Rhodri ab Owain Gwynedd

Biography

Rhodri ab Owain Gwynedd (c. 1147–1195) was a Welsh prince who ruled part of the kingdom of Gwynedd from 1175 to 1195. As one of the nineteen sons of Owain Gwynedd, he found himself embroiled in the succession crisis that erupted following his father's death in 1170. Unlike many of his half-brothers who were born of various relationships, Rhodri was considered legitimate as the son of Owain's wife Cristin, sharing this status with his brother Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd.

The years immediately following Owain Gwynedd's death were marked by violent conflict among the brothers. Rhodri and Dafydd initially cooperated to eliminate rival claimants, most notably defeating and killing their half-brother Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd at the Battle of Pentraeth in 1170. Between 1170 and 1174, most of the other brothers were either killed in battle or driven into exile, leaving Rhodri and Dafydd as the primary inheritors of their father's realm. However, their alliance soon deteriorated as Dafydd sought to consolidate power, eventually capturing and imprisoning Rhodri.

Rhodri's fortunes changed dramatically in 1175 when he escaped from his brother's captivity. Demonstrating considerable political and military skill, he rallied enough support to drive Dafydd from the western portion of Gwynedd, the area situated west of the River Conwy. This military success forced a negotiated settlement between the brothers, resulting in a formal partition of Gwynedd. Under this arrangement, Rhodri controlled the western territories, including the traditional heartland around Anglesey, while Dafydd retained only the eastern portion beyond the Conwy.

Rhodri's reign was documented by Gerald of Wales in his Descriptio Cambriae, written around 1188 during Gerald's journey through Wales to raise support for the Third Crusade. Gerald's account provides valuable insights into Rhodri's court and family life, indicating that he had established his royal residence on Anglesey, likely at the traditional seat of Aberffraw. The account also reveals tensions within Rhodri's family regarding participation in the crusade, as his young male relatives initially refused to take the cross despite earnest appeals from Archbishop Baldwin. Gerald also noted Rhodri's controversial marriage to Gwenllian verch Rhys, daughter of Rhys ap Gruffydd of Deheubarth, which he characterized as incestuous due to their blood relationship in the third degree.