Rhodri Molwynog ("Rhodri the Bald and Grey"; reigned c. 720 – c. 754, died circa 754), also known as Rhodri ap Idwal ("Rhodri son of Idwal") was an 8th century king of Gwynedd. He was listed as a

King of the Britons The title King of the Britons (, ) was used (often retrospectively) to refer to a ruler, especially one who might be regarded as the most powerful, among the Celtic Britons, both before and after the period of Roman Britain up until the Norman ...

by the ''Annals of Wales''. This era in the history of Gwynedd is very obscure and, given the lack of reliable information available, several serious histories of

medieval Wales Wales in the Middle Ages covers the history of the country that is now called Wales, from the departure of the Romans in the early fifth century to the annexation of Wales into the Kingdom of England in the early sixteenth century. This period ...

– including John Davies's – do not mention Rhodri at all, while others – including John Lloyd's – mention him only in passing, quoting the undated entry of the ''Annals of Wales'' recording his death., ''Annales Cambriæ'', . Phillimore's reconstruction places the entry in the year 754. The ''Annals'' do not mention the death of an earlier king within a reasonable time frame, so the date that he became king is not known, nor is the name of his predecessor. Rhodri's name also appears in genealogies such as those in Jesus College MS. 20 (where he is described as the son of Idwal Iwrch son of Cadwaladr Fendigiad) and the

Harleian genealogies __NOTOC__ The Harleian genealogies are a collection of Old Welsh genealogies preserved in British Library, Harley MS 3859. Part of the Harleian Library, the manuscript, which also contains the '' Annales Cambriae'' (Recension A) and a version of ...

(where he is described as the son of Tutgual son of Cadwaladr). It remains, however, unclear to what extent the genealogies at that point were recording the lineage of the Cuneddion dynasty regardless of their rule or recording the rulers regardless of their connection to the main branch of the dynasty. The ''Annals of Wales'' mention a war in kingdom of Cornwall around 722 without giving the names of the individuals involved. The '' Brut y Saeson Chronicle'' says that in 721 there was "an extensive war between Rhodri Molwynawg and the Saxons in Cornwall". The ''Brut Aberpergwm'' also recorded this event but, while it was accepted for a time by the editors of '' The Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales'', Thomas Stephens has since shown that it was one of

Iolo Morganwg Edward Williams, better known by his bardic name Iolo Morganwg (; 10March 174718December 1826), was a Welsh antiquarian, poet and collector.Jones, Mary (2004)"Edward Williams/Iolo Morganwg/Iolo Morgannwg" From ''Jones' Celtic Encyclopedia''. R ...

's many forgeries., ''The Book of Aberpergwm''. The ''Rotri'' appearing in the ''Annals'' has sometimes been misidentified as a ruler of Alt Clut (modern

Dumbarton Rock Dumbarton (; , or ; or , meaning 'fort of the Britons') is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on the north bank of the River Clyde where the River Leven flows into the Clyde estuary. In 2006, it had an estimated population of 19,99 ...

), the Brythonic kingdom later known as

Strathclyde Strathclyde ( in Welsh language, Welsh; in Scottish Gaelic, Gaelic, meaning 'strath

alley An alley or alleyway is a narrow lane, footpath, path, or passageway, often reserved for pedestrians, which usually runs between, behind, or within buildings in towns and cities. It is also a rear access or service road (back lane), or a path, w ...

of the River Clyde') was one of nine former Local government in Scotland, local government Regions and districts of Scotland, regions of Scotland cre ...

.MacQuarrie, p. 11. He was succeeded by Caradog ap Meirion.

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* * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rhodri Molwynog Year of birth unknown 750s deaths Year of death uncertain Monarchs of Gwynedd 8th-century Welsh monarchs

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