Cunedda Wledig ap Edern (abt. 370 - 460)

Born about 0370 in Manaw Gododdin, Roman Britain

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 0460 at about age 90 in Kingdom of Gwynedd

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Biography

370 Birth and Parents

The History Files state that Cunedda flourished about 390 in Manau Goutodin, around Stirling, Scotland. They state he was of the tribe Venicones of Scotland and moved into Wales to found Gwynedd.^[1]
Map of Early British Kingdoms

Boyer, following Bartrum, estimates that Cunedda was born in , say, 370, the son of Edern ap Padarn Beisrudd. ^[2]

His father's name in British was Edeyrn, the Latin equivalent being Eternus. ^[3]

Beisrudd means "of the scarlet cloak." Boyer says that "the old Welsh "Cunedag" was derived from Counodagos," meaning "good Lord", while Peisrudd means "scarlet cloak", and indicates that Padarn may have held high office in the Roman Empire. ^[2]

Birth Year Estimation

If he already had 8 warrior sons in the year 400, assume they were born 2 years apart and the youngest was 14, the oldest would have been 28. Assume Cunedda was 16 when the oldest was born, he would now be 44 in the year 400, thus born in 356 or, say, 355.

Citing Bartrum chart 1, Boyer however, estimates his birth as, say, the year 370. ^[2] Boyer notes that he flourished perhaps about 450, according to the Dictionary of Welsh Biography (87).

388 Marriage

About 388 he married Gwawl Verch Coel Godebog, daughter of Coel Hen godebog ap Tehvant (350-420) and Ysfrawel Verch Cadfan Gadron (b. 374) ^[3]

Cunedda was the first to head the Gwynedd branch of the family. ^[4]

400 Arrival of Cunedda in Wales

Boyer suggests, "Perhaps this is the history of a Christian Brythonic chief who came from the area of the Firth of Forth in Scotland to drive the Goidels from northwest Wales, and lay the foundations of medieval Gwynedd. Lloyd mentioned (DWB, 88) that Cunedda and his troops may have acted in accodance with a plan by Stilicho, who was concerned with the defence of Britain a little before 400. This would fit the time 146 years before Maelgwn Gwynedd given by the Saxon Genealogies, but the pedigree indicates, in the mind of Lloyd, a somewhat later time for Cunedda Wledig.^[2]

Boyer observes that 'The seventh-century "Saxon Genealogies", found in some manuscripts of Nennius, tell of "Cunedag," ancestor of Maelgwn Gwynedd. It is said that 146 years before Maelgwn Gwynedd reigned Cunedda came from Manaw Gododdin in the north with his eight sons, and drove the "Scots" (who were actually Irish) from Gwynedd, slaughtering so many that they never returned. ^[2]

"According to the ninth-century Welsh historian Nennius in his "Historia Brittonum," about the year 400 A.D. a band of Scots led by Cunedda Wledig and his eight sons moved into northern Wales as the Roman Legions withdrew to expel invaders from Ireland who had settled in the area. He established the Royal Dynasty of Gwynedd and consolidated the Kingdom of Wales. Over the next several centuries the Scots married into the remaining Irish and local Welsh populations and established most of the Welsh dynasties, including the Morgans." ^[4]

Other sources make the arrival in Gwynedd a little earlier: c. 390: Cunedda Wledig (Welsh for 'prince') and his branch of Romanised Venicones of the Votadini (with his eight sons and a grandson) are transferred from the Manau dependency of the Goutodin kingdom, by Magnus Maximus (Macsen Wledig), to the former territory of the Deceangli in western Wales to secure the region from Irish raiders. Cunedda founded the kingdom of Gwynedd.^[5][6]

Other sources make the establishment of Gwynedd later, say, 450. Kingdom of Gwynedd Established (northern Wales). Leading a battle-hardened force of Brythons from Manaw Gododdin, Cunedda drove out the Irish and established the Kingdom of Gwynedd on the northern coast of modern Wales.

Reign in Gwynedd

Wledig means "ruler".

Boyer notes that the birth year is estimated from Bartrum's Chart #1, but according to the Dictionary of Welsh Biography, he flourished about 450. ^[2]

Cunedda was the first to head the Gwynedd branch of the family.

• K: Cunnedda Guoledic, King of Manau, Guotodin, North Britain.
• AF calls him Duke of the Britains. ****** Gwriad....m. Eithyllt, dau of Cynan (d. 816) ap Rhodri Molwynog (d. 754) ap Idwal ap Cadwaladr (d. 664), great-grandson of Maelgwn Gwynedd, the "Island Dragon" of Gildas's Chronicle (d. 547), great-grandson of Cunedda Wledig (the Ruler).

