Ynyr ap Cadfarch
Ynyr ap Cadfarch (died c. 873) was a Briton captain who served under King Rhodri the Great during the 9th century.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Incursions into England[edit | edit source]
A trusted advisor to Rhodri, Ynyr accompanied his king during the Britons invasions into Sciropscire in Western England, then controlled by the Kingdom of Mercia.[1] Under Ynyr 's command, the Britons controlled the hamlet of Wesberie, Wenlocan Outpost and the Dhustone Quarry, the latter two used to house the Anglo-Saxon prisoners.[2]
When Mercia came under Viking domination in the early 870s, the Britons also came to combat the additional Norse Vikings. After Rhodri's brother Gwriad was captured by the Viking leader Ivarr the Boneless, Ynyr and Rhodri's wife Angharad ferch Meurig accompanied the king to Quatford to negotiate peace in exchange for Gwriad's safe return.[2]
At the church in Quatford, the Britons met with Bishop Deorlaf, who was appointed as a stand-in following the death of the shire's previous ealdorman. The meeting was soon joined by the shieldmaiden Eivor Varinsdottir, Ivarr and Ceolbert, the son of the Mercian king Ceolwulf. Due to Ivarr's heated rivalry against Rhodri, peace in the church was barely contained between the Britons and the Saxons. After an attempt by Eivor to try and disffuse the situation with a sack of silver given by Deorlaf, Ivarr went on to slit Gwriad's throat, killing him and putting an end to any possible means of peace. Ynyr, Rhodri and Angharad then departed as the Britons were commanded to eliminate everyone in the church and town.[2]
Death and aftermath[edit | edit source]
Ynyr later returned to Wesberie where he awaited King Rhodri's commands. Seeking to weaken the Britons in the hopes Rhodri would sue for peace, Eivor, Ivarr and Ceolbert set out to eliminate the captain and his garrison and torched Wesberie to draw them out. Sure enough, Ynyr and his men arrived shortly after to fight the trio, but they were all ultimately defeated and killed.[3]
After Ynyr's death, his personal spear, given to him by his father as a heirloom, was claimed by Eivor. Meanwhile, the loss of Ynyr along with the fall of other Briton-controlled locations in Sciropscire led the Britons to push for peace. Angharad herself met with Eivor and Deorlaf to negotiate for a peaceful departure from the shire once more.[3]
Skills and equipment[edit | edit source]
Ynyr was a noteworthy and capable soldier. His position of captain within Rhodri's army as well as being his most trusted advisor was a testament to his skills. In combat, Ynyr wielded his father's heirloom spear and a longsword which he used in his fight against Eivor, Ceolbert and Ivarr.[1]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
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Ynyr meeting with Deorlaf alongside Rhodri and Angharad -
Ynyr holding his spear and longsword in combat
Appearances[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – War Weary
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Bloody Path to Peace