His father Merfyn Frych ap Gwriad had seized the throne of Gwynedd on the death of the last of the old royal line Hywel ap Rhodri Molwynog.
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.
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Hywel was the last King of Gwynedd in the male line of Maelgwn Gwynedd.
Rhodri Morgan | Hywel Dda | Rhodri ap Hyfaidd | Hywel Bennett | Anarawd ap Rhodri | Tomas ap Rhodri | Saint Hywel | Rhodri Philipps, 4th Viscount St Davids | Rhodri Marsden | Rhodri Lloyd | Owain ap Hywel Dda | Hywel Williams | Hywel Dda Local Health Board | Hywel ap Rhys | Hywel ap Rhodri Molwynog | Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd |