Cynan Dindaethwy ap Rhodri

Cynan Dindaethwy ap Rhodri (English: Cynan of Dindaethwy, son of Rhodri) was King of Gwynedd (reigned 798 – 816). His reign was marked by a destructive dynastic power struggle with his brother Hywel, and is not otherwise notable.

The descriptive appellation 'Dindaethwy' refers to the cwmwd (English: commote) of that name in the cantref of Rhosyr, and the location of Cynan's llys (English: royal court) at Llanfaes on the southeastern coast of Anglesey.^[1]

Cynan was the son of Rhodri Molwynog ap Idwal and ascended to the throne of Gwynedd after the death of King Caradog ap Meirion in 798. Cynan and Hywel are said to be brothers in historical works such as Lloyd's History of Wales, which does not cite its source.^[2] Sources such as the Annales Cambriae mention them by name only.^[3] The genealogy of Jesus College MS. 20 gives Hywel as the son of Caradog ap Meirion,^[4] while it gives Cynan as the son of Rhodri Molwynog,^[5] as does the Harleian genealogies.^[6]

A general map of Gwynedd showing the cantrefi.

There is no historical record of Cynan's early years as king, but his reign ended in a combination of natural disasters and military reverses. In 810 there was a bovine plague that killed many cattle throughout Wales. The next year Deganwy, the ancient fortified llys of Maelgwn Gwynedd and built of wood, was struck by lightning.

A destructive war between Cynan and Hywel raged on Anglesey between 812 and 816, ultimately ending with Cynan's defeat and banishment. He would die in exile within a year, the Annales Cambriae noting that King Cynan had died,^[7] as do the Irish Annals.^[8]

In 817, after Cynan's death, there was a notable battle at his llys at Llanfaes on Anglesey.^[9] The combatants are not identified.^{[note 1]}

Notes

1. ^ Various historical works assume it was an invasion by the Mercians, by Ecgberht of Wessex, or by the Vikings, but there is no authority for those claims. As it took place at Cynan's llys, it could as easily have been a consequence of the dynastic struggle won by Hywel, but now between Hywel and Cynan's supporters.

Citations

1. ^ Lloyd 1911:232, A History of Wales, Vol I
2. ^ Lloyd 1911:231, A History of Wales
3. ^ Phillimore 1888:163 – 164, Annales Cambriae
4. ^ Phillimore 1887:89 — his pedigree is given as: Howel. M. Crada6c. M. meircha6n. M. Howel. M. Runya6n. M. Einya6n. M. Idwm. M. Cadwall. M. meic. M. Ewein. M. Cenlas. M. Ewein danwyn. M. Einya6n yrth. M. Cuneda Wledic.
5. ^ Phillimore 1887:87 — his pedigree is given as: ... Cynan tintaeth6y. M. Rodri mol6yna6c. M. Idwal I6rch. M. Kadwaladyr vendigeit. M. Katwalla6n. M. Kad6ga6n. M. Iago. M. Beli. M. Run hir. M. Maelg6n g6yned ..., and from there back to Cunedda.
6. ^ Owen 1841:xiv, Pedigree of Ywain Son of Hywel, in the Preface of Ancient Laws and Institutes of Wales — his pedigree is given as: ... Rotri Map Mermin Map Ethil Merch Cinnan Map Rotri M. Tutgual M. Catgualart M. Catman M. Jacob ..., and from there back through Maelgwn Gwynedd to Cunedda and his ancestors.
7. ^ Phillimore 1888:164 — 816, the Annales Cambriae
8. ^ Reeves 1857:389, the Chronicon Hyense — year 816, "Conan mac Ruadhrach, rex Britonum, defunctus est"
9. ^ Phillimore 1888:164 — 818, the Annales Cambriae

References

• Davies, John (1990), A History of Wales (First ed.), London: Penguin Group (published 1993), ISBN 0-713-99098-8 
• Lloyd, John Edward (1911), A History of Wales from the Earliest Times to the Edwardian Conquest, I (2nd ed.), London: Longmans, Green, and Co (published 1912), http://books.google.com/?id=NYwNAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover 
• Owen, Aneurin, ed. (1841), Ancient Laws and Institutes of Wales, I, http://books.google.com/?id=EzZnAAAAMAAJ&printsec=titlepage 
• Parry, Henry (translator), ed. (1829), "Brut y Saeson", Archaeologia Cambrensis, Third, IX, London: J. Russell Smith (published 1863), p. 59 – 67, http://books.google.com/books?id=28A1AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA59 
• Phillimore, Egerton, ed. (1887), "Pedigrees from Jesus College MS. 20", Y Cymmrodor, VIII, Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, pp. 77 – 92, http://www.archive.org/details/ycymmrodor08cymmuoft 
• Phillimore, Egerton (1888), "The Annales Cambriae and Old Welsh Genealogies, from Harleian MS. 3859", in Phillimore, Egerton, Y Cymmrodor, IX, Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, pp. 141 – 183, http://books.google.com/books?id=aFMrAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA141 
• Reeves, William, ed. (1857), "Additional Notes (Chronicon Hyense)", The Life of St. Columba, to which are added Copious Notes and Dissertations, Dublin: Irish Archaeological and Celtic Society, pp. 369 – 413, http://books.google.com/books?id=3mQJAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA369 
• Skene, William Forbes, ed. (1867), Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots, and Other Early Memorials of Scottish History, Edinburgh: Edinburgh General Register House, http://books.google.com/?id=4DoUAAAAYAAJ&printsec=titlepage 

Regnal titles
Preceded by Caradog ap Meirion	King of Gwynedd 798 – 816	Succeeded by Hywel ap Rhodri Molwynog

Persondata
Name	Cynan Dindaethwy ap Rhodri
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