Merfyn Frych facts for kids
Merfyn Frych ('Merfyn the Freckled'), also known as Merfyn ap Gwriad ('Merfyn son of Gwriad'), was a King of Gwynedd in Wales. He ruled from about 825 to 844. He was the first king of Gwynedd who was not directly related by male family members to the famous King Cunedda.
Not much is known about Merfyn's time as king. He is mainly remembered as the father of Rhodri the Great, who became a very important Welsh ruler. Merfyn's family, sometimes called the Merfynion, started with him. He became king after a difficult power struggle between two rivals named Cynan and Hywel.
Old records, called the Annales Cambriae, say that Merfyn died around 844. A battle happened in Cetyll that same year, but it's not clear if he died in that battle or from something else.
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Wales in Merfyn's Time
The years before Merfyn became king were tough for both Gwynedd and its neighbor, Powys. Both kingdoms faced many problems:
- Internal Fights: There were arguments and battles among their own ruling families.
- Outside Attacks: The powerful kingdom of Mercia (in what is now England) often attacked Wales.
- Bad Luck: Nature also caused problems. In 810, a disease killed many cattle, which was a big deal because cattle were a main source of wealth. In 811, lightning struck the old wooden royal court (called a llys) at Deganwy.
Between 812 and 816, a destructive war happened in Gwynedd. In 818, a big battle took place at Llanfaes on Anglesey. This area was once the home of King Cynan.
Mercia took advantage of these problems. In 817, King Coenwulf of Mercia took over an area called Rhufoniog (see map). He also attacked the mountains of Snowdonia. Mercia likely controlled the coast near the Dee Estuary until 821, as King Coenwulf died peacefully at Basingwerk that year. In 823, Mercia attacked Powys and returned to Gwynedd to burn Deganwy to the ground.
Luckily for Gwynedd and Powys, Mercia's power started to fade.
- King Beornwulf of Mercia was killed in 826 while fighting the East Anglians.
- His successor, Ludeca, was also killed the next year.
- In 829, Mercia was taken over by King Ecgberht of Wessex.
Even though Mercia managed to become independent again in 830, it faced its own internal problems. It never became as powerful as it once was, which gave the Welsh kingdoms a chance to recover.
Merfyn's Family
Merfyn's connection to the earlier royal family came through his mother, Esyllt. She was the daughter of King Cynan (who died after 816). This means Merfyn's claim to the throne was through his mother, not his father, Gwriad ap Elidyr. We don't know much about Merfyn's father, Gwriad, or how Merfyn became king.
Merfyn said his father, Gwriad, was a descendant of Llywarch Hen, a famous Welsh poet and prince. An old family tree record says Gwriad was the son of Elidyr. This Elidyr had the same name as an ancestor of Llywarch Hen. This record seems true because the Annales Cambriae mentions a Gwriad, who was the brother of Rhodri the Great, being killed by Saxons on Anglesey. This means Merfyn named one of his sons after his father, Gwriad.
A cross found on the Isle of Man (a small island between Great Britain and Ireland) is called Crux Guriat (meaning 'Cross of Gwriad'). It dates back to the 8th or 9th century. This made some wonder if Merfyn's father, Gwriad, had a connection to the Isle of Man. One idea is that Gwriad might have gone to the Isle of Man to escape the fighting between Cynan and Hywel before Merfyn became king. The cross might be for him.
The Welsh Triads, a collection of old Welsh stories, also mention a 'Gwryat son of Gwryan in the North'. This Gwriad is listed as one of the "Three kings, who were of the sons of strangers." However, this Gwriad's father is Gwryan, which is different from the royal family tree that says Gwriad's father was Elidir. So, there might have been two different people named Gwriad.
Merfyn made his royal family stronger by marrying Nest. She was the daughter or sister of King Cadell ap Brochfael of Powys. This marriage created a link between the royal families of Gwynedd and Powys.
Merfyn's Rule
Very little is known about what happened during Merfyn's time as king. One historian suggests that Merfyn was probably among the Welsh kings defeated by Ecgberht, the King of Wessex, in 830. However, we don't know how this affected Merfyn's rule.
Merfyn is mentioned as a king of the Britons in some old writings. But these writings were made by people who worked for Merfyn himself. So, these mentions might just be respectful ways of talking about their boss.
Merfyn's name also appears in an old Welsh poem called Dialogue between Myrddin and his sister Gwenddydd. This poem, found in a book from the 1200s, predicts future kings. It mentions "Merfyn Frych of the land of Manau."
Merfyn's Children
- Rhodri the Great
- Gwriad
- Anarawd ap Merfyn
See also
- List of rulers of Gwynedd
- Kings of Wales family trees
Images for kids
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A general map of Gwynedd showing the cantrefi
