Owain Ddantgwyn
Encyclopedia
Owain Ddantgwyn is the popularly recognised form of the name of a prince of North Wales, probably a King of Rhos in the late 5th century.
. One of these is given the title, 'Pedigree of (the Kings of) Rhos. According to the Bonedd y Saint, he was also the father of SS. Einion Frenin (the King), Seiriol
, Meirion and possibly others. Other than these genealogies, no documentary evidence exists concerning his life.
. This theory has been chiefly proposed by Graham Phillips and Martin Keatman in their book, King Arthur: The True Story (1992). They suggest that "Arthur" was a byname (nickname) and identify its recipient as Owain from a passage in De Excidio Britanniae. Its contemporary author, Gildas
, refers (in Latin) to Owain’s son, Cynlas, literally as "guider of the chariot which is the receptacle of the bear". "Bear" in Brythonic is "Arth", so Phillips and Keatman take this to infer that "the Arthur" was Cynlas’ predecessor, known from the genealogies to be Owain. They go on to claim that Owain ruled in Powys. The Owain as Arthur hypothesis draws on the relationships between Owain and his nephew Maelgwn Hir and compares it to the relationship between the Arthur and Mordred
of legend. Maelgwn, the "dragon of the isle" is admonished by Gildas
for murdering his uncle (Owain) and seizing his throne, events similar to those of legend whereby Mordred murders his father.
While discussing a possible connection between this Owain of Rhôs and the legend of Arthur of Britain it may also be worthy to note the similarity between Owain's epithet
Ddantgwyn, meaning "white tooth", and the name of a legendary sword Dyrnwyn, meaning "white hilt".
Dyrnwyn, the sword, is associated with Rhydderch Hael (died c.614), an important king who ruled the northern
Kingdom of Strathclyde
after Owain Ddantgwyn's death. Rhydderch Hael was also a major protagonist in the war fought against Owain's great nephew, Rhun Hir ap Maelgwn
, who had succeeded Maelgwn Hir in c.547 as the king of Gwynedd, by Strathclyde and her northern allies. In the course of this war Rhun of Gwynedd would perish in battle in Strathclyde c.586. The sword Dyrnwyn was one of the so-called Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain
and apparently held magical properties, similar to those associated with Arthur's legendary sword, Excalibur
.
Extant records
The correct modern spelling of Owain's name is Owain Danwyn (Owen White-Teeth). He appears in various ancient Welsh genealogies as the son of Einion Yrth and the father of Cynlas GochCuneglas
Cuneglas . He is recorded as a son of Owain Danwyn, a popular contender for an historical basis to the famous King Arthur...
. One of these is given the title, 'Pedigree of (the Kings of) Rhos. According to the Bonedd y Saint, he was also the father of SS. Einion Frenin (the King), Seiriol
Seiriol
Seiriol was an early 6th century saint, who created a cell at Penmon Priory on Anglesey, off the coast of north Wales. He later moved to Ynys Seiriol . He was a son of King Owain Danwyn of Rhos....
, Meirion and possibly others. Other than these genealogies, no documentary evidence exists concerning his life.
Arthurian identification
Some investigative historians have conjectured that Owain could be the origin of a "real" King ArthurKing 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...
. This theory has been chiefly proposed by Graham Phillips and Martin Keatman in their book, King Arthur: The True Story (1992). They suggest that "Arthur" was a byname (nickname) and identify its recipient as Owain from a passage in De Excidio Britanniae. Its contemporary author, Gildas
Gildas
Gildas was a 6th-century British cleric. He is one of the best-documented figures of the Christian church in the British Isles during this period. His renowned learning and literary style earned him the designation Gildas Sapiens...
, refers (in Latin) to Owain’s son, Cynlas, literally as "guider of the chariot which is the receptacle of the bear". "Bear" in Brythonic is "Arth", so Phillips and Keatman take this to infer that "the Arthur" was Cynlas’ predecessor, known from the genealogies to be Owain. They go on to claim that Owain ruled in Powys. The Owain as Arthur hypothesis draws on the relationships between Owain and his nephew Maelgwn Hir and compares it to the relationship between the Arthur and Mordred
Mordred
Mordred or Modred is a character in the Arthurian legend, known as a notorious traitor who fought King Arthur at the Battle of Camlann, where he was killed and Arthur fatally wounded. Tradition varies on his relationship to Arthur, but he is best known today as Arthur's illegitimate son by his...
of legend. Maelgwn, the "dragon of the isle" is admonished by Gildas
Gildas
Gildas was a 6th-century British cleric. He is one of the best-documented figures of the Christian church in the British Isles during this period. His renowned learning and literary style earned him the designation Gildas Sapiens...
for murdering his uncle (Owain) and seizing his throne, events similar to those of legend whereby Mordred murders his father.
While discussing a possible connection between this Owain of Rhôs and the legend of Arthur of Britain it may also be worthy to note the similarity between Owain's epithet
Epithet
An epithet or byname is a descriptive term accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, divinities, objects, and binomial nomenclature. It is also a descriptive title...
Ddantgwyn, meaning "white tooth", and the name of a legendary sword Dyrnwyn, meaning "white hilt".
Dyrnwyn, the sword, is associated with Rhydderch Hael (died c.614), an important king who ruled the northern
Hen Ogledd
Yr Hen Ogledd is a Welsh term used by scholars to refer to those parts of what is now northern England and southern Scotland in the years between 500 and the Viking invasions of c. 800, with particular interest in the Brythonic-speaking peoples who lived there.The term is derived from heroic...
Kingdom of Strathclyde
Kingdom of Strathclyde
Strathclyde , originally Brythonic Ystrad Clud, was one of the early medieval kingdoms of the celtic people called the Britons in the Hen Ogledd, the Brythonic-speaking parts of what is now southern Scotland and northern England. The kingdom developed during the post-Roman period...
after Owain Ddantgwyn's death. Rhydderch Hael was also a major protagonist in the war fought against Owain's great nephew, Rhun Hir ap Maelgwn
Rhun Hir ap Maelgwn
Rhun ap Maelgwn Gwynedd , also known as Rhun Hir ap Maelgwn Gwynedd , was King of Gwynedd . He came to the throne on the death of his father, King Maelgwn Gwynedd. There are no historical records of his reign in this early age...
, who had succeeded Maelgwn Hir in c.547 as the king of Gwynedd, by Strathclyde and her northern allies. In the course of this war Rhun of Gwynedd would perish in battle in Strathclyde c.586. The sword Dyrnwyn was one of the so-called Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain
Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain
The Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain are a series of items in late medieval Welsh tradition. Lists of the items appear in texts dating to the 15th and 16th centuries...
and apparently held magical properties, similar to those associated with Arthur's legendary sword, Excalibur
Excalibur
Excalibur is the legendary sword of King Arthur, sometimes attributed with magical powers or associated with the rightful sovereignty of Great Britain. Sometimes Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone are said to be the same weapon, but in most versions they are considered separate. The sword was...
.