BattlefieldsBattle of Conwy 881
Early Medieval

Battle of Conwy 881

881
Caernarfonshire, Wales
Also known as: Sons of Rhodri avenge their father 881
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Caernarfonshire, Wales
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Mercia (English)
Forces
c.2,000–3,000 Mercians; major victory for sons of Rhodri Mawr.
VS
Victor
Gwynedd (sons of Rhodri Mawr)
Forces
c.2,000–3,500 Gwynedd
Outcome
Welsh victory on the Conwy; revenge for Rhodri Mawr's death; Mercian pressure on Gwynedd eased
The Battle

History & Significance

Three years after Rhodri Mawr was killed by the Mercians, his sons won a major victory at the River Conwy. The Annals of Wales record this laconically as 'God's revenge for Rhodri.' Anarawd ap Rhodri emerged as the strongest Welsh ruler following the victory and eventually acknowledged Alfred the Great as overlord — preferring the English of Wessex to the hostile Mercians. The battle stabilised the Gwynedd frontier for a generation.

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