Bledric ap Custennin (also known as Blederic, Bredrice, Peledric, Bletius, Bledrys, Bledrig, Bletricius or Bledericus) was a 6th- and 7th-century ruler of Dumnonia (now part of the EnglishWest Country).
The actual status and reality of Bledric is difficult to ascertain as most his references are in old Welsh literature variously known as "King", "Duke" or "Prince" of Devonshire and/or Cornwall. He was described as Duke of Cornwall by c.603,[1] and an ally of northern Welsh kings.
The fullest account of Bledric's life comes from Geoffrey of Monmouth's pseudohistorical Historia Regum Britanniae where he is numbered amongst the legendary Dukes of Cornwall. Here Bledric, Duke of Cornwall, was the commander of the allied British armies which included King Cadvan of North Wales (Cadfan ap Iago of Gwynedd) and King Margadud of South Wales (probably Maredydd ap Rhain of Dyfed) at the Battle of Bangor-is-Coed. He joined battle with the army of Æthelfrith of Northumbria who had just slain 1200 monks, and succeeded in wounding Æthelfrith and defeating the Angles but being slain himself.[2]
Bledric was one of three sons of king Constantine (or Custennin) who died in c.560, his brothers being Gerren rac Denau, who he may have succeeded as king, and Domuel (or Dywel). He also had a sister who married Peibio Clafrog, king of Ergyng in South Wales. Bledric may have had two sons, Clemen as given in the Llyfr Baglan (Book of Baglan) who is thought to have succeeded him, and Blethyn as given by Caradoc of Llancarfan.
Deathedit
Caradoc of Llancarfan, in his Historie of Cambria (History of Wales), notes that Bledric was one of the British leaders killed by King Æthelfrith of Northumbria and King Æthelberht of Kent at Bangor on the River Dee[5] in c.613, where he is described as the Prince of Devonshire and Cornwall. It is said that 'by the valiant forgoings of his life got his partners the victory'.[1] His sons apparently went on to 'enjoy the government of North Wales ever since Cadfan ap Iago was chief King in Britain.' Caradoc of Llancarfan also gives Bledric's descendants elsewhere and gives Blethyn (or Bleddyn) as his son and Ednowen (or Ednowain) as his grandson.
Literatureedit
Bledric may also appear in one of the Welsh Triads. Triad 69, the 'Three Defilements of the Severn' give the second as 'the gift of Golydan from Einiawn son of Bedd, king of Cornwall',[6] although given the genealogy of Caradoc of Llancarfan, this could be his supposed son Bleddyn who was recorded as father of Ednowain.
He is also given in Llyfr Baglan as a Duke of Cornwall, son of Constantine, High King of Britain (e.g. Custennin) and father of Clement (e.g. Clemen), Duke of Cornwall.[7]
Referencesedit
^ abCarew, Richard. The Survey of Cornwall And An Epistle Concerning the Excellencies of the English Tongue. London. 1769 p77
^Evans, Sebastian. Histories of the Kings of Britain, by Geoffry of Monmouth. 1904 p301
^Williams, John. Llyfr Baglan: or The Book of Baglan. Compiled Between the Years 1600 and 1607. Edited by Joseph Alfred Bradney. London: Mitchell, Hughes and Clarke, 1910. p80
bledric, custennin, also, known, blederic, bredrice, peledric, bletius, bledrys, bledrig, bletricius, bledericus, century, ruler, dumnonia, part, english, west, country, contents, life, rule, family, death, literature, referenceslife, rule, editthe, actual, st. Bledric ap Custennin also known as Blederic Bredrice Peledric Bletius Bledrys Bledrig Bletricius or Bledericus was a 6th and 7th century ruler of Dumnonia now part of the English West Country Contents 1 Life and rule 2 Family 3 Death 4 Literature 5 ReferencesLife and rule editThe actual status and reality of Bledric is difficult to ascertain as most his references are in old Welsh literature variously known as King Duke or Prince of Devonshire and or Cornwall He was described as Duke of Cornwall by c 603 1 and an ally of northern Welsh kings The fullest account of Bledric s life comes from Geoffrey of Monmouth s pseudohistorical Historia Regum Britanniae where he is numbered amongst the legendary Dukes of Cornwall Here Bledric Duke of Cornwall was the commander of the allied British armies which included King Cadvan of North Wales Cadfan ap Iago of Gwynedd and King Margadud of South Wales probably Maredydd ap Rhain of Dyfed at the Battle of Bangor is Coed He joined battle with the army of AEthelfrith of Northumbria who had just slain 1200 monks and succeeded in wounding AEthelfrith and defeating the Angles but being slain himself 2 Some authors have Peredur son of Cado ap Gerren ruling as king in the fl 7th century descended from a different line of Dumnonian kings from Gerren Llyngesic 3 This is as given in the Dumnonian king list derived from Jesus College Oxford MS 20 4 Family editBledric was one of three sons of king Constantine or Custennin who died in c 560 his brothers being Gerren rac Denau who he may have succeeded as king and Domuel or Dywel He also had a sister who married Peibio Clafrog king of Ergyng in South Wales Bledric may have had two sons Clemen as given in the Llyfr Baglan Book of Baglan who is thought to have succeeded him and Blethyn as given by Caradoc of Llancarfan Death editCaradoc of Llancarfan in his Historie of Cambria History of Wales notes that Bledric was one of the British leaders killed by King AEthelfrith of Northumbria and King AEthelberht of Kent at Bangor on the River Dee 5 in c 613 where he is described as the Prince of Devonshire and Cornwall It is said that by the valiant forgoings of his life got his partners the victory 1 His sons apparently went on to enjoy the government of North Wales ever since Cadfan ap Iago was chief King in Britain Caradoc of Llancarfan also gives Bledric s descendants elsewhere and gives Blethyn or Bleddyn as his son and Ednowen or Ednowain as his grandson Literature editBledric may also appear in one of the Welsh Triads Triad 69 the Three Defilements of the Severn give the second as the gift of Golydan from Einiawn son of Bedd king of Cornwall 6 although given the genealogy of Caradoc of Llancarfan this could be his supposed son Bleddyn who was recorded as father of Ednowain He is also given in Llyfr Baglan as a Duke of Cornwall son of Constantine High King of Britain e g Custennin and father of Clement e g Clemen Duke of Cornwall 7 References edit a b Carew Richard The Survey of Cornwall And An Epistle Concerning the Excellencies of the English Tongue London 1769 p77 Evans Sebastian Histories of the Kings of Britain by Geoffry of Monmouth 1904 p301 Ashley Mike The Mammoth Book of British Kings amp Queens New York Carroll amp Graff 1998 ISBN 0 7867 0692 9 p118 Snyder Christopher A The Britons Blackwell 2003 ISBN 0 631 22260 X p166 Powell David The History of Wales written originally in British by Caradoc of Llancarfan T Evans London 1774 p17 Mariboe Knud Encyclopaedia of the Celts 1994 ISBN 87 985346 1 0 Williams John Llyfr Baglan or The Book of Baglan Compiled Between the Years 1600 and 1607 Edited by Joseph Alfred Bradney London Mitchell Hughes and Clarke 1910 p80 Regnal titles Preceded byGerren rac Denau King of Dumnoniac 598 c 613 Succeeded byClemen ap Bledric Legendary titles UnknownLast known title holder Constantine Duke of Cornwall Unknown Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bledric ap Custennin amp oldid 1157761407, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
