Battles and other significant events of this period
This is a very active period in the evolvement of the Kingdoms of Britain, free of Roman dominance, there are many boundary changes as Kingdoms look to secure the better lands of their neighbourimg Kingdoms. There was conflict not only between the Brythonic kingdoms, but when you throw in the Anglo Saxon and Irish invaders and their ambitions for expansion, it gives the picture of a very violent and unstable period of history. As far as Wales is concerned the expansion of the Anglo Saxon Kingdoms of Mercia, Wessex and Northumbria are the most relevant. Wales's 180 mile long Border would have seen the most action, with the Kingdoms of Gwynedd, Powys and Gwent standing directly in the path of the Anglo Saxon advance and it is a tribute to the stoic defence by the Welsh Kingdoms of their homelands, that even after their fellow Brythonic speaking Kingdoms in Yr Hen Gogledd and Cornwall had fallen to the Anglo Saxons, they were able to maintain their independance and allow Wales to develop into the country we know today. It was at this time that the modern Welsh name for themselves - Y Cymru, and the name for Wales - Cymru, first emerged, derived from the Brythonic word combrogi meaning "fellow-countrymen". It would originally have been used in contexed to the relationship of the Welsh with the Brythonic-speaking peoples of northern England and southern Scotland, the peoples of Yr Hen Gogledd. It emphasised a perception that the Welsh and the "Men of the North" were one people, as can be seen as the Welsh kingdoms became a place of sanctuary for some of the defeated Brythonic leaders of the north during their struggles with the Anglo Saxon kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira. Towards the end of this era another invading force emerged, the Vikings and their first recorded raid in Wales was in 798.
428 Saxons started to arrive in Briton
430's Cunedda were persuaded to migrate on masse to North Wales from the northeast of Hadrian's Wall from Manau, the district centred about the modern Clackmannan, in the to drive out invaders from Ireland
447 Battle of Maesgarmon near Mold Britons defeated an alliance of Picts and Scots.
c496 Mons Badonicus The Britons under their "war leader" Arthur defeat the Saxons under King Esla of Bernicia and possibly Cerdic of Wessex. The Saxon invaders return to their own enclaves. A generation of peace ensues.
549 The "Yellow Plague" hits British and Irish territories but not the Saxon.
550 The Anglo Saxon advance resumed, but they were unable to make inroads into Wales except along the Severn Valley as far as Llanidloes.
c.570-79 Battles of Gwen Ystrad and the Cells of Berwyn The Northern British Alliance of North Rheged, Strathclyde, Bryneich and Elmet, fight the Bernicians
575 Battle of Leeming Lane Prince Owein of North Rheged kills King Theodoric of Bernicia at the Battle of Leeming Lane
577 Battle of Deorham (nr Bath) The Anglo Saxon Chronicle records that the Kingdom of Wessex defeated the Brythonic Kingdoms of Devon and Cornwall, and as a result took the three strategically important towns of Gloucester, Cirencester and Bath. These towns were both wealthy and relatively sophisticated, and their loss was a heavy blow to the Britons. It also cut off land contact between the Brythonic Kingdoms of Wales from those in Devon and Cornwall, and also began the differentiation of Welsh and Cornish into two separate languages
580 Battle of Caer Greu Kings Peredyr and Gwrgi of the Brythonic Kingdom of Ebrauc (York) are killed fighting the Angles of Bernicia.
588 King Aelle of Deira is ousted from his Kingdom by the Bernicians and seeks refuge at the court of King Iago of Gwynedd.
590 Siege of Lindisfarne The Siege of Lindisfarne. The Brythonic alliance of North Rheged, Strathclyde, Bryneich and Elmet almost exterminates Bernicia, but the Northumbrians recover while internal squabbles tear the Brythonic alliance apart.
c.591 The Kingdoms of Dunoting (Northern Pennines) and Elmet invades North Rheged, but are repulsed by its King, Owein, and his brother, Prince Pasgen.
c.593 The kingdom of Bryneich invades North Rheged and kills King Owein, Prince Pasgen flees to the Gower Peninsula.
595 Bernicia overruns The Kingdoms of Dunoting (Northern Pennines), killing King Dunaut Bwr, his family flee to Gwynedd.
598 Battle of Catterick Kings Mynyddog Mwynfawr of Din-Eidyn (Edinburgh) and Cynan of Gododdin (Scottish Borders) defeat the Bernician army of Aethelfrith.
c.600 - Welsh bard, Prince Aneirin of the Northern Pennines, writes the poem, Y Gododdin, recording the events of the Battle of Catterick
601 - The Synod of Chester. Death of St. Asaph, Bishop of Llanelwy.
602 - St. Augustine of Canterbury meets with the Welsh Bishops at Aust near Chepstow. He accuses them of acting contrary to Church teachings, failing to keep Easter at the prescribed Roman time and not administering baptism according to the Roman rite. He also insists that they help in the conversion of their enemy, the Saxons, and look to Canterbury as their spiritual centre. The Welsh tactfully decline.
