Petroc Baladrddellt
Encyclopedia
Petroc Baladrddellt was a 7th century King of Dumnonia
(now the English
West Country
).
or "Genealogies of the Saints", Petroc Baladrddellt ap Clemen was the son of Clemen (or Clement) ap Bledrig, his epithet meaning "Splintered Spear". It is thought he was born in c. 600 and succeeded to the Dumnonian throne after his father in c. 630, reigning at a time of continued West Saxon aggression which had also affected his father. His death may have occurred in c. 652 when King Cenwalh of Wessex
is said to have defeated the Britons at the battle of Bradford-on-Avon, taking large swathes of Dorset
and Somerset
. Other sources are unclear as to whether this battle was civil war
between Cenwalh and his kinsman Cuthred
, or against the Welsh
or the Mercians or both.
. If so, Prince Progmael appeared to have predeceased his father who died in c.654, at Y Ferwig
in Ceredigion
, leaving the Dumnonian kingdom to Culmin.
, Pedwar Marchog ar Hugain Llys Arthur ("The 24 Knights of King Arthur's Court"), Petroc is given as one of the three Marchawg Cyviawnbwyll or 'Just Knights of Britain' in Arthur’s court as Pedrog Splintered-Spear, son of Clement Prince of Cornwall
. With Blaes son of the Earl of Llychlyn, and Cadog
son of Gwynlliw the Bearded, he was described as slaying whoever did wrong to the weak, no matter how strong they might be, and the three had themselves to preserve justice by every Law. Pedrog’s was by Law of arms.
Petroc himself would have lived much later than King Arthur
, however his namesake St Petroc, with which he is often confused, was described as one of the seven survivors of the Battle of Camlann
according to Evan Evans
’ copy (Panton MS 13) of the 17th-century Peniarth 185 manuscript.
In his Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen, Williams asserts that Petroc (Pedrogl Paladrddellt) is better known as the English translation of the name Lancelot du Lac of Arthurian Legend.
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...
(now the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
West Country
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...
).
Monarch
According to the Welsh pedigrees in the Bonedd y SaintBonedd y Saint
The Bonedd y Saint is a Welsh genealogical tract detailing the lineages of the early Brythonic saints. There are a number of different manuscripts in existence dating from the early 13th to the late 17th century, although the material is much older in origin.-External links:***...
or "Genealogies of the Saints", Petroc Baladrddellt ap Clemen was the son of Clemen (or Clement) ap Bledrig, his epithet meaning "Splintered Spear". It is thought he was born in c. 600 and succeeded to the Dumnonian throne after his father in c. 630, reigning at a time of continued West Saxon aggression which had also affected his father. His death may have occurred in c. 652 when King Cenwalh of Wessex
Cenwalh of Wessex
Cenwalh, also Cenwealh or Coenwalh, was King of Wessex from c. 643 to c. 645 and from c. 648 unto his death, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, in c. 672.-Penda and Anna:...
is said to have defeated the Britons at the battle of Bradford-on-Avon, taking large swathes of Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
and Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. Other sources are unclear as to whether this battle was civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
between Cenwalh and his kinsman Cuthred
Cuthred
Cuthred was the given name of:*Cuthred of Kent, ninth century monarch*Cuthred of Wessex, eighth century monarch*Cuthred son of Cwichelm of Wessex, seventh century prince of the West Saxons...
, or against the Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
or the Mercians or both.
Family
King Petroc may have had two sons, Culmin (or Cwlfyn) and Progmael (or Brochwel). In the later case, Culmin is given as the son of Progmael and grandson of Petroc, as given in the Book of BaglanBook of Baglan
The Book of Baglan is a collection of old Welsh manuscripts, containing much genealogical data, compiled by John Williams from several sources between 1600 and 1607. It was transcribed from the original manuscript preserved in the public library at Cardiff, and edited by Joseph Bradney with...
. If so, Prince Progmael appeared to have predeceased his father who died in c.654, at Y Ferwig
Y Ferwig
Y Ferwig is a small village and community about 2 to 3 miles from Cardigan, Wales.- Amenities :The village is made up of a parish church and a few houses. The community includes the village of Gwbert and Cardigan Island, and the National Trust area of Mwnt.-External links:*...
in Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
, leaving the Dumnonian kingdom to Culmin.
In Welsh Literature
In the late medieval Welsh list of triadsWelsh Triads
The Welsh Triads are a group of related texts in medieval manuscripts which preserve fragments of Welsh folklore, mythology and traditional history in groups of three. The triad is a rhetorical form whereby objects are grouped together in threes, with a heading indicating the point of likeness...
, Pedwar Marchog ar Hugain Llys Arthur ("The 24 Knights of King Arthur's Court"), Petroc is given as one of the three Marchawg Cyviawnbwyll or 'Just Knights of Britain' in Arthur’s court as Pedrog Splintered-Spear, son of Clement Prince of Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. With Blaes son of the Earl of Llychlyn, and Cadog
Cadoc
Saint Cadoc , Abbot of Llancarfan, was one of the 6th century British Christian saints. His vita twice mentions King Arthur. The Abbey of Llancarfan, near Cowbridge in Glamorganshire, which he founded circa 518, became famous as a centre of learning...
son of Gwynlliw the Bearded, he was described as slaying whoever did wrong to the weak, no matter how strong they might be, and the three had themselves to preserve justice by every Law. Pedrog’s was by Law of arms.
Petroc himself would have lived much later than King Arthur
King 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...
, however his namesake St Petroc, with which he is often confused, was described as one of the seven survivors of the Battle of Camlann
Battle of Camlann
The Battle of Camlann is best known as the final battle of King Arthur, where he either died in battle, or was fatally wounded fighting his enemy Mordred.-Historicity:...
according to Evan Evans
Evan Evans
Evan Evans may refer to:*Evan Alfred Evans, US judge*Evan Evans , off-road champion racing in Championship Off-Road Racing*Evan Evans Evan Evans may refer to:*Evan Alfred Evans, US judge*Evan Evans (racer), off-road champion racing in Championship Off-Road Racing*Evan Evans (academic) Evan Evans...
’ copy (Panton MS 13) of the 17th-century Peniarth 185 manuscript.
In his Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen, Williams asserts that Petroc (Pedrogl Paladrddellt) is better known as the English translation of the name Lancelot du Lac of Arthurian Legend.
Further reading
- Pedwar Marchog ar Hugain Llys Arthur ("The Twenty-four Knights of Arthur’s Court"), ed. Rachel Bromwich, Trioedd Ynys Prydein. Cardiff: UWP, 2006. 3d edition. Appendix IV.