General Notes

Only five rulers could claim to be kings of Wales. A sense of unity outof the ever-quarrelling, petty Welsh kingdoms and princely fiefs wasbrought about only by Rhodri Mawr (Rhodri the Great), Hywel Dda (Hywelthe Good), Gruffudd ap Llywelyn (1039-63), Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (Llwyelynthe Great) (1194-1240) and Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (1248-82).   Rhodribecame King of Gwynedd in 844, following the death of his father; ofPowys following the death of his uncle in 855; and of Seisyllwg(including Ceredigion and Ystrad Tywi) following the death of hisbrother-in-law in 872. He was most successful in keeping out the Danesand the English from settling his territories.  Peter N. Williams, Ph.D.

Rhodri Mawr, Roderick the Great, was King of Powis, and by inheritanceand marriage reunited the States of North Wales, South Wales and Powis,and became King of all Wales in A. D. 843. Rhodri was 5th in linealsuccession to his memorable progenitor, St. Cadwaleder Bendegelig (theBlessed), who was as well saint as monarch, and was crowned King of theBritons, A. D. 676. Cadwaleder's standard displayed the "Red Dragon"transmitted as the distinctive cognizance of his royal race. Rhodrimarried Angharad (Ingharad), daughter of Meyrick (Meuric), in 844 andthey had six sons: Cadell, Mervyn, Gurat, Elisse, Anarod and Tudwal, whowas called Gloff, or the lame, because of having received a wound in hisknee in battle. The whole of Wales acknowledged Roderick the Great as onesovereign, but on his death it was divided between his sons into threeprincipalities.