Cynan (~770-)
Spouses
Birthabt 825, Ceredigion, Wales
FatherMeurig Ap Dyfnwallon , King Of Seisyllwg (~780-871)
Mother(Meurig Ap) (Dyfnwallon) (~784-)
Notes for Rhodri “Mawr” ap Merfyn
Rhodri the Great
Rhodri the Great (in Welsh, Rhodri ap Mawr or Rhodri ap Merfyn; occasionally in English, Roderick the Great) (c. 820 – 878) was King of Gwynedd from 844 until his death. He was the first Welsh ruler to be called 'Great', and the first to rule most of present-day Wales. He is referred to as "King of the Britons" by the Annals of Ulster. In some later histories, he is referred to as "King of Wales" but he did not rule all of Wales nor was this term used contemporaneously to describe him.
Lineage and inheritance
The son of Merfyn Frych, King of Gwynedd, and Nest ferch Cadell of the Royal line of Powys, he inherited the Kingdom of Gwynedd on his father's death in 844.
When his maternal uncle Cyngen ap Cadell ruler of Powys died on a pilgrimage to Rome in 855 Rhodri inherited Powys. In 872 Gwgon, ruler of Seisyllwg in southern Wales, was accidentally drowned, and Rhodri added his Kingdom to his domains by virtue of his marriage to Angharad of Seisyllwg, Gwgon's sister and heiress. These peaceful inheritances made him the ruler of the larger part of Wales.
Resistance against Danes
Rhodri faced pressure both from the English and increasingly from the Danes, who were recorded as ravaging Anglesey in 854. In 856 Rhodri won a notable victory over the Danes, killing their leader Gorm (sometimes given as Horm).
In 876 Rhodri fought another battle against the Norse invaders on Anglesey, after which he had to flee to Ireland.
Defeat and death
On his return the following year, he and his son Gwriad were said to have been killed by the English, most likely under Ceolwulf II of Mercia, given that West Saxon forces under Alfred the Great were pre-occupied fighting the Vikings in East Anglia. The precise manner of his death is unknown and some versions of the Annales Cambriae claim his brother rather than his son was killed, although it is likely he was killed in battle given that when his son, Anarawd ap Rhodri won a victory over the Mercians a few years later, it was hailed in the annals as "God's vengeance for Rhodri".
Succession
Rhodri died leaving three sons:
His heir, Anarawd ap Rhodri, who became the king of Gwynedd;
His son Cadell ap Rhodri, who conquered Dyfed, which was later joined with Seisyllwg by Rhodri's grandson Hywel Dda to become Deheubarth. Like his grandfather, Hywel would come to rule most of Wales; and
His son Merfyn ap Rhodri, who became the king of Powys.
---------------
Notes:
Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies".
Upon the death of his father in 844 he became King of Gwynedd. When his uncle, Cyngen, died in 855 he became King of Powys. When his wife ANGHARAD's brother, Gwgon, died in 871 he also became ruler of Seisyllwg. By the time of his death in 877 he ruled over all of Wales with the exception of the southeastern and southwestern extremities. Rhodri was a pivotal person in Welsh history. In future centuries, one of the main requirements for kingship in the Welsh kingdoms was being of the descent of Rhodri Mawr. Rhodri's fame sprang from his success as a warrior. It was his victory over the Viking, Horn, leader of the Danes, in 856 which brought him international acclaim. The Irish and the Franks had been unsuccessfully trying to repel the Northmen and they were impessed by Rhodri's success. The English kingdom of Wessex had for many years been striving with partial success to subjugate Powys. It was in battle against the English that Rhodri, along with his son, Gwriad, was killed in 877. It appears that the Welsh court experienced a cultural revival during the reign of Rhodri.
Stewart Baldwin posted to soc.genealogy.medieval on 29 Jun 1997 (in part):
Subject: Re: Rhoderic Mawr, King of Wales "Rhodri Mawr, king of Gwynedd, died in 878. ["Rhoderic" is an Anglicization of the Welsh name "Rhodri".] Although he was an important Welsh king, it is not really appropriate to call him the "first King of Wales", for there were large parts of Wales over which he did not rule. Most sources give the name of Rhodri's wife as ANGHARAD, heiress of Ceredigion, and give his mother as NEST, heiress of Powys, but Patrick Sims-Williams [in the article "Historical Need and Literary Narrative: a Caveat from Ninth-Century Wales", Welsh History Review, vol. 17 (1994), pp. 1-40] has recently argued (conclusively, in my opinion) that neither NEST nor ANGHARAD ever existed, and that they were inventions of later genealogists who wanted to give Rhodri's family a line of descent from the earlier kings of Powys and Ceredigion. Rhodri's ancestry, as taken from the best records (The Harleian genealogies and the Welsh and Irish annals), is given in this genealogy. Names are given here in their Old Welsh forms, with Modern Welsh ["MW"] forms given in brackets.
