Idwal Foel ap Anarawd (English: Idwal the Bald) (died 942) was a King of Gwynedd, referred to as King of the Britons by William of Malmesbury in his Gesta Regum Anglorum. William spells his name as Judwalum in the original Latin (anglicized Jothwel); the Annales Cambriae spell it Iudgual. Idwal inherited the throne of Gwynedd on the death of his father Anarawd ap Rhodri in 916. He allied himself with Athelstan of England who in 924 succeeded Edward and became the most powerful Saxon King to date, ambitious to establish authority across Britain.In recognition of this power Idwal visited the court of Athelstan in 927, 928 and 937. In 927 he is recorded as a witness to Charters agreeing to campaign with Athelstan against the Scots. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles report the campaign; “Æthelstan's army began gathering at Winchester by 28 May 927, and reached Nottingham by 7 June. He was accompanied by many leaders, including the Welsh kings Hywel Dda, Idwal Foel, and Morgan ab Owain. From Mercia the army went north, stopping at Chester-le-Street, before resuming the march accompanied by a fleet of ships. Eógan of Strathclyde was defeated “... The army went as far north as Dunnottar and Fortniu while the fleet raided Caithness and Sutherland. By Christmas 935, Eógan of Strathclyde was at Æthelstan's court along with Idwal and Hywel. Aethelstan died in 939 replaced by his half-brother Edmund. Idwal Foel seems to have judged this an opportunity to counter Hywel Dda, knowing that Hywels motive for his alliance with the Saxons was his ambition to displace Idwal as ruler of Gwynedd (as later events confirmed). Thus Idwal in 942 launched an all out attack on the Saxons who had Hywels tacit or actual military support. He did not succeed; “Idwal and his brother Elisedd are killed in battle against the Saxons” is how the Annales Cambriae laconically records the result.Cousin Hywell Dda with Saxon help seizing the opportunity he coveted, invaded Gwynedd and drove Idwals sons from the kingdom. For eight years Hywel Dda ruled Gwynedd and Deheubarth before the sons of Idwal returned and regained the throne of Gwynedd