604 - The Welsh Bishops meet for a second time with St. Augustine of Canterbury. He neglects to rise to greet them, lectures them again and insists they submit to him. The Welsh send him packing. They refuse to recognise the authority of a church within their enemies' territory under such a disrespectful bishop.
604 King Aethelfrith of Bernicia invades Deira and kills its king Aethelric. Prince Edwin flees to the Court of King Iago of Gwynedd.
613 The Battle of Chester King Aethelfrith invaded the Gwynedd in order to stop King Iago restoring Edwin, to the Deiran throne. The joint armies of Gwynedd, Powys, Pengwern & Dumnonia attempted to repel him, but were heavily defeated with King Iago, King Selyf Sarffgadau of Powys and Prince Cadwal Cryshalog of Rhos being killed. The battle was made infamous by Ethelfrith's orders to slay the monks of Bangor-Is-Coed because although they bore no arms, they were praying for a Northumbria defeat, Bede says that about 1200 were killed and only 50 escaped. The significance of this battle was that it severed the land connection between the Welsh Kingdoms and their allies in the kingdoms of the Yr Hen Gogledd. From this point on control of the strategically important Chester passed to the English and the kingdom of Pengwern (Shrewsbury) became vulnerable to attack from Mercia
613 Battle of Bangor-is-Coed Northumbrians killed Bledric ap Custennin, King of Dumnonia (Devon)
c.614 - Proposed annexation of Powys by the Dogfeiling Prince, Eluan Powys, with the help of his brother, King Cynddylan of Pengwern, "oppressor of the Cadelling". The sons of the Cadelling king, Selyf Sarffgadau of Powys, are later described as "landless oafs". The Tarvin-Macefen boundary between Powys and Mercia is delineated.
616 Battle at the Idle River (nr Nottingham) King Edwin of Deira, conquers Northumbria, killing Aethelfrith
617 King Edwin of Deira conquers Elmet.
c.620 - King Tewdrig Fendigaid of Glywysing & Gwent abdicates in favour of his son, Meurig. King Llywarch Hen is expelled from South Rheged, probably by King Edwin of Deira. Llywarch flees to Powys and becomes a famous bard.
c.623 King Edwin of Deira is baptised by Prince Rhun of North Rheged at the Royal Court of Gwynedd.
625 - King Cadfan of Gwynedd dies and is buried at Llangadwaladr where his memorial stone can still be seen. His son, King Cadwallon, succeeds to the throne. St. Tysilio re-founds the Monastery of Meifod.
c.626 The rivalry between King Edwin of Deira and King Cadwallon of Gwynedd, which has grown since childhood, reaches a climax. Edwin invades and conquers Anglesey and the Isle of Man. The defeated Cadwallon is besieged on Puffin Island (off Anglsey), from where he eventually flees to Brittany.
630 The Battle of Pont y Saeson Tewdrig King of Gwent had abdicated in favour of his son, Meurig and became a hermit at Tintern. Soon afterward, however the West Saxons invaded Gwent and in particular raided the monasteries including Tintern, so Tewdrig together with Meurig, once more took up arms and drove back the Saxon. But Tewdrig was wounded and had to be taken to Flat Holm in the Bristol Channel for treatment. An ox-cart was called to take him there but, on their journey, the oxen stopped at a spring (now known as St.Tewdrig's Well), where Tewdrig's wounds were cleansed. However he died soon after, so Meurig built a great church on the spot which became known as Merthyr-Teyryn (Mathern). Tewdrig later became known as St Tewdrig
c.630 The Battle of the Long Mountain (nr Welshpool) King Penda of Mercia besieges Exeter and allies with Cadwallon of Gwynedd returning from exile in Brittany, they march north and re-take Gwynedd. Cadwallon chases the Deirans back to Northumbria, and ransacks the Kingdom.
632 The West Saxons cross into Wales and defeat King Idris of Meirionydd on the Severn.
633 Battle of Hatfield Chase (nr Doncaster) Cadwallon ap Cadfan King of Gwynedd in alliance with Penda of Mercia, defeated and killed Edwin of Northumbria, the Anglo Saxon Chronicle says that, following the victory at Hatfield Chase, Cadwallon and Penda went on to ravage "the whole land" of the Northumbrians.
634 Battle of Heavenfield (Hexham, Yorkshire, close to Hadrians Wall) The feud between King Cadwallon of Gwynedd against Northumbria had continued, as he slays both King Eanfrith of Bernicia and Osric of Deira rather than negotiate peace terms with them. Oswald succeeds in Bernicia and Acha in Deira. Cadwallon again brought a huge army north into Northumbria to fight Oswald. He advanced up the old Roman road called Dere Street, and when the Welsh arrived in the north they were were heavily exhausted from their long journey. Oswalds' men however were alert and ready for the fight, and despite being outnumbered defeated and killed Cadwallan.
c.635 - King Meurig of Glywysing & Gwent invades Ergyng and re-unites the two kingdoms in the right of his wife.
640 - Death of St. Tysilio, Abbot of Meifod.
