Cynan Meiriadog: a Cymric hero (Houndlet from Across the Sea)

Synonyms: Conan Meriadek, Konan Meriadek, Cynan Meriadoc, Cynan Meriadach
Cym: Houndlet from Across the Sea

Cynan is known from triad 35 of the Trioedd ynys Prydein, the Mabinogion of Breuddwyd Macsen Weldic, the prophetic verse from the Llyfr Taliesin, Armes Prydain Fawr (c 930CE) as well as Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regium Britanniae, Vita Merlinii and Nennius' Historia Britonum as well as the Cymric version of the histories in Brut Dingestow. Triad 35 simply gives Cynan as one of the leaders of the three hosts to depart Britain, but never return. The same stanza gives Cynan as the sister of Elen Lluyddog. This links us to the legend of Magnus Maximus as told in the Mabinogion, for Elen is the wife who is revealed to Magnus Maximus in his eponymous dream.

Geoffrey of Monmouth's account Magnus Maximus bestowed the land of Brittany on Cynan in payment for the assistance given in the conquering of Gaul and from him were descended the leaders of Brittany who were Arthur's forebears (another example of Geoffrey giving pre-eminence to his native Brittany in his tales). In the 'Dream of Magnus Maximus', however, gives Cynan the credit both for the initial conquest of Brittany and the subsequent conquering of Rome itself no Magnus Maximus' behalf. After Magnus' marriage to Elen both Cynan and Adeon (Elen's brothers) follow Magnus Maximus to the content and after re-establishing Magnus as emperor in Rome Cynan decides to remain in the conquered territory of Armorica rather than following Adaon back home. This account is followed by a tale of how Brittany gained its Cymric name of Llydaw: 'and there [in the land of Armoricia] they settled and, as many had taken foreign wives, lest their language be corrupted they decided to cut-off the tongues of their women folk. And because the women ceased to speak their language and the men spoke it they were henceforth called the men of Llydaw' (here the false etymology of lled-taw 'half-silent' is given for the realm).

That Cynan's men also remained in Brittany alludes to an older tradition that Magnus Maximus denuded Britain of its fighting men. This tradition refers to events of about 450CE and remainis in the work of the Cynfeirdd (the earliest surviving Cymric bards) and it was later accepted into the histories of Brittany. Though the original migrations to Brittany probably began due to Irish, Scottish and Saxon raids around 400CE this is not too far from the time of Magnus Maximus that the later Cymry seeking to explain their cousins across the channel attached the migrations to the lost soldiers of Magnus Maximus, engendering a false history that seemed to closely parallel the known facts.

According to the Jesus College Genealogy XI the royal Dumnonian line (the Cymric rulers of Devon) traces its ancestry back to Cynan mab Eudaf Hen and from there to the gods Brân and Llŷr. Starting from the tenth century, prophetic verse (as exemplified by the Armes Prydain Fawr) Cynan becomes associated with Cadwaladr as the two hero-figures destined to return one day and free the Cymry from Saxon opression. It is interesting when reading the Armes that several references are made to the men of Llydaw, that they be included in a pan-Brythonic alliance against the Saxon invaders. Assuming that the Cynan of the Armes is Cynan Meiriadog then this would provide evidence of the survival of the insular legend of Cynan and his settlement of Brittany.

In Brittany Cynan was hailed as the founder of their country (and the house of Rohan) and their first ruler, who was also considered the ruler of Dumnonia. According to the legends at least Cynan Meriadog died in 480 and was succeded to the Breton throne by his son, Gradlon.

The came Cynan is derived from the Brythonic components cy- (hound, dog) and the diminutive -an and can be rendered into English as 'Houndlet'. The 'Meriadoc/Meriadog' component of the name (which became the familial name of Cynan's line) is more challenging etymologically. It may be related to the reconstructed proto-Celtic *mori- and can be interpreted as 'he of the sea' or glossed to 'he who came across the sea'. The name also applies to St. Meriasek who, according to the Conrnish miracle play Beunans Meriasek was the kinsman of Cynan who wanted to arrange a political marriage for him; but Meriasek preferred to renounce his inheritance and become a priest. He crossed the Channel to found an oratory in Camborne, Cornwall.

It is interesting to note that in the 10th Century the heroes expected to return and save the Cymry were Cynan and Cadwaladr rather than Arthur of later folk tradition and Owain Glyndŵr of even later tradition.

If you would like to try the foods of the time of the ancient Celts, then why not have a look at the ancient recipes section of this site. For the foods of the time when some of these tales were written down, take a look at the Medieval recipes section of the site and, in particular, the recipes from The Forme of Cury.

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