Welsh History
By Peter N. WilliamsLesson 1: The Beginnings of a Nation
A Unified Nation
Unit Four: A Unified Nation
In the 8th Century, the sea became the pathway of the marauding Vikings, intent on voyages of plunder and easy pickings from the poorly defended, but richly endowed monastic communities of the Celtic Church. Place names all round the Welsh coast signify to the Viking presence, including Anglesey and Great Orme in the North, and Swansea, Flat Holme, Skomer and others in the South.
In the latter half of the ninth century, the danger presented by the terrifying sight of the long, high-prowed Viking ships did produce an enormous benefit to Wales where the need arose for political unity under strong leaders to defend their own property and that of the Church. In 855 A.D., through skilful alliances and practical marriages, the warrior king Rhodri Mawr (Rhodri the Great) became king of Powys as well as much of the rest of Wales. Successful in warding off Danish attacks, even killing in battle the Viking leader Gorm, Rhodri gave his country a short but welcome period of unity and stability.
Unfortunately for the future of an independent Wales, Rhodri Mawr’s death in 878 A.D. was followed by a period of internal strife, and the alliance of his sons with Alfred led to Wales's dependence upon the English king for protection. Dependence upon its stronger neighbor to the east became more or less a permanent feature of the subsequent history of Wales, always struggling, but seldom able to break its chains.
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