Owain of Gwynedd

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In the fictional universe of the Deryni novels of Katherine Kurtz, Owain Haldane was the sixteenth King of Gwynedd, reigning from 928 to 948. He was the eleventh member of the House of Haldane to sit upon the throne of Gwynedd, and the fifth consecutive Haldane king since the end of the Festillic Interregnum.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Owain Javan Cinhil Haldane was born on February 29, 924, the eldest surviving son and heir of King Rhys Michael Haldane and his wife, Queen Michaela Drummond. Owain's Haldane potential was set by Rhysel Thuryn and his mother, Queen Michaela, the day after his father's death in 928. Owain succeeded his father upon the throne of Gwynedd, and the four-year-old became the youngest King of Gwynedd in history. Prior to his death, King Rhys Michael legally altered his will to change the members of the Regency Council who would rule in Owain's stead during his minority, an action taken in an attempt to break the oppressive hold that the lords of state held over the House of Haldane. Rhys Michael's gamble succeeded when the new members of the Regency Council arrived during his funeral to claim their legal rights. A brief battle ensued, during which time Owain was briefly held hostage by Earl Rhun von Horthy before being rescued by his uncle, Lord Cathan Drummond. The old lords of state were killed or captured during the fight, and the throne of Gwynedd was once again free. Owain was officially crowned King of Gwynedd on September 29, 928, by Archbishop Ailin MacGregor, the newly-elected Archbishop of Valoret and Primate of All Gwynedd. The new Regency Council, led by Dowager Queen Michaela, ruled wisely and well for the next ten years, finally disbanding when Owain reached his majority on March 1, 938. A decade later, in 948, Gwynedd was invaded by the Festillic Pretender Marek I Furstan-Festil. Owain led the royal army forth to drive the invaders back, and the battle was joined in Eastmarch. Unfortunately, the king was killed in combat a shortly thereafter. King Owain Haldane died in May of 948 at the age of 24. He was succeeded by his younger brother, Prince Uthyr Haldane.