Merfyn Frych
Merfyn Frych (or ‘Merfyn the Freckled’), heir to the lost kingdom of South Reghed, was the son of King Guriat (or Gwriad), who ruled the Isle of Man in the late 8th Century, and Esyltt ferch Cynan, the heiress of Gwynedd.
The death of Guriat’s rival (Esyllt’s uncle) in 825 AD meant that the throne of Gwynedd could now be claimed by Merfyn. Already ruling over the Isle of Man (called Ynys Manaw in chronicles of the time), he transferred to Gwynedd, where his rule brought stability after years of civil war.
While Gwynedd benefited from his 19-year rule, the Isle of Man was now left vulnerable. In 836 AD, Godred mac Fergus claimed the Island for himself and it was never regained by the Welsh.
When Merfyn died, in 844 AD, he was succeeded by his son, Rhodri Mawr (the Great).