116General:
The king of Gwynedd who provided stern resistance to the Viking attacks, brought Powys within his dominion and then briefly extended his sway over two areas in the southwest (lying north and east of Dyfed), namely Ceredigion and Ystrad Twyi, which had previously been united to form the kingdom of Seisyllwg. The period following Rhodri's death proved to be of far-reaching significance. The outlying kingdoms of Wales-Dyfed, Brycheiniog, Glywysing, and Gwent-being subjected to pressure exerted by Rhodri's sons or by Mercia, turned to the kingdoms of Wessex and by a formal commendation entered into that allegiance, ultimately expressed in homage and fealty, which each of the kings of Wales owed, individually and directly, to the English monarchy.
Father: Merfyn "Frych" Ap GWRIAD (AFN:FLH5-XQ)
Mother: Esyllt Verch CYNAN (AFN:FLH5-ZW)
1. Sex Name
M Anarawd Ap RHODRI (AFN:FLH5-RV)
Born: Abt 0857 Place: Of, , Gwynedd, Wales
Died: 916 Place:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Sex Name
M Merfyn Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-ST)
Born: Abt 859 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
Died: 0900 Place:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Sex Name
M Cadell Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-KM)
Born: Abt 861 Place: Of, , Deheubarth, Wales
Died: 910 Place:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Sex Name
M Aeddan Ap RHODRI (AFN:V9Z9-QJ)
Born: Abt 0862 Place: Of, , , Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Sex Name
M Tudwal "Gloff" Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-T1)
Born: Abt 0863 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Sex Name
M Meurig Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-V6)
Born: Abt 0865 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Sex Name
M Rhodri "Fychan" Ap RHODRI (AFN:V9Z9-RP)
Born: Abt 0866 Place: Of, , , Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Sex Name
M Gwriad Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-WC)
Born: Abt 0867 Place: Of Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Sex Name
M Gwyddelig Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-XJ)
Born: Abt 869 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Sex Name
F Nest Verch RHODRI (AFN:V9Z9-SV)
Born: Abt 0870 Place: Of, , , Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Sex Name
F Angharad Verch RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-ZP)
Born: Abt 0871 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. Sex Name
F Miss Verch RHODRI (AFN:V9Z9-T2)
Born: Abt 0871 Place: Of, , , Wales
Rhodri the Great (in Welsh, Rhodri ap Mawr or Rhodri ap Merfyn; occasionally in English, Roderick the Great) (c. 820 – 878) was King of Gwynedd from 844 until his death. He was the first Welsh ruler to be called 'Great', and the first to rule most of present-day Wales. He is referred to as "King of the Britons" by the Annals of Ulster. In some later histories, he is referred to as "King of Wales" but he did not rule all of Wales nor was this term used contemporaneously to describe him.
Lineage and inheritance
The son of Merfyn Frych, King of Gwynedd, and Nest ferch Cadell of the Royal line of Powys, he inherited the Kingdom of Gwynedd on his father's death in 844.
When his maternal uncle Cyngen ap Cadell ruler of Powys died on a pilgrimage to Rome in 855 Rhodri inherited Powys. In 872 Gwgon, ruler of Seisyllwg in southern Wales, was accidentally drowned, and Rhodri added his Kingdom to his domains by virtue of his marriage to Angharad of Seisyllwg, Gwgon's sister and heiress. These peaceful inheritances made him the ruler of the larger part of Wales.
Resistance against Danes
Rhodri faced pressure both from the English and increasingly from the Danes, who were recorded as ravaging Anglesey in 854. In 856 Rhodri won a notable victory over the Danes, killing their leader Gorm (sometimes given as Horm).
In 876 Rhodri fought another battle against the Norse invaders on Anglesey, after which he had to flee to Ireland.
