Kings of Dumnonia

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The Kings of Dumnonia ruled the large Brythonic kingdom of Dumnonia in the south-west of Great Britain during the Sub-Roman and early medieval periods.

The Dumnonii civitas capital under the Romans was Isca Dumnoniorum (modern Exeter)[1]. Known as Caer Uisc, Exeter was still inhabited by Dumnonian Britons up until the 10th century[2] when King Athelstan expelled them. By the mid-9th century, the royal seat may have been relocated further west, during the West Saxon advance, to Lis-Cerruyt (modern Liskeard)[3]. Cornish earls in the 10th century were said to have moved to Lostwithiel after Liskeard was seized[4]. Several other royal residents may also have served the kings of Dumnonia or Cornwall, including Din-Tagell (modern Tintagel)[5], Cadbury Castle[6], and Castle Dore [7].

Contents

[edit] Dumnonian king list

The list of Dumnonian kings is one of the hardest of the major Dark Age kingdoms to accurately compile, as it is confused by Arthurian legend, complicated by strong associations with the kings of Wales and Brittany, and obscured by the relentless Saxon advance. Therefore this list should be treated with relative caution.

The original Celtic chiefs of the Dumnonii ruled in the south-west until faced with the Roman arrival into their territory in c.AD 55 when the Romans established a legionary fortress at at Isca (Exeter)[8]. Although subjegated by c.AD 78, the Dumnonii likely retained strong local control[9], and may have been self-governed under Roman rule[10]. The following list has been compiled principally from the work of Ashley[11], Kessler[12], Hughes[13] and the Book of Baglan[14]. The early Cornish kings who may have had some form of independence from Dumnonian overlordship are not listed here.

[edit] Dumnonian kings

Mythical 'Dukes of Cornwall' recorded by Geoffrey of Monmouth:

Presumed kings appearing in the ancestry of later monarchs:

  • Conan Meriadoc ap Gereint (Conan the Merry) (c.340-c.387)
  • Gadeon ap Conan (c.387-c.390)
  • Guoremor ap Gadeon (c.387-c.400)
  • Tutwal ap Guoremor (c.400-c.410)
  • Conomor ap Tutwal (c.410-c.435)
  • Constantine Corneu ap Conomar (Constantine of Cornwall) (c.435-c.443)

Kings recorded in Welsh records and literature:

Possible rulers given in the early 17th century Book of Baglan[14] as ancestors of an 'Earl of Cornwall':

  • Bledric ap Custennin (c.598-c.613)
  • Clement ap Beldric (c.613-c.633)
  • Petroc Baladrddellt ap Clemen (Petroc Splintered Spear) (c.633-c.654)
  • Culmin ap Bledric (c.659-c.661)
  • Donyarth ap Culmin (c.661-c.700)

Kings recorded in Anglo-Saxon sources:

[edit] Cornish kings

See also: Kingdom of Cornwall

By the end of the 8th century, Dumnonia was much reduced in size by the aggressive advance of the West Saxons and the remaining territory became the Kingdom of Cornwall. The generally accepted date for this transistion is around 800[15]. Subsequent possible rulers also appear in the Book of Baglan[14]:

  • Ithel Eiddyn ap Donyarth (Ithel the Rock) (c.710-c.715)
  • Dyfnwal Boifunall ap Ithel (Dyfnwal of Boifunall) (fl. c.730s)
  • Cawrdolli ap Dyfnwal (fl. c.750s)
  • Oswallt ap Cawrdolli (fl. c.770s)
  • Hernam ap Oswallt (fl. c.790s)
  • Hopkin ap Hernam (fl. c.810s)
  • Mordaf ap Hopkin (fl. c.830s)
  • Fferferdyn ap Mordaf (fl. c.850s)
  • Donyarth (c.865-c.876)
  • Eluid ap Fferferdyn (fl. c.880s)
  • Alanorus ap Eluid (fl. c.890s)

Others appear in records open to interpretation:

[edit] Cornish earls

If he is not to be identified with Hywel Dda of Deheubarth, the singularly recorded Huwal could have been the last native king. Some of the later supposed rulers listed below are given the title 'Earl of Cornwall', although in two cases may have been recognized as rebel kings (Conan in 934 and Cadoc in 1100)[16].

  • Conan (c.926-c.937)
  • Rolope ap Alanorus (fl. c.940s)
  • Vortegyn Helin ap Rolope (Vortegyn the High Lord) (fl. c.960s)
  • Veffyne ap Vortegyn (fl. c.980s)
  • Alured ap Veffyne (fl. c.1000s)
  • Godwyn ap Alured (fl. c.1010)
  • Herbet FitzGodwyn (fl. c.1050)
  • Cadoc of Cornwall (c.1066-c.1068)
  • Robert, Comte de Mortain (c.1068-c.1084)
  • William FitzRobert (c.1084-c.1106) (opposed by Cadoc ap Cador)
  • Cadoc (fl. c.1100)

Cadoc's daughter Avice is said to have married William FitzRobert de Mortaigne[16] and title of Earl of Cornwall passed to the Normans and never returns to the native royal family.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Roman-Britain.org The Dumnonii. Retrieved on 2007-11-25.
  2. ^ Snyder, Christopher A. The Britons Blackwell 2003 ISBN 0-631-22260-6 p169
  3. ^ Whitaker, John. The Ancient Cathedral of Cornwall, Historically Surveyed. London, 1804 p30
  4. ^ Whitaker, John. The Ancient Cathedral of Cornwall, Historically Surveyed. London, 1804 p48
  5. ^ Tintagel. Retrieved on 2007-11-19.
  6. ^ Cadbury Castle. Retrieved on 2007-11-19.
  7. ^ Conomor of Castle Dore. Retrieved on 2007-11-19.
  8. ^ Roman Britain 43-425. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
  9. ^ Snyder, Christopher A. The Britons Blackwell 2003 ISBN 0-631-22260-6
  10. ^ Dumnonia. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
  11. ^ Ashley, Mike. The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens New York: Carroll & Graff 1998 ISBN 0-7967-0692-9
  12. ^ The History Files: Post-Roman Celtic Kingdoms: Dumnonia
  13. ^ Hughes, David. Royalty, The British Chronicles, 2 vols 2007 ISBN 0-78-843301-6
  14. ^ a b c Williams, John. Llyfr Baglan: or The Book of Baglan. Compiled Between the Years 1600 and 1607. Edited by Joseph Alfred Bradney. London: Mitchell, Hughes and Clarke, 1910. p80
  15. ^ Dumnonia. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
  16. ^ a b Hughes, David. Royalty, The British Chronicles, 2 vols 2007 ISBN 0-78-843301-6 Cornovia, 3A

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links