Angharad ferch Meurig was a princess of Seisilwig, the daughter of King Meurig of Seisilwig, and the wife of King Rhodri the Great.
Biography[]
Angharad was the daughter of King Meurig of Seisilwig, and she was married to the future King Rhodri the Great of Gwynedd to form a political alliance between the two Welsh kingdoms. After the death of her father and the drowning death of her childless brother Gwgon, Angharad and Rhodri became the caretakers of the kingdom. In 874 AD, she accompanied her husband on his campaign in Shropshire, attending the unsuccessful peace conference at Quatford before later serving as the head of the Welsh delegation to the initially successful peace meeting under the oak tree at Westbury. She concluded a peace deal with the Norwegian Viking warrior Eivor (representing Mercia and Sudreyar), by which the Britons would withdraw to their time-honored border with England (after being given a few days to evacuate Caustow Castle), and, inr eturn, the Mercians would promise to keep the peace. However, Ivar the Boneless murdered Ealdorman Ceolbert and pinned his death on a Briton trick, causing the Norse and Mercians to storm the castle, capture Rhodri, and drive the Welsh out by force. Ivar then made a "Blood Eagle" of Rhodri, only to be killed by Eivor once his treachery was discovered. Angharad was later informed that Rhodri had been killed in a violation of the truce, and that Ivar had paid the price, resolving the crisis. Her son Anarawd ap Rhodri succeeded Rhodri as King of Seisilwig, and their third son Merfyn ap Rhodri became King of Powys.