Merfyn Frych ('Merfyn the Freckled'; Old Welsh Mermin), also known as Merfyn ap Gwriad ('Merfyn son of Gwriad') and Merfyn Camwri ('Merfyn the Oppressor'),[1] was King of Gwynedd from around 825 to 844, the first of its kings known not to have descended from the male line of King Cunedda.[2]
Little is known of his reign, and his primary notability is as the father of Rhodri the Great and founder of his dynasty, which was sometimes called the Merfynion after him.[3] Merfyn came to the throne in the aftermath of a bloody dynastic struggle between two rivals named Cynan and Hywel – generally identified with the sons of Rhodri Molwynog.[4]
The Annales Cambriae say Merfyn died around 844, the same year in which a battle occurred at Cetyll,[5] but it is unclear whether those were two unrelated events or he fell in battle.[6][7]
^Wade-Evans, Arthur. Welsh Medieval Law. 1909. Accessed 31 Jan 2013.
^The Houses of Cunedda and Rhodri Mawr, Welsh Medieval Law: The Laws of Howell the Good (1909) by Hywel ap Cadell, translated by Arthur Wade Wade-Evans
^E.g., in Charles-Edwards, T. Wales and the Britons, 350–1064. Oxford Univ. Press, 2012. Accessed 26 Feb 2012.
^Lloyd notes that some later copyists had invented a definite connection of the battle with Mercia and Merfyn, where no such connection was stated in the original source. Lloyd 1911:324, A History of Wales, Vol I.
MerfynFrych ('Merfyn the Freckled'; Old Welsh Mermin), also known as Merfyn ap Gwriad ('Merfyn son of Gwriad') and Merfyn Camwri ('Merfyn the Oppressor')...
Rhodri ap Merfyn, commonly known as Rhodri Mawr (Welsh for 'Rhodri the Great'), was a Welsh king whose legacy has impacted the history of Wales. Rhodri...
who became the next King of Gwynedd was Merfyn "Frych" (Merfyn "the Freckled"). When, however, MerfynFrych's pedigree is examined – and to the Welsh...
(complete list) – Cynan Dindaethwy, King (798–816) MerfynFrych, King (825–844) Rhodri ap Merfyn, King (844–878) Anarawd ap Rhodri, King (878–916) Kingdom...
he chiefly appears in the historical record in connection to his son MerfynFrych, King of Gwynedd from around 825 to 844 and founder of the Merfynion...
with the accession of Rhodri Mawr to the throne of Gwynedd. His father MerfynFrych ap Gwriad had seized the throne of Gwynedd on the death of the last of...
dies after an 11-year reign. The kingdom is seized by his grand-nephew, MerfynFrych of Man. Battle of Gafulford: The men of Cornish Dumnonia clash with the...
Mawr) had inherited multiple Welsh Kingdoms, Gwynedd from his father MerfynFrych (Manx Chieftain), Powys from his mother Nest and he added Seisyllwg (Ceredigion...
of his noblemen. Æthelred returns and claims his right to rule. King MerfynFrych dies after a 24-year reign. He is succeeded by his son Rhodri Mawr ("the...
manuscript found at Bamberg states that Irish visitors to the court of MerfynFrych ap Gwriad (died 844), king of Gwynedd in Wales, were given a cryptogram...
daughter of Cadell ap Brochfael, an 8th-century King of Powys, the wife of MerfynFrych, King of Gwynedd. On the death of her brother Cyngen ap Cadell in 855...
as a Welsh state would come in the next era under the descendants of MerfynFrych. Wales was rural throughout the era, characterised by small settlements...
expired. Merfyn the Freckled succeeds through his mother Esyllt, eldest daughter of Cynan Dindaethwy and niece of Hywel ap Rhodri Molwynog. MerfynFrych (Merfyn...
MerfynFrych, the father of Rhodri Mawr, had come to power in Gwynedd because the native dynasty, known as the House of Cunedda had expired. Merfyn was...
"fourth year of [the reign of] king Mermenus" (who has been identified as MerfynFrych ap Gwriad, king of Gwynedd). Historians have conservatively assigned...
the Welsh language, the modern Welsh spelling for Mervyn is Merfyn. Mervyn or MerfynFrych, king of Gwynedd (c. 825 – c. 844) Mervyn Archdall (disambiguation)...
power would not begin until the ninth century under the descendants of MerfynFrych of Gwynedd, establishing a hierarchy that would last until the Norman...
the Perfeddwlad or "Midlands". Powys was united with Gwynedd when king MerfynFrych of the Gwynedd dynasty married princess Nest ferch Cadell, daughter of...
occupied by Anglo-Saxons in 818[citation needed] but had been regained by MerfynFrych, King of Gwynedd, and remained a vital strategic settlement. To counter...
Prince of Rhos) Cynan Dindaethwy ap Rhodri (d. 816) Hywel ap Caradog MerfynFrych ap Gwriad (d. 844) Dogfael ap Cunedda Wledig (c. 410) Elno ap Dogfael...
Wales" (Welsh: "Brenin Cymry oll" Annals of Ulster; Annales Cambriae MerfynFrych 825–844 Gwynedd King of the Britons (in 829); Glorious King of the Britons...
legitimise the claims to Gwynedd of the descendants of MerfynFrych; according to some source Merfyn was her son, in others he was her husband and Esyllt...
combatants are not identified. Cynan's daughter Esyllt became the mother of MerfynFrych ap Gwriad, the first King of Gwynedd (825–844) known not to have descended...
and 1613 Davies, John (2007). History of Wales. Penguin Books. London "MERFYNFRYCH (died 844), king of Gwynedd". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National...
of his noblemen. Æthelred returns and claims his right to rule. King MerfynFrych dies after a 24-year reign. He is succeeded by his son Rhodri Mawr ("the...
began auspiciously. In the battle of Catill or Cyfeiliog, he killed King MerfynFrych of Gwynedd and later sources imply (see below) that he was able to subjugate...
later Welsh writings. The family origins of Gwriad ap Elidyr (father of MerfynFrych and grandfather of Rhodri the Great) are attributed to a Manaw and he...
of Maelgwn Gwynedd. He would be succeeded by his brother's grandson MerfynFrych. Kings of Wales family trees Various historical works assume it was an...
ferch Cadell, the daughter of the 8th century King of Powys, wife of MerfynFrych, King of Gwynedd and mother to Rhodri the Great Nest ferch Rhys (died...
797–808 Owain ap Maredudd Dyfed 808–810 Gwgon ap Meurig Seisyllwg 808–872 MerfynFrych Gwynedd 825–844 Nest ferch Cadell Cyngen ap Cadell Powys 808–855 Triffyn...
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