844-877: THE REIGN OF RHODRI MAWR (RHODRI THE GREAT)
In 844 Rhodri ap Merfyn became king only of Gwynedd, but by the time of his death in 877, he had united all of Wales under his rule. His reign certainly did much to heighten the Welsh consciousness of being one people. In 856, Rhodri killed the Viking leader the "black pagan" Horme, restricting Danish occupation of Wales to a few scattered ports and trading posts (Norse names survive at Llandudno (the Great Orme), Swansea (Sweyn's Ey) and some small islands in the Bristol Channel.
Despite further raids in the 10th and 11th centuries the Vikings never settled in Wales in the way they did elsewhere. However they may still have influenced the natives. In the eleventh century Gruffudd ap Cynan, son of a Welsh king, attempted to re-establish his family's reign in Anglesey. He failed at his first attempt, but was able to retreat to safety in Dublin, as his mother was a Dublin Viking. When he returned he was more successful, and was accepted as the ruler of Anglesey by the English king.
As well as the excavation of a possible raid site, and Gruffudd ap Cynan's links to Viking Dublin, the very name Anglesey might have Norse roots. It is thought to come from Ongul's ey. Perhaps the Welsh island was named after a Viking called Ongul.
Historical sources record a series of terrifying attacks by Viking marauders on the coasts of Britain, France, and Ireland from the last decade of the 8th century. Wales also suffered raids, but to judge from the Welsh annals, Welsh armies avoided yielding large tracts of land to the newcomers.
Archaeology seems broadly to confirm that the Vikings failed to colonise Wales to any significant extent. Recent excavations at Llanbedrgoch on Anglesey have produced evidence of cultural and trading links with the Viking world - and possible later Viking settlement. One or two other places have been claimed as sites of Viking occupation, while a few Viking burials and hoards around the coastline, and increasing numbers of stray Viking finds, suggest occasional contact. But there is little else.
The first recorded raid on Wales was in 852,Rhodri Mawr (Rhodri the Great), ruler of Gwynedd from 844-77/8, led the initial resistance,
In 903 Dublin Vikings led by Ingimund came to Anglesey after expulsion from Ireland. Expelled again by the Welsh, they sailed east to Chester,
The second phase of raiding started about 950, following the death of Hywel Dda, king of Gwynedd and Deheubarth (South-West Wales). There were numerous raids on the coastal lowlands, and in particular on religious centres, such as Penmon and Caer Gybi (Anglesey), Clynnog Fawr (Caernarfonshire), Tywyn (Merionethshire), St David's, which was attacked 11 times between 967 and 1091, and St Dogmaels (Pembrokeshire), Llanbadarn Fawr (Cardiganshire), Llantwit Major and Llancarfan (Glamorgan). In comparison with the fate of churches in Ireland, Wales appears to have suffered lightly,
At times, the Welsh and West Saxons co-operated against the Vikings. During the 890s, a large Viking army landed in England and, with reinforcements from the Danelaw, ravaged Mercia and approached the Welsh border. A West Saxon force overtook them and won a victory at Buttington in 893 According to the Saxon Chronicle of AEthelweard, the Saxons were supported by `some portion of the Welsh people'. Again in 914, a Viking fleet from Brittany ravaged the coast of South Wales and penetrated the Wye Valley, capturing the bishop of Llandaff, Cyfeiliog.
The Norse language has made a negligible impact on Welsh - a fact the chronicler Gerald of Wales noticed in the 1180s. Place-names also suggest minimal Viking settlement. Some prominent coastal features, used as navigational points, were given Scandinavian names. There are also some Scandinavian-style settlement names combined with personal names,
A small Viking-age hoard of English coins was found in 1845 near the cathedral at Bangor, possibly representing a burial for safekeeping at a time of insecurity during the 960s. Viking silver hoards include a set of pristine armlets from Red Wharf Bay on Anglesey, and a Scandinavian coin hoard (which included some Arabic coins) buried at Bangor in about 925.
There are no Viking cemeteries known in Wales, By contrast, the lone man buried on the beach near Llanbedrgoch with a bone comb was perhaps a Viking who had remained a pagan - either a settler who had chosen not to adopt Christianity or a trader, buried within sight of the sea, who happened to die during an expedition to Anglesey.
The Vikings were venturesome seafarers. From Denmark, Norway and Sweden they spread through Europe and the North Atlantic in the period of vigorous Scandinavian expansion (AD 800-1050) known as the Viking Age.
Although they are often thought of primarily as raiders, the Vikings were also traders, explorers and settlers. Behind them they left a legacy not only of archaeological remains, but also of family names, place names and fieldnames. Their "remains" can be found in local dialects and customs, in folk tales and oral traditions, and of course in the genetic make up of the local people themselves.
A Viking raid nearly always came as a total surprise. The Vikings were expert navigators and knew the coasts of Europe like the back of their hand. They decided on a target and planned the attack in advance. Having the fastest ships of the day they would arrive seemingly out of nowhere close to the target and storm ashore ready to attack.
If needed, they could row their ships up rivers and if the target was some distance from the river they would leave their ships, round up available local horses and head for the church, convent or village of their choice. They often had superior weapons and were well trained, and usually got what they wanted. After the raid they would return to their ships and sail away.
For the people attacked it was difficult to organise a defence, because of the speed with which everything happened. The effect on the people then would be similar today to an attack by troops brought in by helicopters to attack a peaceful small town.
The Viking ships, both the Longship and the merchant ship or 'Kn�rr', could equally well handle ocean voyages across the Atlantic. Neither needed a harbour, but could land on beaches or riverbanks anywhere.
Llanbedrgoch in Wales has now been identified as a Scandinavian settlement and contains a plethora of archaeological information.
This is a noted difference from such larger trade areas and towns such as Chester.
In 893, Alfred drove the Chester Danes out of the Midlands and forced them to move into Wales by destroying both of their corn and cattle.
Alfred was a key point of resistance in England of the Danish Vikings.
However, King Alfred also sent military support to Gwynedd during the second half of the ninth century to help suppress the Viking onslaught in exchange for submission from the Welsh kings.
Between 918 and 952, Wales was fairly liberated from Norse aggression.
According to Snorri, Olaf Tryggvason was accredited with raiding Wales around 990.
Olaf was also said to have been actively engaged in raiding the other neighbouring areas of Cumberland, France, Hebrides, Isle of Man, Northumbria, and Scotland.
During the eleventh century, it is believed that the Dublin Vikings possibly controlled Gwynedd. |
