Kings of Dumnonia
Encyclopedia
The kings of Dumnonia ruled the large Brython
ic 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
). Known as Caer Uisc, Exeter was still inhabited by Dumnonian Britons up until the 10th century 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
). Cornish earls in the 10th century were said to have moved to Lostwithiel
after Liskeard was seized. Several other royal residences may also have served the kings of Dumnonia or Cornwall, including Din-Tagell (modern Tintagel
), Cadbury Castle
, and Castle Dore
.
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 Isca (Exeter). Although subjugated by c.AD 78, the Dumnonii likely retained strong local control, and may have been self-governed under Roman rule. The following list has been compiled principally from the Book of Baglan.. The early Cornish kings who may have had some form of independence from Dumnonian overlordship are not listed here.
:
Presumed kings appearing in the ancestry of later monarchs:
Kings recorded in Welsh records and literature:
Possible rulers given in the early 17th century Book of Baglan as ancestors of an 'Earl of Cornwall':
Kings recorded in Anglo-Saxon
sources:
of the Kingdom of Cornwall
. The generally accepted date for this transition is around 800. Subsequent possible rulers also appear in the Book of Baglan:
Others appear in records open to interpretation:
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).
Cadoc's daughter Avice is said to have married William FitzRobert de Mortaigne and the title of Earl of Cornwall passed to the Normans
and never returned to the native royal family.
Brython
The Britons were the Celtic people culturally dominating Great Britain from the Iron Age through the Early Middle Ages. They spoke the Insular Celtic language known as British or Brythonic...
ic kingdom of Dumnonia
Dumnonia
Dumnonia is the Latinised name for the Brythonic kingdom in sub-Roman Britain between the late 4th and late 8th centuries, located in the farther parts of the south-west peninsula of Great Britain...
in the south-west
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
during the Sub-Roman
Sub-Roman Britain
Sub-Roman Britain is a term derived from an archaeological label for the material culture of Britain in Late Antiquity: the term "Sub-Roman" was invented to describe the potsherds in sites of the 5th century and the 6th century, initially with an implication of decay of locally-made wares from a...
and early medieval
Early Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages was the period of European history lasting from the 5th century to approximately 1000. The Early Middle Ages followed the decline of the Western Roman Empire and preceded the High Middle Ages...
periods.
The Dumnonii
Dumnonii
The Dumnonii or Dumnones were a British Celtic tribe who inhabited Dumnonia, the area now known as Devon and Cornwall in the farther parts of the South West peninsula of Britain, from at least the Iron Age up to the early Saxon period...
civitas capital under the Romans was Isca Dumnoniorum
Isca Dumnoniorum
Isca Dumnoniorum was a town in the Roman province of Britannia and the capital of Dumnonia in the sub-Roman period. Today it is known as Exeter, located in the English county of Devon.-Fortress:...
(modern Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
). Known as Caer Uisc, Exeter was still inhabited by Dumnonian Britons up until the 10th century 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
Liskeard
Liskeard is an ancient stannary and market town and civil parish in south east Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.Liskeard is situated approximately 20 miles west of Plymouth, west of the River Tamar and the border with Devon, and 12 miles east of Bodmin...
). Cornish earls in the 10th century were said to have moved to Lostwithiel
Lostwithiel
Lostwithiel is a civil parish and small town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom at the head of the estuary of the River Fowey. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,739...
after Liskeard was seized. Several other royal residences may also have served the kings of Dumnonia or Cornwall, including Din-Tagell (modern Tintagel
Tintagel
Tintagel is a civil parish and village situated on the Atlantic coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom. The population of the parish is 1,820 people, and the area of the parish is ....
), Cadbury Castle
Cadbury Castle
Cadbury Castle may refer to:*Cadbury Castle, Devon, an Iron Age hill fort*Cadbury Castle, Somerset, an Iron Age hill fort...
, and Castle Dore
Castle Dore
Castle Dore is an Iron Age and early mediaeval hill fort near Fowey in Cornwall, United Kingdom located at .- Description and History :It consists of circular bank and ditch enclosure with a second enclosure nearby thought to have been an animal corral...
.
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 ArthurianKing Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
legend, complicated by strong associations with the kings of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, and obscured by the relentless Saxon advance. Therefore this list should be treated with relative caution.
