Vengeance for Rhodri: the Battle of Conwy

In 878 Rhodri Mawr was killed by the English, together with his son Gwriad. The Annales Cambriae records their deaths at the hands of “the Saxons”, but gives no location. Documented: Annales Cambriae, death entry labelled 877 in the linked translation; dated 878 by J. E. Lloyd Historian J. E. Lloyd identifies Rhodri’s killers as Mercians. Documented: J. E. Lloyd, Dictionary of Welsh Biography, “Anarawd ap Rhodri”

The Battle

Three years later, in 881, the Mercians were defeated on the banks of the River Conwy. Lloyd identifies Rhodri’s son Anarawd, who had succeeded him in Gwynedd, as the victor. Documented: J. E. Lloyd, Dictionary of Welsh Biography, “Anarawd ap Rhodri”

The Annales Cambriae records the event in a few words:

The battle of Conwy. Vengeance for Rhodri at God's hand.

Documented: Annales Cambriae, Conwy entry labelled 880 in the linked translation; battle dated 881 by J. E. Lloyd

The short annal entry does not name either commander or identify the opposing army. It does, however, explicitly connect the battle with vengeance for Rhodri.

Sources

• Annales Cambriae, English translation, Internet Medieval Sourcebook, Fordham University. The relevant entries are labelled 877 and 880 in this translation.
• J. E. Lloyd, “Anarawd ap Rhodri”, Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Gives the dates 878 and 881 and identifies the Mercian connection and Anarawd’s victory.

The Mercian army was probably led by Æthelred, Lord of the Mercians. A later Welsh genealogical account names the commander as “Edryd Long-Hair”, who is generally identified with Æthelred. Inferred

What Came After

Victory at Conwy was not the end of Anarawd’s dealings with the powers beyond Wales. Asser, writing his Life of King Alfred in 893, describes Anarawd and an unnamed brother abandoning their friendship with the Northumbrians and seeking Alfred’s support. According to Asser, that earlier friendship had brought Anarawd “no good but harm”. Documented: Asser, Life of King Alfred, chapter 80

Alfred received Anarawd honourably, gave him gifts and became his sponsor at confirmation. Asser says Anarawd then became subject to Alfred with all his people, on the same terms as Æthelred and the Mercians. Documented: Asser, Life of King Alfred, chapter 80

Further Reading

• Annales Cambriae (Annals of Wales), English translation, entries recording the deaths of Rhodri and Gwriad and the battle of Conwy. These are labelled 877 and 880 in this translation, rather than the 878 and 881 used in this article.
• Asser, Life of King Alfred, translated by Albert S. Cook, chapter 80, “The Welsh Princes who submit to Alfred”, for Anarawd’s Northumbrian alliance and subsequent submission to Alfred.
• J. E. Lloyd, “Anarawd ap Rhodri”, Dictionary of Welsh Biography, for Anarawd’s succession, the victory at Conwy and relations with neighbouring powers.
• Thomas Jones Pierce, “Rhodri Mawr”, Dictionary of Welsh Biography, for an overview of Rhodri’s rule and dynasty. This entry dates his death to 877.