Cunedda

Cunedda ap Edern (c.AD 386-c.460; reigned from the 440s) (Latin: Cunetacius; English: Kenneth), also known as as Cunedda Wledig ('the Imperator'), was an important early Welsh leader, and the progenitor of the royal dynasty of Gwynedd.

The name 'Cunedda' derives from the Brythnic word counodagos, meaning 'good lord'. His genealogy is traced back to Padarn Beisrudd, which literally translated as Paternus of the Scarlet Robe. Padarn was a Roman official of reasonably high rank who, according to tradition, had been placed in command of Votadini troops stationed in the Clackmannanshire region of Scotland in the 380s by the Emperor Magnus Maximus. Alternatively, he may have been a frontier chieftain who was granted Roman military rank, a practice attested elsewhere along the empire's borders at the time. In all likelihood, Padarn's command in Scotland was assumed after his death by his son, Edern (in Latin, Aeturnus), and then passed to Edern's son, Cunedda.

Constantine III departed from Britain with the last of Rome's military forces in 407 leaving little organised defence against barbarian invaders. Cunedda's family led the Votadini against Pictish and Irish incursions south of Hadrian's Wall.

The Votadini troops under Cunedda were subsequently transported to North Wales in order to defend the region from Irish invasion. This was traditionally thought to have been on the orders of Maximus. Cunedda established himself in Wales, in the territory of the Venedotians, which would become the centre of the kingdom of Gwynedd. Cunedda himself eventually secured a politically advantageous marriage to Gwawl, daughter of Coel Hen, the Romano-British ruler of Eboracum (modern York).

This traditional understanding of events, however, has been challenged by several historians. David Dumville dismisses the whole concept of transplanting foederati from Scotland to Wales in this manner, especially given the political state of sub-Roman Britain which may not have been able to exhibit such centralised control by the fifth century. Maximus may have handed over control of the British frontiers to local chieftains at an earlier date, with the evacuation of the fort at Chester in the 370s, he may have little option. Given that the archaeological record demonstrates Irish settlement on the Lleyn peninsula however and possible raids as far west as Wroxeter by the late fourth century, it is difficult to conceive of them having presented an effective defence in Wales.

Cunedda's grandson Mailcun was a contemporary of Gildas and died in 547. Calculating back from this date gives us the only available date for Cunedda. The reliability of early Welsh genealogies is not uncontested however, and many of the claims regarding the number and identity of heirs did not surface until as late as the tenth century. Although the Briton's dating is tenuous, Maximus would have been long dead by the time of Cunedda's floruit and indeed Roman rule was also over by this time. Settlement and the founding of a kingdom by Cunedda at this time and under Maximus is therefore unlikely.

Academics such as Sheppard Frere have argued that it may have been Vortigern (high king of the British) who moved the Votadini south at a later date, adopting elements of Roman statecraft, just as he invited Saxon settlers to protect other parts of the island. According to this version of events, Vortigern, not Magnus Maximus, would have instructed Cunedda and his Votadini subjects to move to Wales around the year 440. Vortigern had lost control by 442 when his former Saxon allies rebelled and Frere considers it improbable that Cunedda's move post-dates this time.

Of Cunedda himself even less is known. Probably celebrated for his strength, courage, and ability to rally the beleagured Romano-British forces of the region, he is claimed to have had nine sons. Cardigan (Welsh: Ceredigion) and Merioneth (Welsh: Meirionydd) were supposedly named after his two sons Ceredig and Meirion.

Preceded by First Gwynedd King

Kings of Gwynedd

Succeeded by Einion Yrth ('the Impetuous')