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 wooden court of Maelgwn Gwynedd, 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. Cynan and Hywel are said to be brothers in historical works such as Lloyd's History of Wales,[2] although Lloyd does not cite its source. The Annals of Wales mention the pair only by name, without any title, relation, or patronym.[3] (In comparison, it takes care to point out the brotherly nature of Elisedd's slaughter of Gruffydd ap Cyngen in Powys around the same time.) The genealogies from Jesus College MS 20 deny Cynan and Hywel were brothers at all, instead making Hywel the son of Caradog ap Meirion[4] and a distant cousin of Cynan Dindaethwy son of Rhodri Molwynog.[5] The Harleian genealogies agree with this.[6] Cynan died within a year of his exile according to the Annals of Wales[7] and the Irish Annals.[8]
A map of Gwynedd showing its traditional cantrefs.
After Cynan's death, there was a battle at his former court at Llanfaes on Anglesey noted by the chronicles,[9] but the combatants are not identified.[note 1]
Cynan's daughter Esyllt became the mother of Merfyn Frych ap Gwriad, the first King of Gwynedd (825–844) known not to have descended from the male line of Cunedda.
^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 court, it could as easily have been a struggle between Hywel and remnants of Cynan's supporters.
^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.
^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.
^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.
Lloyd, John Edward (1911), A History of Wales from the Earliest Times to the Edwardian Conquest, vol. I (2nd ed.), London: Longmans, Green, and Co (published 1912)
Owen, Aneurin, ed. (1841), Ancient Laws and Institutes of Wales, vol. I
Parry, Henry (translator), ed. (1829), "Brut y Saeson", Archaeologia Cambrensis, Third, vol. IX, London: J. Russell Smith (published 1863), p. 59–67 {{citation}}: |editor-first= has generic name (help)
Phillimore, Egerton, ed. (1887), "Pedigrees from Jesus College MS. 20", Y Cymmrodor, vol. VIII, Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, pp. 77–92
Phillimore, Egerton (1888), "The Annales Cambriæ and Old Welsh Genealogies, from Harleian MS. 3859", in Phillimore, Egerton (ed.), Y Cymmrodor, vol. IX, Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, pp. 141–183
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
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
cynan, dindaethwy, english, cynan, dindaethwy, cynan, rhodri, cynan, rhodri, king, gwynedd, reigned, wales, early, middle, ages, cynan, rhodri, molwynog, ascended, throne, gwynedd, upon, death, king, caradog, meirion, epithet, refers, commote, dindaethwy, cant. Cynan Dindaethwy English Cynan of Dindaethwy or Cynan ap Rhodri Cynan son of Rhodri was a king of Gwynedd reigned c 798 c 816 in Wales in the Early Middle Ages Cynan was the son of Rhodri Molwynog and ascended to the throne of Gwynedd upon the death of King Caradog ap Meirion in 798 His epithet refers to the commote of Dindaethwy in the cantref Rhosyr Unlike later kings of Gwynedd usually resident at Aberffraw in western Anglesey Cynan maintained his court at Llanfaes on the southeastern coast 1 Cynan s reign was marked by a destructive dynastic power struggle with a rival named Hywel usually supposed to be his brother Cynan DindaethwyKing of Wales King of the BritonsReign798 816HouseGwynedd 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 wooden court of Maelgwn Gwynedd 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 Cynan and Hywel are said to be brothers in historical works such as Lloyd s History of Wales 2 although Lloyd does not cite its source The Annals of Wales mention the pair only by name without any title relation or patronym 3 In comparison it takes care to point out the brotherly nature of Elisedd s slaughter of Gruffydd ap Cyngen in Powys around the same time The genealogies from Jesus College MS 20 deny Cynan and Hywel were brothers at all instead making Hywel the son of Caradog ap Meirion 4 and a distant cousin of Cynan Dindaethwy son of Rhodri Molwynog 5 The Harleian genealogies agree with this 6 Cynan died within a year of his exile according to the Annals of Wales 7 and the Irish Annals 8 A map of Gwynedd showing its traditional cantrefs After Cynan s death there was a battle at his former court at Llanfaes on Anglesey noted by the chronicles 9 but the combatants are not identified note 1 Cynan s daughter Esyllt became the mother of Merfyn Frych ap Gwriad the first King of Gwynedd 825 844 known not to have descended from the male line of Cunedda See also editKings of Wales family treesNotes edit 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 court it could as easily have been a struggle between Hywel and remnants of Cynan s supporters References editCitations edit Lloyd 1911 232 A History of Wales Vol I Lloyd 1911 231 A History of Wales Phillimore 1888 163 164 Annales Cambriae 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 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 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 Phillimore 1888 164 816 the Annales Cambriae Reeves 1857 389 the Chronicon Hyense year 816 Conan mac Ruadhrach rex Britonum defunctus est Phillimore 1888 164 818 the Annales Cambriae Sources edit Davies John 1990 A History of Wales First ed London Penguin Group published 1993 ISBN 0 7139 9098 8 Lloyd John Edward 1911 A History of Wales from the Earliest Times to the Edwardian Conquest vol I 2nd ed London Longmans Green and Co published 1912 Owen Aneurin ed 1841 Ancient Laws and Institutes of Wales vol I Parry Henry translator ed 1829 Brut y Saeson Archaeologia Cambrensis Third vol IX London J Russell Smith published 1863 p 59 67 a href Template Citation html title Template Citation citation a editor first has generic name help Phillimore Egerton ed 1887 Pedigrees from Jesus College MS 20 Y Cymmrodor vol VIII Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion pp 77 92 Phillimore Egerton 1888 The Annales Cambriae and Old Welsh Genealogies from Harleian MS 3859 in Phillimore Egerton ed Y Cymmrodor vol IX Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion pp 141 183 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 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 Regnal titles Preceded byCaradog ap Meirion King of Gwynedd798 816 Succeeded byHywel ap Rhodri Molwynog Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cynan Dindaethwy amp oldid 1131879519, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
