[1] Following his father's death, Anarawd ascended to the throne, inheriting a vast kingdom that stretched from the Isle of Anglesey to the Wye River.

[5] In the wake of this defeat, his position became increasingly unsustainable, ultimately leading him to submit to the overlordship of Alfred the Great, the King of Wessex.

[6] This marked a significant turning point not only in the rule of Æthelred, reign but also in the broader political dynamics of the time, as it effectively ended Mercian ambitions in Wales and solidified Alfred's influence in the region.

Contrastingly, the Battle of the Conwy marked a resounding success for Anarawd, as it brought stability to his borders and opened up new opportunities for expansion.

In the aftermath of the battle, Anarawd seized the chance to raid and exert his influence over the small kingdoms in the south that were no longer under Mercian overlordship.

[9] This alliance served a dual purpose: first, it provided additional protection against potential Mercian incursions,[10] and second, it aimed to curb the frequent Viking raids that had plagued Wales since the early years of the century.

The alliance with the Scandinavian York seemed to have brought a period of relative calm between 880 and 890, with no recorded Viking activity in Anarawd's realm during this time.

[12] This attack, coupled with the increasing Viking pressure in the Irish Sea region, prompted Anarawd to reassess his strategic alliances.

Both Anarawd and Æthelred, as powerful subjects of Alfred, shared common interests and ambitions that were hindered by West Saxon overlordship.