Cunedda was named in 7th and 10th century pedigrees, where he is styled "ap Eydern (Eternus) ap Padarn Beisrudd (Paternus of the Red Robe) ap Tegid (Tacitus)" was apparently a Romanised Brythonic Christian chieftain, whose title and territorial origins suggest the Dux Britanniarium or officer in charge of Hadrian's Wall. He, too, was from the North, and drove the Scots (i.e. the Irish) from Gwynedd, ca. 429. ^[7]

414 Death

Cunedda died about 414 in North Wales, aged 28 years old. ^[3]

Cunedda's Hill

Cunedda's name survives in Alit Cunedda (Cunedda's Hill) near Kidwelly. ^[7]

Issue

The names of most of the sons are preserved as place names in the area between the rivers Dee and Teify. ^[2]

"Lloyd states that pedigrees surviving from the tenth century detail the descent to Maelwgn, and list nine sons of Cunedda. He further suggests that the title Gwledig, meaning "ruler" indicates a prince with special authority, perhaps from the Romans. ^[2]

Children,

1. Tybion, the eldest, died in Manaw Gododdin; his son Meirion was lord of Meirionydd. Listed by Bartrum ^[2] Merion Ap CUNEDDA WLEDIG ca 410 Married to ? ? ^[3]
2. Edern (Ternus) of Edeirnion, had son S. Mordeyrn. Listed by Bartrum ^[2]
3. Rhufon, of Rhufoniog Listed by Bartrum ^[2]
4. Ceredig Listed by Bartrum ^[2] Cerediq Ap CUNEDDA Married to Meleri Verch BRYCHAN ^[3]
5. Afloeg Listed by Bartrum ^[2]
6. Ysfael Listed by Bartrum ^[2]
7. Einion Yrth Listed by Bartrum ^[2] Einion YRTH Ap CUNEDDA, prince †483 Married to Prawst Verch TITHLYM PRYDYN ^[3]
8. Gwron Listed by Bartrum ^[2]
9. Gwen Listed by Bartrum ^[2] Gwen Ap CUNEDDA Married to Amalawdd N ^[3]
10. Dogfael Listed by Bartrum ^[2]
11. Tegid Listed by Bartrum ^[2]
12. Dunod Listed by Bartrum ^[2]

Research Notes

Where was Cunedda from?

Some Welsh pedigrees trace Cunedda's ancestry in Wales, as does Terlinden's genealogy: "Cunddda Wledig ap Edeyrn was born about 386 in Cardigan, Wales."^[3] Such pedigrees are not documented, and the migration of Cunedda from Scotland has better documentation.

Pughe Pedigree

He appears in a pedigree of Pughe, of Mathavarn, in Cyveilog, reaching back to biblical Adam, presented by Lewys Dwnn. The pedigree illustrates the fondness of the Welsh for pedigrees as well as the difficulty of determining at what point the pedigree moves from history to legend. ^[8]

The pedigree also appears in a work by the Powys-land Club.^[9]

The complete pedigree is presented and discussed at Space: John Pughe's Descent from Adam

Cunedda ap Edern (fl. 5th century; also known as Cunedda Wledig ("holder of lands"), was an important early Welsh leader, and the progenitor of the royal dynasty of Gwynedd.^[10]

Is there a connection with King Arfthur?

Morgan writes, "The kingdom was divided into a number of smaller kingdoms by the heirs of Cunedda Wledig. He married Gwawl, who was the daughter of Coel Hen, the granddaughter of Tehvant, and the great-granddaughter of Urban. They had sons Gwen, the grandfather of King Arthur, and Einion Yrth. (The present-day area of Wales called Cardigan is named for Cunedda Wledig)." ^[4]

King Arthur is a legendary figure, so Morgan's observations must be viewed with caution.

