Legendary Dukes of Cornwall

"Duke of Cornwall" appears as a title in pseudo-historical authors as Nennius and Geoffrey of Monmouth. The list is extremely patchy, and not every succession was unbroken. Indeed, Geoffrey repeatedly introduces Dukes of Cornwall only to promote them to the Kingship of the Britons and thus put an end to their line as (merely) dukes. As adjuncts or supporting roles to the kings of the Britons, the legendary dukes of Cornwall are considered part of the vast Matter of Britain.

The list is more often thought of as a conglomeration of various Celtic rulers, Celtic warlords, and mythical heroes. If the lists of kings of Britain are legendary, then the list of dukes must be considered still more a genealogical and historical legend with no solid basis in the view of most historians. (Even within Geoffrey's History, the title of these rulers fluctuates between "duke" (dux Cornubiae) and "king" (rex Cornubiae).)

Table of dukes

king or duke title notes approximate time frame
Corineus   in the time of Brutus c. 1100 BCE
Henwinus duke in the time of Leir c. 750 BCE
Cunedagius duke in the time of Queen Cordelia c. 715 BCE
Cloten king during pentarchy after Ferrex and Porrex c. 450 BCE
Dunvallo Molmutius king then king of Britain c. 420 BCE
Belinus   simultaneously king of Britain c. 390 BCE
Tenvantius duke in time of Cassibelanus c. 55 BCE
Asclepiodotus duke becomes king of Britain c. 295 CE
Caradocus duke becomes king of Britain c. 380 CE
Dionotus duke simultaneously king of Britain c. 390 CE
Gorlois duke first husband of Igraine, Arthur's mother c. 510 CE
Mark of Cornwall king uncle of Tristan c. early 6th century
Cador duke, then king relative of Arthur c. 530 CE
Constantine duke subsequently king of Britain 542 CE
Blederic duke at the time Augustine arrives 597 CE

See also

For a list of Dukes of Cornwall from 1337 to the present, see Duke of Cornwall.