Hywel ap Caradog (
Welsh for 'Hywel son of Caradog') was
King of Gwynedd (reigned c. 816 – c. 825). He rose to power following a destructive dynastic struggle in which he deposed King
Cynan Dindaethwy (reigned c. 798 – c. 816). During Hywel's reign, Gwynedd's power was largely confined to
Anglesey. It was a time of substantial territorial loss to
Mercia.
A destructive war between King Cynan and Hywel raged on Anglesey between 812 and 816, ultimately ending with Cynan's defeat and banishment, and Hywel's rise to the throne.[5]Coenwulf of Mercia took advantage of Gwynedd's weakness in 817, occupying
Rhufoniog (see map) and laying waste to the mountains of Eryri (English: Snowdonia), the defensive stronghold of Gwynedd. In 818 there was a notable battle at
Llanfaes on Anglesey. The combatants are not identified, but the site had been the llys (English: royal court) of King Cynan.[6][note 1]
Coastal Wales along the
Dee Estuary was still in
Mercian hands in 821, as it is known that Coenwulf died peacefully at
Basingwerk in that year. In 823 Mercia laid waste to Powys and returned to Gwynedd to burn down
Deganwy.
Hywel was the last King of Gwynedd in the male line of
Maelgwn Gwynedd. He would be succeeded by his brother's grandson
Merfyn Frych.
^Various historical works assume it was an invasion by the
Mercians, by
Ecgberht of Wessex, or by the
Vikings, but there is no authority for those claims. As it took place at Cynan's llys, it could as easily have been a consequence of the dynastic struggle won by Hywel, but now between Hywel and Cynan's supporters.
^Phillimore 1887:89 – his pedigree is given as: Howel. M. Crada6c. M. meircha6n. M. Howel. M. Runya6n. M. Einya6n. M. Idwm. M. Cadwall. M. meic. M. Ewein. M. Cenlas. M. Ewein danwyn. M. Einya6n yrth. M. Cuneda Wledic.
^Phillimore 1887:87 – his pedigree is given as: ... Cynan tintaeth6y. M. Rodri mol6yna6c. M. Idwal I6rch. M. Kadwaladyr vendigeit. M. Katwalla6n. M. Kad6ga6n. M. Iago. M. Beli. M. Run hir. M. Maelg6n g6yned ..., and from there back to
Cunedda.