Thy Serpentine Invictus: formerly known as Thy Serpentine Glorious
My third and final attempt at creating a TL wherein the welsh kingdom of Gwynedd does not falter & Alfred The Great dies sooner than in OTL with no heirs. The POD for this timeline is that Rhodri Mawr does not die at the battle of Afon Conwy and survives but his sons save one, Anarawd do not survive the battles they are involved in.
Autumn. 876 Anno Domini.
Welsh forces are routed by Mercian forces led by Alfred of Mercia[1] who send King Rhodri Mawr of Gwynedd back over the Afon Conwy with his son Gwriad. Gwriad is wounded mortally and passes away a day later from an infection of the blood. Rhodri survives despite terrible injuries sustained by the Saxons.
Rhodri quickly realises he has not much time left on this earth and so begins to tutor his remaining sons, Anarawd, Cadell & Merfyn in the ways of his forefathers and the old ways. He quickly dispatches men across the land not yet conquered by the Saxons in the hope of securing a more stable peace between the remaining independent provinces of Cymru[2].
Winter 876m, Anno Domini
Rhodri Mawr begins to create seperate domains for his sons to rule over after his demise. The kingdoms of Gwynedd, Deheubarth & the principality of Powys were formed with each going to Anarawd, Cadell & Merfyn respectively.
Christmas Eve. Rhodri Mawr passes away and leaves his tri-partitioned holdings to his sons. It was on Boxing Day that the Kingdom of Cymru would see more tragedies with Cadell & Merfyn ap Rhodri, King of Deheubarth & Prince of Powys perishing in battle against the Norse of Dublin upon Ynys Mon[3][4] and to their youngest brother Anarawd they left them their lands, a young man only seventeen years of age now inherited two kingdoms and a principality and over a thousand years of leagcy and tradition within the space of two days. Just as Christ was born upon the 25th December, so too was the Welsh nation during this time.
Late Winter/Early Spring, 877 Anno Domini
"Dduw's ddial achos Rhodri! Dduw's ddial achos Rhodri cyflawnedig!"[5]
The weeks had passed and news of increasing Norse activity against the Mercians had proved good news to the men of Cymru and indeed to the would be King for Anarawd had yet to be coronated and refused to until he had gained what he referred to as "God's vengeance for Rhodri"
At Afon Conwy, where Alfred of Mercia had sent his nemesis and respected rival Rhodri Mawr, king of Gwynedd & the Britons fleeing wounded into the hills of Cymru, here the tables would be turned possibly with Anarawd, a well respected but relatively untested warrior whose first true battle was against Alfred, a well versed poet and fighter, a man who by all accounts was the true definition ifof what a King should be. The time had come.
The river of Afon Conwy was crossed by Anarawd who wished for a swift and decisive victory over Alfred but despite having the upper hand with knowledge of the terrain and twice the manpower Anarawd found victory harder to come by than he had thought. A stalemate occurred with both sides retreating to their sides of the river ready for the next day.
Anarawd under the advice of his advisors now began moving a great host of men almost 5000 to the mouth of the river to draw away some of Alfgred's more eager and less disciplined forces. The ruse had worked and 7000 men had quickly marched to meet the forces of Anarawd knowing full weel the area was boggy marshland, unsuitable for the cavalry of Alfred's men. One by one they feel to the archers lined up opposite them, a victory had been won today with half of the Mercian forces routed by Anarawd's men. News of this lure had angered Alfred who now began to grow weary of toying with 'the child' as he referred to the young welsh prince.
February 14th, the day of Saint Valentine. 877 Anno Domini.
The remnant forces of Alfred began to march on the mighth river that for today rushed not like a torrent, allowing both sides to easily cross and fight. On the Mercian side of the Conwy the forces met with 18,000 men of Cymru againt 11,350 Mercian soldiers and a thousand more mercenaries employed by Alfred. The superior training and tactics of Alfred seemed to pay off with two welshmen killed for every one saxon struck down and with the ranks of Anarawd thinning Alfred seized the momentum and began to encricle the armies of Anarawd but forgetting one fatal flaw, the river itself. As the battle raged on the actual combat began shifting towards the ambush site used previously against Alfred, it was here the cavalry of the Mercians once again in their attempt to smash the lines of Anarawd became trapped allowing the men of Cymru to hack their way through animal and man and reduce the deficit and turn the tide of this battle in the favour of the Britons.
