Breton genealogies

The Vita secunda S. Winnoci (c. 1064), which gives the pedigree of the kings of Domnonia, and is composed of two segments a and b, states:

“Riwalus Britanniae dux filius fuit Derochi filii Guitoli filii Urbieni filii Catoui filii Gerentonis. Hic Riwallus, ad transmarinis veniens Britannicis cum multitudine nauium, possedit totam minorem Britanniam tempore Clotarii regis, qui Clodovei filius existitit.”

This suggests Riwal, who appears in segment b, belonged to gen. 0. I believe he was the father of Tristan.That Riwal was of gen. 0 is confirmed by Cartulaire de Landévennec, Cartulaire de Quimper and Cartulaire de Quimperlé. Those documents mention various dukes of Brittany. Conanus Sunnoc was Conan III. Alanus Hir Anger was Alan Fergant, i.e. Alan IV. Houel Huuel was Hoel II. Alain Canhiart died 1058.

Riwal’s sister, Pompaea who was the mother of Tudwal, is likely to be Alma Pompa, the mother of Leonorius. The former son was was a contemporary of Deroch II and the latter of Childebert. Breton tradtion states that Pompaea was married to Hoel Meur. This is chronologically possible according to Chronicon Briocense.

Triens of Judicahel struck at Rennes 632 – 638

Now turning to segment a of the V. Winocci, the Chronicle of Fredegar indicates Judicahel was a contemporary of Dagobert, and so belonged to gen. 3. That Judicahel was of gen. 3 is confirmed by Cartulaire de Redon as his descendant, Roiantdreh, took prince Salomon, who was duke of Brittany from 857 to 874, as her adopted son when her son died in 861.

Jonas, who is listed in segment a, appears in Culhwch ac Olwen as Iona, king of France, a companion of Arthur. His father, Riatham, is Riothamus who Jordanes called the king of the Britains and who was militarily active around 470.

Aurilla, who appears in the V. Melori Martyris, is said to have been the daughter of Iudoc who belonged to gen. 3. This would suggest Melor was of gen. 5. However, it is more likely that Aurilla was the daughter of Rydoch ap Brychan as indicated by JC 2 11. DSB 11 11 adds the comment “in Francia” and a gloss refers to him as Iudoc. Brychan is of gen. -3 since his daughter, Meleri, was married to Ceredig ap Cunedda Wledig.

 

Gen.	CB a	CB d	CB e		CdL	CdQ
19						Conanus Sunnoc
18						Alanus Hir Anger
17					Houel Huuel	Houel
16					Alan Canhiarh	Alanus Chaniart
15					Binidic	Budic
14					Budic Bud Berhuc	Budic Castellin
13					Diles Heirguor Chebre	Diles Hergu Kembre
12					Aulfret Alesrudon	Aufret Alefrondon
11					Gradlon Plueneuor	Gralen Ploeneor
10					Fragual Fradleoc	Ffraval Fradleuc
9					Budic Mur	Budic Mur
8					Concar Cheroenoc	Congar Keroenuc
7					Gradlon Flam	Gradlem Flam
6					Daniel Unua	Daniel Unna
5	Alanus Magnus				Iahan Reith	Jahan Reeth
4	Salomon II				Budic et Maxenri	Budic et Maxenti
3	Hoelus Tertius				Daniel Drem Rud	Daniel Drem Rud
2	Alanus				Gradlon Mur	Gradlen Mur
1	Hoelus Secundus	Judualus		Tremorus	Concar	Congar
0	Hoelus Magnus	Jonas	Conomerus	Tryphina	Riuelen Marthou	Ri Welen Mar Chou
-1	Budicus	Riatan		Werochus I	(Riuelen Mor Marthou)	(Ri Welen Mur Mar Chou)
-2	Audroenus	Derochus
-3	Salomon	Rivalus Murmaczon
-4	Grallonus Magnus
-5	Conanus Meriadocus