Defeat and death
On his return the following year, he and his son Gwriad were said to have been killed by the English, most likely under Ceolwulf II of Mercia, given that West Saxon forces under Alfred the Great were pre-occupied fighting the Vikings in East Anglia. The precise manner of his death is unknown and some versions of the Annales Cambriae claim his brother rather than his son was killed, although it is likely he was killed in battle given that when his son, Anarawd ap Rhodri won a victory over the Mercians a few years later, it was hailed in the annals as "God's vengeance for Rhodri".
Succession
Rhodri died leaving three sons:
His heir, Anarawd ap Rhodri, who became the king of Gwynedd;
His son Cadell ap Rhodri, who conquered Dyfed, which was later joined with Seisyllwg by Rhodri's grandson Hywel Dda to become Deheubarth. Like his grandfather, Hywel would come to rule most of Wales; and
His son Merfyn ap Rhodri, who became the king of Powys.
---------------
Notes:
Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies".
Upon the death of his father in 844 he became King of Gwynedd. When his uncle, Cyngen, died in 855 he became King of Powys. When his wife ANGHARAD's brother, Gwgon, died in 871 he also became ruler of Seisyllwg. By the time of his death in 877 he ruled over all of Wales with the exception of the southeastern and southwestern extremities. Rhodri was a pivotal person in Welsh history. In future centuries, one of the main requirements for kingship in the Welsh kingdoms was being of the descent of Rhodri Mawr. Rhodri's fame sprang from his success as a warrior. It was his victory over the Viking, Horn, leader of the Danes, in 856 which brought him international acclaim. The Irish and the Franks had been unsuccessfully trying to repel the Northmen and they were impessed by Rhodri's success. The English kingdom of Wessex had for many years been striving with partial success to subjugate Powys. It was in battle against the English that Rhodri, along with his son, Gwriad, was killed in 877. It appears that the Welsh court experienced a cultural revival during the reign of Rhodri.
Stewart Baldwin posted to soc.genealogy.medieval on 29 Jun 1997 (in part):
Subject: Re: Rhoderic Mawr, King of Wales "Rhodri Mawr, king of Gwynedd, died in 878. ["Rhoderic" is an Anglicization of the Welsh name "Rhodri".] Although he was an important Welsh king, it is not really appropriate to call him the "first King of Wales", for there were large parts of Wales over which he did not rule. Most sources give the name of Rhodri's wife as ANGHARAD, heiress of Ceredigion, and give his mother as NEST, heiress of Powys, but Patrick Sims-Williams [in the article "Historical Need and Literary Narrative: a Caveat from Ninth-Century Wales", Welsh History Review, vol. 17 (1994), pp. 1-40] has recently argued (conclusively, in my opinion) that neither NEST nor ANGHARAD ever existed, and that they were inventions of later genealogists who wanted to give Rhodri's family a line of descent from the earlier kings of Powys and Ceredigion. Rhodri's ancestry, as taken from the best records (The Harleian genealogies and the Welsh and Irish annals), is given in this genealogy. Names are given here in their Old Welsh forms, with Modern Welsh ["MW"] forms given in brackets.
116General:
The king of Gwynedd who provided stern resistance to the Viking attacks, brought Powys within his dominion and then briefly extended his sway over two areas in the southwest (lying north and east of Dyfed), namely Ceredigion and Ystrad Twyi, which had previously been united to form the kingdom of Seisyllwg. The period following Rhodri's death proved to be of far-reaching significance. The outlying kingdoms of Wales-Dyfed, Brycheiniog, Glywysing, and Gwent-being subjected to pressure exerted by Rhodri's sons or by Mercia, turned to the kingdoms of Wessex and by a formal commendation entered into that allegiance, ultimately expressed in homage and fealty, which each of the kings of Wales owed, individually and directly, to the English monarchy.
