Cadell Ddyrnllwg

Cadell Ddyrnllwg (Welsh for "Cadell of the Gleaming Hilt"; born c. AD 430) was a mid-5th century King of Powys.

According to Nennius in the Historia Brittonum, Cadell was driven out of his father Cadeyern Fendigaid's kingdom by Irish pirates during the chaos of the Saxon insurrection in Southern Britain. He hid himself amongst the peasants of Powys and became a servant of the Irish chieftain, Benlli, hoping, one day, to find an opportunity to retrieve his inheritance. His chance arose when Roman clergyman, St. Germanus of Auxerre, visited Britain, probably for the second time in AD 447, to combat Pelagian views (opposition to Original Sin). Travelling into the Midlands, St. Germanus heard of the pagan Irish stronghold and, with his many followers, laid siege to the Powysian capital. Cadell showed them what modest hospitality he could in his rural hovel outside the city walls. Germanus eventually had a dreadful premonition and advised Cadell to remove all his friends from within the city walls. That night, the Royal palace was struck by lightning. The resulting fire spread quickly and all within the city were burnt alive. The young Cadell was thus restored to his throne.

It is unclear where the kingdom's capital was at the time; tradition suggests the Clwydian hillfort Foel Fenlli, the 'Hill of Benlli', while archaeological evidence points to Caer Guricon (Wroxeter, Shropshire). The latter was occupied well into the 6th century, and an ancient memorial stone bearing the Celtic name Cunorix, known as the Wroxeter Stone, has been discovered here.

According to Peter Bartrum, the meaning of Cadell's cognomen Ddyrnllwg became obscure early on and was possibly interpreted as teryn, meaning 'prince' and llwch, 'dust'. The author of the legend likely associating Cadell with Psalm 113:7, "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust". It later became to be associated with an imagined territory named Teyrnllwg. This association began with Iolo Morganwg's manuscripts and the Brut y Tywysogion in the The Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales, which Iolo Morganwg assisted in finding manuscripts for, from the nineteenth century. A Wikipedian edited the article for the Kingdom of Powys in February 2013 and incorrectly added that "Powys was originally known as Terynllwg." A Kingdom of "Terynllwg" subsequently appeared in the video game Crusader Kings II with the Charlemagne expansion released in 2014.

Cadell married Gwelfyl, one of the many daughters of King Brychan Brycheiniog. They had a number of children, including Tegid, the father of Gwynllyw, and possibly Gwynfyr Frych, Ystradwel and Ddewer. Cadell apparently died quite young.

Bibliography

• Jones [Myvyr], Owen [Owain]; Williams [Morganwg], Edward [Iolo]; Owen Pughe [Owain Meirion], William [Gwilym], eds. (1801). "Brut y Tywysogion". The Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales: Being a Collection of Historical Documents from Ancient Manuscripts (in Welsh). Vol. II. London. p. 474. Oed Crist 804, y bu fawr Arthen Brenin Ceredigiawn, a Rhydderch Brenin Dyfed, a Chadell Brenin Terynllwg, a elwir yr awr honn Powys.
• Morganwg, Iolo (1848). "Prif Gyfoethau Gwlad Gymry". In Williams, Taliesin (ed.). Iolo Manuscipts: A Selection of Ancient Welsh Manuscripts, in Prose and Verse, from the Collection Made by the Late Edward Williams, Iolo Morganwg, for the Purpose of Forming a Continuation of the Myfyrian Archaiology ; and Subsequently Proposed as Materials for A New History of Wales (in Welsh). Llandovery: William Rees. p. 89. Teyrnllwg o Aerfen hyd Argoed Dernwenyydd.
• Bartrum, Peter (1993). A Welsh Classical Dictionary: People in History and Legend Up to About A.D. 1000. National Library of Wales. ISBN 0907158730.

External links

• Wikipedia's "Missing" Kingdom by Cambrian Chronicles on YouTube