Gen.	CdQl d	CdR	CF				JC 2 11	V. Melori Martyris
20	Berta
19	Conanus
18	Alan
17	Hoel
16	Alan Cainard
15	Binidic
14	Budic Castellin
13	Diles Heergur Kembre
12	Altfret Alefrudon
11	Gradlon Plueneur	Roiantdree
10	Fraugual Fradleuc	Louenan
9	Budic Mur	Juduual
8	Cungar Keroenuc	Argant
7	Gradlun Flam	Custentin
6	Daniel Unua	Judon
5	Jahann Reeth	Urbon
4	Budic et Maxenri	Urbien
3	Daniel Drem Rud	Jedechaël
2	Gradlun Mur		Tewdwr	Waroch II	Iacob
1	Cungar		Budic		Macliau	Canao
0	Rimelen Marthou									Melorus
-1	(Rimelen Mur Marthou)							Rivodius	Meliavus	Aurilla
-2							Reidoc		Budic
-3							Brachan		Daniel
-4									Lex or Regula
-5

Gen.	V. Winnoci a			V. Winnoci b
3	Winnoch	Judoc	Judicahel
2			Juthael
1			Judwal	Deroch II
0			Jonas	Riwal
-1			Riatham	Deroch I
-2				Withol
-3				Urbien
-4				Cathou
-5				Gerenton

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The king list of Gwynedd

The line of descent of the Venedotian kings is given in HG 1. However, this list poses a problem in terms of chronology until it is treated as two fragments as shown in columns two, three and five:

Gen.	HG 1:1st fragment		ChB	HG 1: 2nd. fragment	ByA 28c
13	Owain
12	Hywel D.
11	Cadell
10	Rhodri M.
9	Merfyn F.	Esyllt
8		Cynan D.
7		Rhodri M.
6		Idwal I.	Conobertus
5		Cadwaladr F.	Alain II
4		Cadwallon	Salomon II
3		Cadfan	Hoel III
2		Iago	Alain I		(Beli m. Rhun)
1		Beli	Hoel II	Rhun H.	Perweur
0		Rhun	Hoel I	Maelgwn G.	Rhun R.
-1		[Einion]	Budic	Cadwallon L.	Einion
-2			Aldwr	Einion Y.	Mar
-3			Salomon I	Cunedda W.	Ceneu
-4			Gradlon	Edern	Coel
-5			Conan M.	Padarn B.
-6				Tegid

Note, although the manuscript states Merfyn Frych was the son of Esyllt, later sources indicate he was her husband, a viewpoint supported by Bartrum. As can be seen in the third column, the list states that Rhun was the father of Beli. This is correct but that individual was not Rhun Hir, the son of Maelgwn Gwynedd, who appears in the fifth column above.

Rhun Hir married Perweur f. Rhun Ryfeddfawr whose name appears in ByA 28c and they both belonged to gen. 1 as shown in the table. Triad 79 tells us she was one of the Three Lively Ladies of Britain. ByA 28c errs when it says Perweur was the “Mam Beli m Rhun …”. As can be seen from the third column Beli m. Rhun belonged to the same generation as his supposed parents. ByB confirms that Rhun was the father of Beli. HRB wrongly asserts that Einion was the father whereas in fact he was the grandfather. It was this Rhun and not Rhun Hir who fled to Armorica. His daughter, Tymyr, married Hoel II who appears in ChB, see above table.

Both HRB and ByB incorrectly assert that Einion was Rhun’s brother whereas, in reality, he was his father. This allows us to solve a 1500 year old murder mystery which is not a whodunit but a “who was it dun to”, as we know the identity of the murderer but it is unclear who the victim was. Gildas wrote of Maelgwn:

In the first years of thy youth, accompanied by soldiers of the bravest, whose countenance in battle appeared not very unlike that of young lions, didst thou not most bitterly crush thy uncle the king with sword, and spear, and fire?[1]

The Latin text uses the word “avunculus” where the above passage reads “uncle”. Strictly speaking, that term means mother’s brother. However, in this context I believe this can be linked to the fact, given in JC 23, that an Einion was half-brother to Cadwallon Lawhir, Maelgwn’s father, through their father Einion Yrth. Their mothers were sisters, daughters of king Didlet.

Although HRB states Rhun escaped to Armorica after the death of Einion because he was driven out by the Saxons, it would seem that Maelgwn had a hand in it as well. After Maelgwn’s death his son successfully thwarted challenges to his kingship. However, it would seem that the rightful lineage to the throne was reestablished when Iago became king. As can be seen in the above table, Cadwallon is correct when he tells Salomon II  in the ByB that their two fathers were two second cousins.

[1] Williams, H., 1899, 77