Ryons of Gwynedd

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In the fictional universe of the Deryni novels of Katherine Kurtz, Ryons Haldane was the fourth King of Gwynedd, reigning from 719 to 736.

Ryons Gospatric Haldane was born on May 18, 700, the eldest son of King Llarik Haldane and his second wife, Queen Sidonie. All four of Llarik's sons from his first marriage were dead by the time of Ryons' birth, so the infant prince was acknowledged as the hereditary heir to the throne despite being his father's fifth-born son. (Of Llarik's first four sons, the younger two, Augarin and Caldor, died of natural causes at young ages, while the elder two, Dolon and Jestyn, were executed by their father in 699 after he accused them of plotting treason against him.)

Ryons came to the throne in 719 after King Llarik's mysterious death. Rumors at the time claimed that Ryons had discovered that his father was planning to have him arrested and executed, so he took the necessary steps to preserve his own life and gain the throne. It is not known if Llarik's death was accidental or intentional (he fell from a high window), nor whether or not Ryons played a direct personal role in his father's death. Regardless, there were few in Gwynedd who mourned the passing of King Llarik the Cruel, and Ryons was crowned King of Gwynedd on March 26, two months after his father's death. Most of Ryons' reign was spent fighting the various foreign barbarians who had been plaguing Gwynedd's borders throughout much of his father's reign. Llarik's failure to defeat these invaders had weakened Gwynedd considerably, and Ryons was determined to drive out them out and restore his kingdom. Despite his determination, the Muslim and Norse forces that had besieged Gwynedd were not easily removed, and Ryons spent much of his reign in an ongoing series of battles. Moorish forces eventually reached the capital of Rhemuth in 733, but Ryons succeeded in saving the city before it could be sacked. Eventually, the constant campaigning cost Ryons his life, and he was slain battling Muslim forces near the city of Nyford. King Ryons Haldane died on August 19, 736, at the age of 36. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Prince Bearand Haldane.

[edit] Family

• Married Princess Raphaela of Torenth on June 10, 719.
  • Prince Bearand (later King of Gwynedd)
  • Princess Asthore
  • Princess Doireann
  • Prince Phaedrig Imre (twin)
  • Princess Phiala Imretta (twin)

[edit] Sources

• Katherine Kurtz and Robert Reginald, Codex Derynianus, ISBN 0-89370-011-8

Preceded by Llarik Haldane

King of Gwynedd 719 - 736

Succeeded by Bearand Haldane