By nightfall it was concluded, the armies of Alfred were removed from the soil of Cymru by death or by them fleeing. Anarawd had claimed a great victory but also had garnered the wrath of Alfred, a man not so easily bested. And upon the day of love and romance, Anarawd had crushed in his own words, 'one of the the finest generals to have been born upon these shores and despite being foreign, he would be a great Cymraen[6]"
Late February, 877 Anno Domini.
Alfred the great had suffered defeat after defeat culminating in his withdrawal form Cymru and also the northernmost borders of Mercia that touched the Norse kingdom of Jorvik, commonly known as the Danelaw. Alfred retreated to his fortress in Athelney, somerset hoping to re-enforce it and rebuild his armed forces against possible Cymraen & Norse invasions.
The Danes had not pushed that far into Mercia before and now were a serious threat to not just the Saxon kingdom, but to Anarawd himself who had bloodfeuds with the Norse, no matter where they were from, they had history.
Coupled with this knowledge, the Cornish had recently began expanding from their small kingdom attacking the coastlines of Cymru & Mercia respectively, using ships and tactics employed by the Norse it seemed he was surrounded by enemies on all fronts what with Anglia being lost to the Danes a year previous. Under the command of King Doniert of Cornwall, the Cornish allied themselves with the Norse in a hope to drive them from the shores of Prydain[7].
Alienating the only common ally they had in the peoples of Cymru they turned to the Norse who saw them as nothing but fodder,pawns in their ever increasingly intelligent game. Far from the brutes they were made out to be.
March 1st, 877 Anno Domini.
Whilst mustering his forces for an assault against the Danes in the north and retake the lands lost to them Alfred learns of a blight that will affect his life in more ways than one, his only child, a girl, died in childbirth along with his beloved wife. This in turn caused the Great King to become more suicidal and daring in his conquests, thus enraging his neighbouring kingdoms. He realised that no matter how many women he could have and did have since the death of the two women in his life, Alfred was unable to produce an heir to this throne. The process of leaving a legacy other than blood was afoot. But the leagcy may have been all but ended if it were not for the arrival of an unexpected foe in his lands.
Late Evening, March 1st, 877 Anno Domini
A great host of 30,000 men marched from the hills of Gwynedd, Powys and the shores of Deheubarth in Cymru to Athelnay to request an audience with Alfred, at their head was Anarawd, still not yet proclaimed King by his advsiros or his court, for he had much to achieve before he became truly a King.
The Cymraen Prince's request was simple, let him march through Alfred's lands and onto Kernow[8] so he may exact retribution and deal punishment onto Doniert[9]. Anarawd was not here to settle his grudge with Alfred and the Mercian had no pleasure in suffering another defeat as he had yet to rebuild his power base.
"You may pass. But I request of you an alliance against the Norse once the filth in the south are dealt with. Once we execute them and restore rule to our own lands then we can go back to tearing flesh off each others bones. Will you comply and accept?"
The notion that a Mercian Saxon and a Cymraen prince descended from Kings who were forces into the hills of Gwynedd to many seemed laughable but it was a good offer, an offer swiftly and wholeheartedly accepted.
"I accept. And once both threats are dealt with, a period of one whole year before you or I will come to arms, is this agreed upon?"
It was then that the first steps to a true alliance were forged, one built on the promise that they would live longer only is to try and kill each other. And with that agreement the vast host of men and horses began the slow march to Kernow and to Tintagel, sacred and legendary home of the legendary Arthur of Brythain[10]. A fortress by the sea and where Doniert resided knowing full well he had incurred the wrath of a young and powerful saxon but also that of a younger and more vengeful Anarawd ap Rhodri, Prince of Cymru.
[1] OTL Alfred The Great.
[2] OTL Wales.
[3] OTL Anglesey.
[4] In OTL they did not die on Ynys Mon but lived on and their lands flourished until united later on. Here I have had them killed and the partition of the welsh kingdoms is reversed and they are for the time being united under ANarawd ap Rhodri
[5] "God's vengeance for Rhodri" a phrase spoken and attributed to Anarawd ap Rhodri following his victory over Alfred in battle.
[6] Welshman, needed a term. & I made that part up.
[7] Welsh/Brythonic for Britain
[8] OTL Cornwall/ Old Cornish Kingdom.
[9] King Doniert/Dungarth survives rather than drowing in battle as he did in OTL.