Father: Merfyn "Frych" Ap GWRIAD (AFN:FLH5-XQ)
Mother: Esyllt Verch CYNAN (AFN:FLH5-ZW)
1. Sex Name
M Anarawd Ap RHODRI (AFN:FLH5-RV)
Born: Abt 0857 Place: Of, , Gwynedd, Wales
Died: 916 Place:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Sex Name
M Merfyn Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-ST)
Born: Abt 859 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
Died: 0900 Place:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Sex Name
M Cadell Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-KM)
Born: Abt 861 Place: Of, , Deheubarth, Wales
Died: 910 Place:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Sex Name
M Aeddan Ap RHODRI (AFN:V9Z9-QJ)
Born: Abt 0862 Place: Of, , , Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Sex Name
M Tudwal "Gloff" Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-T1)
Born: Abt 0863 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Sex Name
M Meurig Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-V6)
Born: Abt 0865 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Sex Name
M Rhodri "Fychan" Ap RHODRI (AFN:V9Z9-RP)
Born: Abt 0866 Place: Of, , , Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Sex Name
M Gwriad Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-WC)
Born: Abt 0867 Place: Of Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Sex Name
M Gwyddelig Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-XJ)
Born: Abt 869 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Sex Name
F Nest Verch RHODRI (AFN:V9Z9-SV)
Born: Abt 0870 Place: Of, , , Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Sex Name
F Angharad Verch RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-ZP)
Born: Abt 0871 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. Sex Name
F Miss Verch RHODRI (AFN:V9Z9-T2)
Born: Abt 0871 Place: Of, , , Wales
Notes for Angharad (Spouse 1)
Father: Meurig Ap DYFNWALLON (AFN:FJH0-WQ)
Mother: Mrs-Meurig Ap DYFNWALLON (AFN:FJH0-XW)
1. Sex Name
M Anarawd Ap RHODRI (AFN:FLH5-RV)
Born: Abt 0857 Place: Of, , Gwynedd, Wales
Died: 916 Place:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Sex Name
M Merfyn Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-ST)
Born: Abt 859 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
Died: 0900 Place:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Sex Name
M Cadell Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-KM)
Born: Abt 861 Place: Of, , Deheubarth, Wales
Died: 910 Place:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Sex Name
M Aeddan Ap RHODRI (AFN:V9Z9-QJ)
Born: Abt 0862 Place: Of, , , Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Sex Name
M Tudwal "Gloff" Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-T1)
Born: Abt 0863 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Sex Name
M Meurig Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-V6)
Born: Abt 0865 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Sex Name
M Rhodri "Fychan" Ap RHODRI (AFN:V9Z9-RP)
Born: Abt 0866 Place: Of, , , Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Sex Name
M Gwriad Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-WC)
Born: Abt 0867 Place: Of Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Sex Name
M Gwyddelig Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-XJ)
Born: Abt 869 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Sex Name
F Nest Verch RHODRI (AFN:V9Z9-SV)
Born: Abt 0870 Place: Of, , , Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Sex Name
F Angharad Verch RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-ZP)
Born: Abt 0871 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. Sex Name
F Miss Verch RHODRI (AFN:V9Z9-T2)
Born: Abt 0871 Place: Of, , , Wales
Mother: Mrs-Meurig Ap DYFNWALLON (AFN:FJH0-XW)
1. Sex Name
M Anarawd Ap RHODRI (AFN:FLH5-RV)
Born: Abt 0857 Place: Of, , Gwynedd, Wales
Died: 916 Place:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Sex Name
M Merfyn Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-ST)
Born: Abt 859 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
Died: 0900 Place:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Sex Name
M Cadell Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-KM)
Born: Abt 861 Place: Of, , Deheubarth, Wales
Died: 910 Place:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Sex Name
M Aeddan Ap RHODRI (AFN:V9Z9-QJ)
Born: Abt 0862 Place: Of, , , Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Sex Name
M Tudwal "Gloff" Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-T1)
Born: Abt 0863 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Sex Name
M Meurig Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-V6)
Born: Abt 0865 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Sex Name
M Rhodri "Fychan" Ap RHODRI (AFN:V9Z9-RP)
Born: Abt 0866 Place: Of, , , Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Sex Name
M Gwriad Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-WC)
Born: Abt 0867 Place: Of Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Sex Name
M Gwyddelig Ap RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-XJ)
Born: Abt 869 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Sex Name
F Nest Verch RHODRI (AFN:V9Z9-SV)
Born: Abt 0870 Place: Of, , , Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Sex Name
F Angharad Verch RHODRI (AFN:FJGW-ZP)
Born: Abt 0871 Place: Of, Caer Seiont, Carnarvonshire, Wales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. Sex Name
F Miss Verch RHODRI (AFN:V9Z9-T2)
Born: Abt 0871 Place: Of, , , Wales