642 Battle of Maserfield (Oswestry) Penda in alliance with Kings Cadafael Cadomedd of Gwynedd, Eluan of Powys and Cynddylan of Pengwern defeated and killed Oswald. According to Bede, Penda had Oswald's body dismembered, with his head, hands and arms being placed onto stakes.
c.645 - Gwynedd and much of Wales is in the grasp of famine. Would be King Cadwaladr Fendigaid of Gwynedd flees to Brittany. Civil War continues in his kingdom.
c.650 - King Cloten of Dyfed marries Princess Ceindrech of Brycheiniog and unites the two kingdoms
655–658 Oswiu of Northumbria (Oswalds' brother) campaigned in Wales, imposing tribute on the Welsh kings who had previously been Penda's allies such as Cadafael, King of Gwynedd.
655 - Battle of Winwaed King Cadafael Cadomedd of Gwynedd and his army join King Penda of Mercia and march on the Northumbrians. Penda clashes with King Oswiu, but Cadafael withdraws before the battle begins.
c.655 - King Morfael of Pengwern retakes Wall (Staffs).
656 - King of Oswiu of Northumbria invades Pengwern and kills King Cynddylan in battle. His brother, King Morfael, and the remains of the family flee to Glastening. Mercians take control of Pengwern and may have invaded Powys at this time
662 - Death of King Brochfael of Meirionydd
664 - Plague devastates Gwynedd. Probable death of King Cadafael Cadomedd there. King Cadwaladr Fendigaid of Gwynedd reasserts himself in his kingdom by sending his son, Ifwr, from Brittany to be regent. The Synod of Whitby determines that the Northern British should comply with the doctrines of Rome.
665 - The conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity ("first Easter of the Saxons")
675 - 704 Rule of Aethred I of Mercia (Pendas' son). During this period the English kingdoms of Mercia, Wessex and Northumbria were very strong . Aethelred was preoccupied with war with the Welsh
688 - King Cadwaladr Fendigaid of Gwynedd dies on a pilgrimage to Rome.
704 - 709 Rule of Ceonrad of Mercia. Contemporary records state that he faced attacks from the Welsh
c.710 - King Seisyll of Ceredigion invades Dyfed and conquers Ystrad Towi to create the greater kingdom of Seisyllwg. A reduced Dyfed and Brycheiniog both appear to have taken on the name of Rhainwg: King Rhain's kingdom now sliced in two.
712 - Death of King Idwal Iwrch of Gwynedd
716 - 757 Rule of Aethelbald King of Mercia The Anglo Saxon Chronicle tells that Aethelbald had to go to war to maintain his overlordship. In particular in 733 and 740 against Wessex, and in 743 against the Welsh. It was Aethebald who constructed Wats Dyke, which is a 40 mile eathwork bank and ditch which runs from Basingwerk Abbey on the River Dee estuary to Maesbury, east of Oswestry, the ditch is on the western side, meaning that the dyke faces Wales and by implication can been seen as protecting the English lands to the east. It was probably built with King Elisedd ap Gwylog of Powys's agreement as it gives Oswestry to Powys.
c.720 - Contact between the Welsh Church and Yvi of Brittany is the last known link between the two Celtic countries. After this, each nation goes its own separate way.
c.730 - Civil War between King Tewdr of Brycheiniog and a rival claimant to his throne, his cousin, Awst. The latter is slain. Tewdr is persuaded to live in peace with Awst's son, Elwystl.
c.731 - King Elisedd of Powys expels the Mercians from his kingdom.
c.740 - Death of King Rhain of Dyfed & Brycheiniog. His kingdoms are divided between his two sons.
743 - Kings Aethelbald of Mercia and Ceolred of Wessex join forces to attack Gwent and Powys.
c.750 - Prince Elidyr ap Sandde moves the exiled Royal House of South Rheged from Powys to the Isle of Man. King Tewdr of Brycheiniog breaks the peace with his cousin, Elwystl, and murders him.
754 - Death of King Rhodri Molwynog of Gwynedd. His sons, Kings Cynan Tindaethwy and Hywel succeed to the throne.
760 - The Battle of Hereford is fought probably between the Mercians and the Kingdom of Brycheiniog under King Nowy Hen. Death of King Dumnagual of Strathclyde.
768 - Archbishop Elfoddw of Gwynedd persuades the Welsh Church to accept the Roman dating of Easter as agreed by the Northern British Church at the Synod of Whitby.
784 - Construction of Offa's Dyke, the artificial bank and ditch boundary between England and Wales, is begun at the command of King Offa of Mercia.
c.795 - Quarrels between Kings Cynan Tindaethwy and Hywel leave the way open for Caradog ap Meirchion (of the House of Rhos) to usurp the throne of Gwynedd.
796 Battle of Rhuddlan Fought after Prince Caradoc of Gwynedd fought and lost to the King of Mercia and Powys and Dyfed had tried to regain control, Maredudd, king of Dyfed was killed.
798 - King Caradog of Gwynedd is killed fighting the Mercians of King Coenwulf in Snowdonia. Kings Cynan Tindaethwy and Hywel retake the throne
821 Battle at Basingwerk (nr Hollywell in Flintshire) where the Mercian king, Cenwulf was killed. The power of Mercia then declined with the Kingdom of Wessex becoming all powerful and its king becoming King of England