Owain Danwyn (fl. 440) was a king of Rhos in Gwynedd, northwestern Wales, in the mid-5th century. He was the son of Einion Yrth and the father of Cynlas Goch, probably the Cuneglasus excoriated by Gildas. Very little is known of his life. Graham Phillips and Martin Keatman proposed a theory that he was the historical figure behind the legend of King Arthur.
Owain Danwyn (Old Welsh Dantguin, also spelled Ddanwyn, Ddantgwyn, etc., meaning "White Tooth"), is known from several medieval genealogies of the kings of Rhos. Most of these concur that he was the son of Einion Yrth and grandson of Cunedda, founder of the Gwynedd dynasty in North Wales.[1] His brother was Cadwallon Lawhir ap Einion, known from the Gwynedd pedigrees.[2] Owain was the father of Cynlas Goch, who is identified with the prince named Cuneglasus who Gildas castigated for his various sins in De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae. According to the Bonedd y Saint, a genealogy of British saints, Owain was also the father of the saints Einion Frenin, Seiriol and Meirion, and in some versions, Hawystl Gloff.[1]
According to Gildas, Maelgwn, the son of Owain's brother Cadwallon, took the throne of Gwynedd by murdering an uncle. Peter Bartrum suggests this may have been Owain, though he notes that Gildas' term avunculus typically refers to a maternal uncle.[3]
Arthurian identificationedit
Writers Graham Phillips and Martin Keatman proposed that Owain Danwyn was the historical basis for the legendary King Arthur. This theory is based partly on their interpretation of the British power structure in the 5th century, and interpretations of names and epithets associated with Owain's family. According to Phillips and Keatman, "Arthur" was Owain's honorific title, meaning "Bear", and his capital was Viroconium in Shropshire, England.[4]
Charles T. Wood commented that their thesis lacked conclusive proof but noted that their book was "always accurate in its use of sources and seldom wildly farfetched in the conclusions it draws."[5] Rodney Castleden criticized the assumptions Phillips and Keatman based their conclusions on.[6]
^Graham Phillips & Martin Keatman. King Arthur: The True Story. Century, 1992.
^Wood, Charles T. (Fall 1995). "Reviewed Works: From Scythia to Camelot: A Radical Reassessment of the Legends of King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, and the Holy Grail by C. Scott Littleton and Linda A. Malcor, and: King Arthur: The True Story by Graham Phillips and Martin Keatman". Arthuriana. 5 (3). doi:10.1353/art.1995.0033. JSTOR 27869131.
^Castleden, Rodney (2003). King Arthur: The Truth Behind the Legend. Routledge. p. 124. ISBN1134373775.
April 10, 2024
owain, danwyn, king, rhos, gwynedd, northwestern, wales, century, einion, yrth, father, cynlas, goch, probably, cuneglasus, excoriated, gildas, very, little, known, life, graham, phillips, martin, keatman, proposed, theory, that, historical, figure, behind, le. Owain Danwyn fl 440 was a king of Rhos in Gwynedd northwestern Wales in the mid 5th century He was the son of Einion Yrth and the father of Cynlas Goch probably the Cuneglasus excoriated by Gildas Very little is known of his life Graham Phillips and Martin Keatman proposed a theory that he was the historical figure behind the legend of King Arthur Contents 1 History 2 Arthurian identification 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory editOwain Danwyn Old Welsh Dantguin also spelled Ddanwyn Ddantgwyn etc meaning White Tooth is known from several medieval genealogies of the kings of Rhos Most of these concur that he was the son of Einion Yrth and grandson of Cunedda founder of the Gwynedd dynasty in North Wales 1 His brother was Cadwallon Lawhir ap Einion known from the Gwynedd pedigrees 2 Owain was the father of Cynlas Goch who is identified with the prince named Cuneglasus who Gildas castigated for his various sins in De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae According to the Bonedd y Saint a genealogy of British saints Owain was also the father of the saints Einion Frenin Seiriol and Meirion and in some versions Hawystl Gloff 1 According to Gildas Maelgwn the son of Owain s brother Cadwallon took the throne of Gwynedd by murdering an uncle Peter Bartrum suggests this may have been Owain though he notes that Gildas term avunculus typically refers to a maternal uncle 3 Arthurian identification editWriters Graham Phillips and Martin Keatman proposed that Owain Danwyn was the historical basis for the legendary King Arthur This theory is based partly on their interpretation of the British power structure in the 5th century and interpretations of names and epithets associated with Owain s family According to Phillips and Keatman Arthur was Owain s honorific title meaning Bear and his capital was Viroconium in Shropshire England 4 Charles T Wood commented that their thesis lacked conclusive proof but noted that their book was always accurate in its use of sources and seldom wildly farfetched in the conclusions it draws 5 Rodney Castleden criticized the assumptions Phillips and Keatman based their conclusions on 6 See also editKings of Wales family treesReferences edit a b Bartrum Peter 1993 Owain Danwyn ab Einion Yrth A Welsh Classical Dictionary People in History and Legend up to about A D 1000 PDF National Library of Wales p 594 ISBN 0907158730 Bartrum Peter 1993 Cadwallon Lawhir ap Einion Yrth A Welsh Classical Dictionary People in History and Legend up to about A D 1000 PDF National Library of Wales p 94 ISBN 0907158730 Bartrum Peter 1993 Maelgwn Gwynedd A Welsh Classical Dictionary People in History and Legend up to about A D 1000 PDF National Library of Wales p 500 ISBN 0907158730 Graham Phillips amp Martin Keatman King Arthur The True Story Century 1992 Wood Charles T Fall 1995 Reviewed Works From Scythia to Camelot A Radical Reassessment of the Legends of King Arthur the Knights of the Round Table and the Holy Grail by C Scott Littleton and Linda A Malcor and King Arthur The True Story by Graham Phillips and Martin Keatman Arthuriana 5 3 doi 10 1353 art 1995 0033 JSTOR 27869131 Castleden Rodney 2003 King Arthur The Truth Behind the Legend Routledge p 124 ISBN 1134373775 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Owain Danwyn amp oldid 1141517469, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
