- Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio
Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio, (died c. 573) was a
Brython ic king who ruled in Arfderydd (nowArthuret ). This is in what is now south-west Scotland and north-west England in the area around Hadrian's Wall and Carlisle during the sub-Roman period in Britain.Genealogies make him a descendant of
Coel Hen , who is believed to have ruled much of what is now southern Scotland and the Borders following the Roman withdrawal from the island of Britain, in the area known as theHen Ogledd . Gwenddoleu was therefore likely to have been either the heir to one of the many successor states ofCoel Hen 's realm or an usurper who claimed descent fromCoel Hen to legitimize his family's claim to the region.Little is known of his reign, but it ended when, as described in the "
Annales Cambriae ", the sons ofEliffer ,Peredur andGwrgi , the joint kings of Efrog, killed him at theBattle of Arfderydd in 573. It is possible he was succeeded by one of his brothers. This was one of many battles fought between Brythonic kings who led the various fractured successor states that took over the Roman province ofBrittania following the Roman withdrawal.Although Gwenddoleu plays no part in
Arthurian legend, his court adviserMyrddin formed part of the basis for the later Arthurian legends concerning the wizard Merlin. Myrddin is said to have been driven mad with grief following the death of Gwenddoleu and to have fled into the Caledonian forest. The memory of both Gwenddoleu and Myrddin was preserved inWelsh literature .References
*Rachel Bromwich (ed.), "Trioedd Ynys Prydein" (University of Wales Press, new ed. 1991).
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