The original Celtic chiefs of the Dumnonii
Dumnonii
The Dumnonii or Dumnones were a British Celtic tribe who inhabited Dumnonia, the area now known as Devon and Cornwall in the farther parts of the South West peninsula of Britain, from at least the Iron Age up to the early Saxon period...
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 Isca (Exeter). Although subjugated by c.AD 78, the Dumnonii likely retained strong local control, and may have been self-governed under Roman rule. The following list has been compiled principally from the Book of Baglan.. The early Cornish kings who may have had some form of independence from Dumnonian overlordship are not listed here.
Dumnonian kings
Mythical 'Dukes of Cornwall' recorded by Geoffrey of MonmouthGeoffrey of Monmouth
Geoffrey of Monmouth was a cleric and one of the major figures in the development of British historiography and the popularity of tales of King Arthur...
:
- CaradocCaradocusIn Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia regum Britanniae, a fictional account of the kings of the Britons, Caradocus was titular king of the Britons in the absence of Emperor Magnus Maximus, who had left to campaign in Gaul....
(c.290–c.305) - DonaultDionotusIn Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia regum Britanniae, whose account of the rulers of Britain is based on ancient Welsh sources disputed by many historians, Dionotus was a "legendary" King of the Britons during the campaigns in Gaul led by Emperor Magnus Maximus...
, brother of Caradoc (c.305–c.340)
Presumed kings appearing in the ancestry of later monarchs:
- Conan MeriadocConan MeriadocConan Meriadoc is a legendary British leader credited with founding Brittany. Versions of his story circulated in both Brittany and Great Britain from at least the early 12th century, and supplanted earlier legends of Brittany's foundation...
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:
- Erbin ap ConstantineErbin of DumnoniaErbin of Dumnonia was a 5th century King of Dumnonia and saint of Wales.-Monarch:Traditionally, Erbin was a King of Dumnonia, the son of Constantine Corneu and the father of Geraint...
(c.443–c.480) - Geraint Llyngesic ab ErbinGeraintGeraint is a character from Welsh folklore and Arthurian legend, a king of Dumnonia and a valiant warrior. He may have lived during or shortly prior to the reign of the historical Arthur, but some scholars doubt he ever existed...
(Gerren the Fleet Owner) (c.480–c.514) - Cado ap GerrenCadorCador was a legendary Duke of Cornwall, known chiefly through Geoffrey of Monmouth's pseudo-historical History of the Kings of Britain and previous manuscript sources such as Vita Sanctus Carantoci circa 1100 from Cotton Vespasian xiv...
(c.514–c.530) - Custennin ap CadoConstantine III of BritainConstantine was a minor king in 6th-century sub-Roman Britain, who was remembered in later British tradition as a legendary King of Britain. The only contemporary information about him comes from Gildas, who calls him king of Damnonia and castigates him for his various sins, including the murder...
(probably Saint Custennin) (c.530–c.560) - Gerren rac Denau ap Custennin (Gerren for the South) (c.560–c.598)
Possible rulers given in the early 17th century Book of Baglan as ancestors of an 'Earl of Cornwall':
- Bledric ap CustenninBledric ap CustenninBledric ap Custennin was a 6th and 7th century ruler of Dumnonia .-Life and rule:...
(c.598–c.613) - Clemen ap BledricClemen ap BledricClemen ap Bledric was a 7th century King of Dumnonia .-Family, life and rule:...
(c.613-c.633) - Petroc BaladrddelltPetroc BaladrddelltPetroc Baladrddellt was a 7th century King of Dumnonia .-Monarch:...
ap Clemen (Petroc Splintered Spear) (c.633–c.654) - Culmin ap Petroc (c.659–c.661)
- Donyarth ap Culmin (c.661–c.700)
Kings recorded in Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
sources:
- GeraintGeraint of DumnoniaGeraint was a King of Dumnonia who ruled in the early 8th century. During his reign, it is believed that Dumnonia came repeatedly into conflict with neighbouring Anglo-Saxon Wessex. Geraint was the last recorded king of a unified Dumnonia, and was called King of the Welsh by the Anglo-Saxon...
