Gwenddoleu: a Cymric Hero of the Old North

Synonyms: Gwenddolau, Gwendoleu, Gwenddoleu mab Ceidio, Gwenddoleu mab Keidyaw
Cym:

Gwenddoleu is known principally from the Trioedd Ynys Prydein and the Myrddin cyle of poems in the Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin. He is also known from some of the poems in the Llyfr Coch Hergest.

The poems that concern us from the Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin are: Yr Afallennau (The Apple-trees), Oiannau Myrddin (Myrddin's Exclamations), Ymddiddan Myrddin a Thaliesin (The Dialogue of Myrddin and Taliesin) and from Llyfr Coch Hergest: Kyuoessi myrdin a gwendyd ychwaer (Dialogue Between Myrddin and His Sister, Gwenddydd) and Gwasgargerd Myrddin yn ei fedd (Lament of Myrddin in his Grave). The reconstructed tale represents Myrddin as a warrior in the Old North whose patron was a certain Gwenddoleu of the region. Gwenddoleu mab Keidyw can be interpreted as being a leader in the region of Longtown, Cumberland whose fortress may have been the old Roman fortress at Netherby (originally Castra Exploratorium). It would seem from the Afallennau that enmity existed between Gwenddoleu and Rhydderch Hael of Strathclyde whith Rhydderch representing the christianizing forces of the Old North and Gwenddoleu representing the older pagan beliefs. Though this is not explicitly stated in the Myrddin sources it would seem that matters came to a head between Gwenddoleu and Rhydderch and this led to the conflict of Arfderydd (which the Annales Cambriae dates to c 573 CE). At the battle, Myrddin's nephew, the son of his sister Gwenddydd, was killed as was his lord, Gwenddoleu. As a result of this and well before the battle's close Myrddin went mad and he flees to Coed Celyddon (The Caledonian Woods) where he lived as a wild man (hence the 'Gwyllt' epithet ascribed to him), surviving in constant terror of pursuit by Rhydderch Hael (which would indicate that Rhydderch was the victor at Arfderydd).

The descent of Gwenddoleu is given by the Bonedd Gwyr y Gogledd (Descent of the Men of the North) as: Gwenddoleu (and his brothes Nudd and Chof) sons of Ceidio son of Arthwys son of Mar son of Ceneu son of Coel. This should be compared with the descent of the sons of Eliffer Gosgordd Fawr which is given as: Gwrgi and Peredur, sons of Eliffer Gosgordd Fawr son of Arthwys son of Mar, son of Ceneu son of Coel. From this and a few other sources we can gain at least an overview of the politics of the time and the events leading up to the battle of Arfderydd. Gwenddoleu's father, Ceidio, as the geneology tells us, was the younger brother of Eliffer Gosgorddfawr of Efrawg (Ebrauc, York). For some reason Gwenddoleu and his fater, Ceidio were ousted from Efrawg, eventually coming to establish their own dynasty in Strathclyde. The reason for this expulsion is uncertain, but one Cymric legend has Eliffer killed when his sons were still young and the brothers Peredur and Gwri spent much of their lives attempting to extract vengeance on their father's murderers. This may well be a just-so story explaining the emnity between Efrawg and Gwenddoleu's court. However, it may point to a real coup attempt, which would explain the expulsion from Efrawg. In Cymric tradition, Gwenddoleu is also reckoned to be a pagan ruler, clinging to the last vestiges of the old ways, a patron of poets, cyfarwydd and those who maintained the ancient beliefs. Could a Christianization of Efrawg have led to the expulsion and the internecine strife in Efrawg? This may never be known, but it is certainly an intriguing possiblility. Whatever the true reasons for the expulsion, Gwenddoleu's father, Ceidio seems to have carved-out a kingdom for himself in the borderlands between northern Rheged and southern Ystradclud (Strathclyde). It seems that in an attempt to consolidate his kingdom Gwenddoleu formed a strategic alliance with Aedán mac Gabráin the king of the Dalriada. Previously, (as suggested by Nora Chadwick in her Early Scotland) Aedán mac Gabráin had been an ally of the kings of Ystradclud (Strathclyde) and this switching of allegiances probably resulted in Aedán's Middle Cymric epithet of bradawc (the wily/the traitor). At the time the ruler of Ystradclud was Rhydderch Hael (the Generous) and this new alliance immediately brought Rhydderch and Gwenddoleu into conflict. The fact that Rhydderch was a patron of Christina saints and Gwenddoleu was a patron of pagan bards probably did not help matters. It seems, from the surving Triads as if Rhydderch Hael formed a strategic alliance with the sons of Eliffer of Efrawg (Peredur and Gwri) and that the resultant shifting alliances almost inevitably led to conflict. As a result the armies of Gwenddoleu and Dalriada clashed against those o Ystradclud and Efrawg at the battle of Arfderydd in 573 CE. At this battle Gwenddoleu, Peredur and Gwri were slain and Rhydderch Hael emerged victorious. Thus ended the short-lived dynasty of Gwenddoleu.

The entry for this year in the Annales Cambriae states: The battle of Arfderydd between the sons of Eliffer and Gwenddoleu son of Ceidio; in which battle Gwenddolau fell; Myrddin went mad. Gwenddoleu is also mentioned in a number of Triads in the Trioedd Ynys Prydein. Triad 6 names Gwenddoleu as one of the 'Three Bull-protectors of the Island of Britain'; an epithet that seems to fly in the face of the extant legends concerning Gwenddoleu. Perhaps this alludes to a lost reference concerning battles Gwenddoleu fought against the Saxons. Triad 29 names Gwenddoleu's warriors as one of the 'Threee faithful war bands of the Island of Britain' for coninuing the battle of Arfderydd for six weeks after their lord was slain. A note to Triad 32 in a later hand attributes to Gwenddoleu the posession of magical birds 'those who kept the gold and silver'. Appendix III of the Triads names Gwenddoleu's Gwyddbwyll Board (with silver pieces on a golden ground and which once set would play itself) as one of the 'Thirteen Treasures of the Island o Britain'. These latter two mentions of Gwenddoleu and his magical posessions strongly indicate that in later tradition Gwenddoleu was considered as a legendary figure of some prominence. Only later were the heroic aspects of his deeds and character down-played leaving us with only fragments to indicate how he was once viewed.

As an historical figure Gwenddoleu's life can be dated to circa 520–573 CE and toponymy give some clues as to the heartlands of his realm. As WF Skene pointed-out in 1864 Gwenddoleu's name is probably preserved in name of Carwinelow burn in Cumberland and Arfderydd is probably Arthuret, which just over a kilometer south of Longtown. In the context of these two place names it seems likely that Gwenddoleu's stronghold was the Roman fortress sited nearby at Netherby (formerly Castra Exploratorum).

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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