Ennarchy (Fidem Pacis)

The Ennarchy was a period of mediaeval Albic history, lasting roughly from AD 665 until the Norse invasions of the late 9th century, during which Prydain was divided into nine main kingdoms. The actual number fluctuated over time, but throughout this period the three most powerful kingdoms were Dyfnaint, Powys and Ebrauc.

After the Second Battle of Baddon of 665, at which almost all of the rulers of four southern Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were killed or captured, the great alliance of the Britons was able to reoccupy much of the southern half of the island without facing much resistance. East Anglia, Essex and Lindsey, which had recently been conquered by Anglo-Frisian migrants, took no part in the battle and formed a barrier to British expansion eastward. Much of the conquered territory was divided between the powerful states of Powys and Dyfnaint, but the new Kingdom of Gadwfellwn was also set up on the territory of the old Catuvellaunian tribe.

English Northumbria survived, and with its manpower swelled by refugees from the south it soon managed to conquer its British neighbours in Rheged and Strathclyde. In 683 Dal Riata submitted to Northumbrian overlordship, but Deira was lost in 698 after an unsuccessful war againt Powys.

Although former Deira was at first under Powysian rule, in 730 it revolted and established itself as an independent kingdom based at Caer Ebrauc. The intervention of Gwynedd a few years later ensured the independence of Caerlleon Fawr, establishing the last of the nine British kingdoms. Although their borders often changed, and smaller kingdoms could sometimes come under the dominion of larger ones, Ebrauc, Caerlleon, Gwynedd, Powys, Demet, Gwent, Gadwfellwn, Dyfnaint and Cernyw remained mostly stable for the next century and a half.

Regular Viking raids began in the late 8th century, but when the Great Heathen Army arrived from Norway in the 860s it found Albion utterly unprepared. The wealthy Anglo-Frisian kingdoms were able to pay the Norsemen off, and England was too cold and infertile to attract their attention, but Ebrauc was lying upen and vulnerable. Within a few years Ebrauc, Caerlleon, Gwynedd, Powys and Demet had all been overrun and incorporated into the Norselaw, but Dyfnaint managed to stay strong and independent.

By the beginning of the 10th century Dyfnaint had affirmed its dominion over Cernyw, Gwent and Gadwfellwn and begun to fight back. By 927 King Hywel had conquered the Norselaw and been recognised as High King, uniting all the Britons for the first time since the departure of the legions.

For events after this date, refer to the histories of Prydain and Albion.