(c.700–c.710)
Cornish kings
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 rump stateRump state
A rump state is the remnant of a once-larger government, left with limited powers or authority after a disaster, invasion, military occupation, secession or partial overthrowing of a government. In the last case, a government stops short of going in exile because it still controls part of its...
of the Kingdom of Cornwall
Kingdom of Cornwall
The Kingdom of Cornwall was an independent polity in southwest Britain during the Early Middle Ages, roughly coterminous with the modern English county of Cornwall. During the sub-Roman and early medieval periods Cornwall was evidently part of the kingdom of Dumnonia, which included most of the...
. The generally accepted date for this transition is around 800. Subsequent possible rulers also appear in the Book of Baglan:
- 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)
- DonyarthDonyarthKing Donyarth is thought to have been a 9th century King of Cornwall, now part of the United Kingdom.He is known solely from an inscription on King Doniert's Stone, a 9th century cross shaft which stands in St Cleer parish in Cornwall. His social status is not recorded there...
(c.865–c.876) - Eluid ap Fferferdyn (fl. c.880s)
- Alanorus ap Eluid (fl. c.890s)
Others appear in records open to interpretation:
- RicatusRicatusKing Ricatus was a king in Cornwall in the 10th century.He is known solely from an inscription on a carved stone memorial cross, dated to 1000, which now stands in the grounds of Penlee House in Penzance. It reads, "Regis Ricati Crux" - 'The cross of King Ricatus'. Because of the late date, Prof...
(fl. c.900s) - HuwalHuwal of the West WelshHuwal was a Brythonic monarch of the early to mid-10th century recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The Chronicle refers to him as "king of the West Welsh", the usual Anglo-Saxon name for the Cornish or southwestern Britons...
(c.910–c.926)
Cornish earls
If he is not to be identified with Hywel DdaHywel Dda
Hywel Dda , was the well-thought-of king of Deheubarth in south-west Wales, who eventually came to rule Wales from Prestatyn to Pembroke. As a descendant of Rhodri Mawr, through his father Cadell, Hywel was a member of the Dinefwr branch of the dynasty and is also named Hywel ap Cadell...
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
Earl of Cornwall
The title of Earl of Cornwall was created several times in the Peerage of England before 1337, when it was superseded by the title Duke of Cornwall, which became attached to heirs-apparent to the throne.-Earl of Cornwall:...
', although in two cases may have been recognized as rebel kings (Conan in 934 and Cadoc in 1100).
- Conan (c.926–c.937)
- Rolope ap Alanorus (fl. c.940s)
- Vortegyn Helin ap Rolope (Vortegyn the High Lord) (fl. c.960s) as 'Duke of Cornwall and Wessex'
- Veffyne ap Vortegyn (fl. c.980s) as 'Duke of Cornwall and Wessex'
- Alured ap Veffyne (fl. c.1000s) as 'Duke of Cornwall and Wessex'
- Godwyn ap Alured (fl. c.1010) as 'Duke of Cornwall and Wessex', possibly Godwin, Earl of WessexGodwin, Earl of WessexGodwin of Wessex , was one of the most powerful lords in England under the Danish king Cnut the Great and his successors. Cnut made him the first Earl of Wessex...
- Herbert FitzGodwyn (fl. c.1050)
- Cadoc of CornwallCadoc of CornwallAccording to William of Worcester, writing in the fifteenth century, Cadoc was a survivor of the Cornish royal line at the time of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 and was appointed as the first Earl of Cornwall by William the Conqueror....
(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 and the title of Earl of Cornwall passed to the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
and never returned to the native royal family.
Further reading
- Stenton, F. M.Frank StentonSir Frank Merry Stenton was a 20th century historian of Anglo-Saxon England, and president of the Royal Historical Society . He was the author of Anglo-Saxon England, a volume of the Oxford History of England, first published in 1943 and widely considered a classic history of the period...
(1971). Anglo-Saxon England Third Edition Oxford: Oxford University Press ISBN 978-0-19-280139-5 - Morris, JohnJohn Morris (historian)John Robert Morris was an English historian who specialised in the study of the institutions of the Roman Empire and the history of Sub-Roman Britain...
. (2004). The Age of Arthur AS Edition Phoenix ISBN 1-824212-477-3