[10] King Arthur...simples.
My third and final attempt at creating a TL wherein the welsh kingdom of Gwynedd does not falter & Alfred The Great dies sooner than in OTL with no heirs. The POD for this timeline is that Rhodri Mawr does not die at the battle of Afon Conwy and survives but his sons save one, Anarawd do not survive the battles they are involved in.
Chapter One: Origins
Autumn. 876 Anno Domini.
Welsh forces are routed by Mercian forces led by Alfred of Mercia[1] who send King Rhodri Mawr of Gwynedd back over the Afon Conwy with his son Gwriad. Gwriad is wounded mortally and passes away a day later from an infection of the blood. Rhodri survives despite terrible injuries sustained by the Saxons.
Rhodri quickly realises he has not much time left on this earth and so begins to tutor his remaining sons, Anarawd, Cadell & Merfyn in the ways of his forefathers and the old ways. He quickly dispatches men across the land not yet conquered by the Saxons in the hope of securing a more stable peace between the remaining independent provinces of Cymru[2].
Winter 876m, Anno Domini
Rhodri Mawr begins to create seperate domains for his sons to rule over after his demise. The kingdoms of Gwynedd, Deheubarth & the principality of Powys were formed with each going to Anarawd, Cadell & Merfyn respectively.
Christmas Eve. Rhodri Mawr passes away and leaves his tri-partitioned holdings to his sons. It was on Boxing Day that the Kingdom of Cymru would see more tragedies with Cadell & Merfyn ap Rhodri, King of Deheubarth & Prince of Powys perishing in battle against the Norse of Dublin upon Ynys Mon[3][4] and to their youngest brother Anarawd they left them their lands, a young man only seventeen years of age now inherited two kingdoms and a principality and over a thousand years of leagcy and tradition within the space of two days. Just as Christ was born upon the 25th December, so too was the Welsh nation during this time.
Late Winter/Early Spring, 877 Anno Domini
"Dduw's ddial achos Rhodri! Dduw's ddial achos Rhodri cyflawnedig!"[5]
The weeks had passed and news of increasing Norse activity against the Mercians had proved good news to the men of Cymru and indeed to the would be King for Anarawd had yet to be coronated and refused to until he had gained what he referred to as "God's vengeance for Rhodri"
At Afon Conwy, where Alfred of Mercia had sent his nemesis and respected rival Rhodri Mawr, king of Gwynedd & the Britons fleeing wounded into the hills of Cymru, here the tables would be turned possibly with Anarawd, a well respected but relatively untested warrior whose first true battle was against Alfred, a well versed poet and fighter, a man who by all accounts was the true definition ifof what a King should be. The time had come.
The river of Afon Conwy was crossed by Anarawd who wished for a swift and decisive victory over Alfred but despite having the upper hand with knowledge of the terrain and twice the manpower Anarawd found victory harder to come by than he had thought. A stalemate occurred with both sides retreating to their sides of the river ready for the next day.
Anarawd under the advice of his advisors now began moving a great host of men almost 5000 to the mouth of the river to draw away some of Alfgred's more eager and less disciplined forces. The ruse had worked and 7000 men had quickly marched to meet the forces of Anarawd knowing full weel the area was boggy marshland, unsuitable for the cavalry of Alfred's men. One by one they feel to the archers lined up opposite them, a victory had been won today with half of the Mercian forces routed by Anarawd's men. News of this lure had angered Alfred who now began to grow weary of toying with 'the child' as he referred to the young welsh prince.
February 14th, the day of Saint Valentine. 877 Anno Domini.
The remnant forces of Alfred began to march on the mighth river that for today rushed not like a torrent, allowing both sides to easily cross and fight. On the Mercian side of the Conwy the forces met with 18,000 men of Cymru againt 11,350 Mercian soldiers and a thousand more mercenaries employed by Alfred. The superior training and tactics of Alfred seemed to pay off with two welshmen killed for every one saxon struck down and with the ranks of Anarawd thinning Alfred seized the momentum and began to encricle the armies of Anarawd but forgetting one fatal flaw, the river itself. As the battle raged on the actual combat began shifting towards the ambush site used previously against Alfred, it was here the cavalry of the Mercians once again in their attempt to smash the lines of Anarawd became trapped allowing the men of Cymru to hack their way through animal and man and reduce the deficit and turn the tide of this battle in the favour of the Britons.
