Uthyr of Gwynedd

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In the fictional universe of the Deryni novels of Katherine Kurtz, Uthyr Haldane was the seventeenth King of Gwynedd, reigning from 948 to 980. He was the twelfth member of the House of Haldane to sit upon the throne of Gwynedd, and the sixth consecutive Haldane king since the end of the Festillic Interregnum.

Uthyr Michael Richard Haldane was born on January 15, 929, the second surviving son of King Rhys Michael Haldane of Gwynedd and his wife, Queen Michaela Drummond. Uthyr's father died in June of 928, seven months before Uthyr's birth, and his older brother, Owain, had already been crowned King of Gwynedd at the age of four years old when Uthyr was born. Uthyr was created Duke of Carthmoor at birth, and succeed his brother upon the throne after Owain was slain battling the invasion of the Festillic Pretender Marek I Furstán-Festil in 948. Uthyr rallied the Gwyneddan army after the death of the king and shortly thereafter succeeded in defeating Marek and driving the Festillic forces back across the border. He was officially crowned King of Gwynedd on September 29, 948. Much of Uthyr's reign was spent repairing the physical and economic damage of the Festillic invasion. He attainted those Gwyneddan houses that had supported the attempted coup, and sent peace overtures to King Arion I of Torenth. (Though Torenth had not officially participated in the Festillic invasion, Arion had supported Marek with money, equipment, and mercenaries.) At a meeting between Uthyr and Arion in 955, Arion pledged that he would never again support a Festillic Pretender during his lifetime. By the time of his death in 980, Uthyr had reigned longer than any other Haldane king since the reign of St. Bearand Haldane. King Uthyr Haldane died on September 16, 980, at the age of 51. He was succeeded by his eldest son and heir, Prince Nygel Haldane.

[edit] Family

• Married Countess Grania MacInnis of Culdi on May 2, 947.
  • Prince Nygel (later King of Gwynedd)
  • Prince Cinhil (later Duke of Carthmoor, died age 13)
  • Prince Jasher (later Earl of Culdi and King of Gwynedd)
  • Prince Cluim (later Earl of Carthane and King of Gwynedd)
  • Princess Gesella (twin) (later married Erastus the Hort of Orsal and Prince of Tralia)
  • Princess Estella (twin) (died age 2 months)
  • Princess Graziana (later married Sieur Selvase de Broun)

[edit] References

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

Preceded by Owain Haldane

King of Gwynedd 948 - 980

Succeeded by Nygel Haldane