Constantine Corneu

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This article is about the 5th century Dumnonian king. For the 6th century Dumnonian king and saint, see Constantine of Cornwall.

Constantine Corneu (also known as Custennin, Custennyn or Cystennin Gorneu or Gorneau) was a 5th century King of Dumnonia (now the English West Country).

Contents

[edit] Monarch

Traditionally, Constantine Corneu ap Conomor was the son of Conomor (or Cynfawr) ap Tutwal, his epithet meaning "of Cornwall"[1]. He is known from the 12th century Welsh genealogy Bonedd y Saint (the Lineage of the Saints) as the father of Saint Erbin[2]. He was born in c.411[1] and succeeded to the Dumnonian throne after his father in c.435[3].

He is also identified with Constantine Fendigaid (the Blessed), due to the confusion with the Roman Western Emperor Constantine III[4], and other Contantines of the period due to the popularity of the name in the 4th to 6th centuries.

[edit] Family

It appears that King Constantine had a brother, Drustan, of which little is known, and three sons Erbin, Digain (or Dygain) and Meirchion (or Merion)[5]. He may have been the king who had a daughter (of unknown name) who married King Pepiau Clavorauc (Pebiaw Gladrog) ap Erb of Ergyng[6], although this may have been the later Constantine of Cornwall. When Constantine died in c.443, the kingdom was probably split, following an apparent Brythonic tradition, with Erbin succeeding to Dumnonia and Meirchion to Cerniw (Cornwall)[3]. Erbin and Digain both later became saints[5].

[edit] Arthurian connections

As with many Dumnonian and Cornish royalty, Constantine has Arthurian connections and has been suggested as the father of Uther Pendragon or King Arthur himself[7], through being identified with Geoffrey of Monmouth's legendary Constantine III of Britain.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Early British Kingdoms: Constantine Corneu. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
  2. ^ Snyder, Christopher A. The Britons Blackwell 2003 ISBN 0-631-22260-6 p166
  3. ^ a b The History Files: Post-Roman Celtic Kingdoms: Dumnonia
  4. ^ Britannia: Constantine. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  5. ^ a b Early British Kingdoms: West Country Royal Pedigree. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
  6. ^ Barber, Chris and Plykitt, David. Journey to Avalon: The Final Discovery of King Arthur Weiser Books 1997 ISBN 13-978-1578630240 p249
  7. ^ Fabpedigree: Custennin Gorneu ap CYNFAWR. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.