By nightfall it was concluded, the armies of Alfred were removed from the soil of Cymru by death or by them fleeing. Anarawd had claimed a great victory but also had garnered the wrath of Alfred, a man not so easily bested. And upon the day of love and romance, Anarawd had crushed in his own words, 'one of the the finest generals to have been born upon these shores and despite being foreign, he would be a great Cymraen[6]"
Late February, 877 Anno Domini.
Alfred the great had suffered defeat after defeat culminating in his withdrawal form Cymru and also the northernmost borders of Mercia that touched the Norse kingdom of Jorvik, commonly known as the Danelaw. Alfred retreated to his fortress in Athelney, somerset hoping to re-enforce it and rebuild his armed forces against possible Cymraen & Norse invasions.
The Danes had not pushed that far into Mercia before and now were a serious threat to not just the Saxon kingdom, but to Anarawd himself who had bloodfeuds with the Norse, no matter where they were from, they had history.
Coupled with this knowledge, the Cornish had recently began expanding from their small kingdom attacking the coastlines of Cymru & Mercia respectively, using ships and tactics employed by the Norse it seemed he was surrounded by enemies on all fronts what with Anglia being lost to the Danes a year previous. Under the command of King Doniert of Cornwall, the Cornish allied themselves with the Norse in a hope to drive them from the shores of Prydain[7].
Alienating the only common ally they had in the peoples of Cymru they turned to the Norse who saw them as nothing but fodder,pawns in their ever increasingly intelligent game. Far from the brutes they were made out to be.
March 1st, 877 Anno Domini.
Whilst mustering his forces for an assault against the Danes in the north and retake the lands lost to them Alfred learns of a blight that will affect his life in more ways than one, his only child, a girl, died in childbirth along with his beloved wife. This in turn caused the Great King to become more suicidal and daring in his conquests, thus enraging his neighbouring kingdoms. He realised that no matter how many women he could have and did have since the death of the two women in his life, Alfred was unable to produce an heir to this throne. The process of leaving a legacy other than blood was afoot. But the leagcy may have been all but ended if it were not for the arrival of an unexpected foe in his lands.
Late Evening, March 1st, 877 Anno Domini
A great host of 30,000 men marched from the hills of Gwynedd, Powys and the shores of Deheubarth in Cymru to Athelnay to request an audience with Alfred, at their head was Anarawd, still not yet proclaimed King by his advsiros or his court, for he had much to achieve before he became truly a King.
The Cymraen Prince's request was simple, let him march through Alfred's lands and onto Kernow[8] so he may exact retribution and deal punishment onto Doniert[9]. Anarawd was not here to settle his grudge with Alfred and the Mercian had no pleasure in suffering another defeat as he had yet to rebuild his power base.
"You may pass. But I request of you an alliance against the Norse once the filth in the south are dealt with. Once we execute them and restore rule to our own lands then we can go back to tearing flesh off each others bones. Will you comply and accept?"
The notion that a Mercian Saxon and a Cymraen prince descended from Kings who were forces into the hills of Gwynedd to many seemed laughable but it was a good offer, an offer swiftly and wholeheartedly accepted.
"I accept. And once both threats are dealt with, a period of one whole year before you or I will come to arms, is this agreed upon?"
It was then that the first steps to a true alliance were forged, one built on the promise that they would live longer only is to try and kill each other. And with that agreement the vast host of men and horses began the slow march to Kernow and to Tintagel, sacred and legendary home of the legendary Arthur of Brythain[10]. A fortress by the sea and where Doniert resided knowing full well he had incurred the wrath of a young and powerful saxon but also that of a younger and more vengeful Anarawd ap Rhodri, Prince of Cymru.
[1] OTL Alfred The Great.
[2] OTL Wales.
[3] OTL Anglesey.
[4] In OTL they did not die on Ynys Mon but lived on and their lands flourished until united later on. Here I have had them killed and the partition of the welsh kingdoms is reversed and they are for the time being united under ANarawd ap Rhodri
[5] "God's vengeance for Rhodri" a phrase spoken and attributed to Anarawd ap Rhodri following his victory over Alfred in battle.
[6] Welshman, needed a term. & I made that part up.
[7] Welsh/Brythonic for Britain
[8] OTL Cornwall/ Old Cornish Kingdom.
[9] King Doniert/Dungarth survives rather than drowing in battle as he did in OTL.
[10] King Arthur...simples.
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