Lines of Descent

(O)uen map (H)iguel map Catell map Rotri map Mermin map Etthil merch Cinnan map Rotri map Iutguaul map Catgualart map Catgollaun map Catman map Iacob map Beli map Run map Mailcun map Catgolaun Iauhir map Eniaun girt map Cuneda map Ætern map Patern Pesrut map Tacit map Cein map Guorcein map Doli map Guordoli map Dumn map Gurdumn map Amguoloyt map Anguerit map Oumun map Dubun map Brithguein map Eugein map Aballac map Amalach, qui fuit beli magni filius et Anna mater eius quam dicunt esse consobrina mariæ uirginis matris d’ni n’ri ih’u xp’i.^[11]

Of the genealogy of the mother of king Gwynllyw, father of the venerable Cadog, repeated from the above-mentioned woman. Anna bare Beli, Beli begat Aballach, Aballach begat Baallad, Baallad bare Euguein, Euguein begat Brithguein, Brithguein begat Dubunn, Dubunn begat Oumiud, Oumiud begatAnguerit, Anguerit begat Amgoloit, Amgoloit begat Guordubn, Guordubn begat Dubn, Dubn begat Guordoli, Guordoli begat Doli, Doli begat Guorceng, Guorceng begat Ceint, Ceint begat Tacit, Tacit begat Patern Peis Rudauc, Patern begat Etern, Etern begat Cuneda, Cuneda begat Credic, Credic begat Guaul, mother of Gwynllyw. Now Gwynllyw begat the most holy Cadog.^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ Celtic Kingdoms of the British Isles: Celts of Britain, Copyright © 1999-2014 Kessler Associates. All rights reserved, added 2014-08-01, amb
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19} Carl Boyer. Medieval Welsh Ancestors of Certain Americans By the author: Santa Clarita, California, 2004. Cunedda Wledig is #1 on page 66.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7} Jean-Charles Terlinden. L'Ascendance Terlinden-de-Potesta (lard) [https://gw.geneanet.org/lard?lang=en&pz=jean+charles&nz=terlinden&p=cunedda+wledig&n=ap+edeyrn Entry for Cunedda Wledig ap Edeyrn. Accessed 27 March 2020 jhd
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Dennis Morgan. A History of the Morgan Family. Cited by Jean-Charles Terlinden. L'Ascendance Terlinden-de-Potesta (lard) [https://gw.geneanet.org/lard?lang=en&pz=jean+charles&nz=terlinden&p=cunedda+wledig&n=ap+edeyrn Entry for Cunedda Wledig ap Edeyrn. Accessed 27 March 2020 jhd
5. ↑ The History Files: Post-Roman Celtic Kingdoms - Goutodin, added 2014-08-01, amb
6. ↑ Joyce Holt, Cumbria: The Kingdom of Rheged- The Migration, added 2014-08-01, amb
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Sir Bernard Burke, C. B., LL. D., Ulster King of Arms. Landed Gentry. Entry for Powell, page 577. Cited by Jean-Charles Terlinden. L'Ascendance Terlinden-de-Potesta (lard) [https://gw.geneanet.org/lard?lang=en&pz=jean+charles&nz=terlinden&p=cunedda+wledig&n=ap+edeyrn Entry for Cunedda Wledig ap Edeyrn. Accessed 27 March 2020 jhd
8. ↑ Lewys Dwnn. "Montgomeryshire Pedigrees: Heraldic Visitations of Wales and part of the Marches Pughe, of Mathavarn, in Cyveilog, to Adam page 205. Accessed 25 March 2020 jhd
9. ↑ John Rhydderch. Pedigreees of Montgomeryshire Families selected about the yeare 1711-12 from Lewis Dwnn's Original Visitation. London: Powysland Club, 1888. [https://archive.org/details/pedigreesofmontg00rode/page/70/mode/2up/search/Clydno The Pedigree of Phghe of Mathavarn, in Cyveilog, to Adam. Pages 68-74. Archive.org. Accessed 27 March 2020 jhd
10. ↑ Wikipedia: Cunedda
11. ↑ Harleian genealogies 1: Gwynedd part 1, amb
12. ↑ Kunedda: Wonders of Britain, retrieved 2014-08-01, amb

See also:

• Ford, David Nash, Details of the Ancestry of Cunedda Wledig, The Origins of Gwynedd
• Gododdin - Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
• The History Files: Post-Roman Celtic Kingdoms - Goutodin
• Kunedda: Wonders of Britain
• J. Fenton, The Grave of Sawyl Benisel, King of the Britons, Archaeol. Camb., vol 2, (1851) new ser, pp. 159–62.
• 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)
• Giles, John Allen, ed. (1841), The Works of Gildas and Nennius, London: James Bohn — English translation
• Giles, John Allen, ed. (1847), History of the Ancient Britons, II (Second ed.), Oxford: W. Baxter (published 1854) — in Latin
• Phillimore, Egerton (1888), "The Annales Cambriae and Old Welsh Genealogies, from Harleian MS. 3859", Y Cymmrodor, IX, Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, pp. 141–83,