Caradog Freichfras ap Llyr Merini of Ewias

• Preferred Name: Caradog Freichfras ap Llyr Merini of Ewias^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}
  
• Alternate Name: Cariadawc Freichyfrae Carados Briefbras
  
• Alternate Name: Caradog Freichfras Ap Llyr
  
• Gender: M
  
• FSID: 9HMC-SWG
  
• Fact: with note: Description: https://www.geni.com/people/Brenin-Gwent-Lord-of-Hereford-Caradog-ap-Llyr-Merini-of-Ewias/6000000002414186138?through=6000000014832039055
  
• Birth: ABT 472 in Caerwent, Monmouthshire, Wales at LATI: N1.6113 LONG: E2.7684 with note: formerly Caerwent, Kingdom of Gwent
  
• MilitaryService: called Carados Briefbras - as one of the Knights of the Round Table of King Arthur
  
• Death: ABT 550 in Broërec, Amorica, Lesser Brittany at LATI: N8.3185 LONG: E2.9377
  
• Notes:

  === Life Sketch ===
  Caradoc Vreichvras (472-530) was King of Gliwissig and Gwent from 500 to 530, succeeding Ynyr (Gliwissig) and Iddon ap Ynyr (Gwent) and preceding Meurig ap Caradog. He was also one of King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table.
  
  Caradoc was born in 472 AD, the son of King Ynyr of Gliwissig and Saint Materiana, and the brother of Iddon ap Ynyr. He acquired the nickname Vreichvras, meaning "strongarm", and he became one of King Arthur's loyal Knights of the Round Table before inheriting his father's throne in 500. Caradoc ruled over Gliwissig and Gwent from Caerwent, and he died in 530.
  ____________________________________________________
  
  Early British Kingdoms.com/bios/caradfgt.html
  
  Caradog Freichfras, King of Gwent & the Vannetais
  (Born c.AD 470)
  
  Caradog Strong-Arm was an early ancestor of the Kings of Gwent and, as such, should be identified with Caradog ap Ynyr, mentioned in the Life of St. Tathyw. Welsh legend calls his father {Honorius Ynyr} "Llyr Marini" (of the Sea), while Breton legend indicates a Caradog the Elder. The former may have been a title in honour of the Celtic Sea-God, Llyr. His disputed parentage is, in fact, the basis of an Arthurian literary tale.
  
  Caradog's mother was said to have been an unfaithful wife, for the King was her offspring by a lowly druid named Eliafres. While holding court at Caer-Ceri (Cirencester), Caradog confronted this man concerning the matter. Eliafres refused to answer his questions and caused a serpent to entwine itself around the young man's arm.
  
  It took the combined strength of both his wife, Tegau, and his friend, Cado, to remove the creature. The serpent, however, grasped Tegau's breast instead and she was forced to cut it off. Caradog's arm had shrivelled away and the, once strong, King thus became known as "Briefbras" or Short-Arm! Queen Tegau took to wearing an artificial gold breast, hence her epithet of "Eurfron" or Golden Breast.
  
  Welsh tradition tells of Tegau's story without mentioning Caradog's parental confusion. However, the Breton Arthurian tales name his wife as Cado's sister, Guignier. Probably she was King Caradog's second wife. It is not surprising that Caradog became paranoid about female fidelity and he used both a magic horn and cloak to test that of this lady. Queen Guignier passed with flying colours.
  
  According to the Breton stories, Caradog's main court was at Nantes, but this may be a confused form of Caerwent which was sometimes known as Carnant (Caer-Nantes) in literary sources. He certainly lived at Caerwent originally - possibly in the great basilica of the old Roman town - but he later gave the place to St. Tathyw in which to found a monastery. The King himself let his horse lead him to a new home: Portskewett, possibly to the hillfort & Roman outpost of Sudbrook Fort. Legend also has him holding court in the hillfort of Caer-Caradog (Cary Craddock) at Sellack (in Ergyng). Caradog, furthermore, may have been one of the British Kings who held lands on both sides of the Channel. In Brittany he is thought to have conquered the Vannetais where he became a patron of St. Padarn.
  
  The Welsh Triads, not surprisingly, portray Caradog deputising for the High-King Arthur at court in Caer-Legeion-guar-Uisc (Caerleon). He should not, however, be confused with other Arthurian Literary characters of similar name, such as Sir Carados, the King of Scotland or the evil Sir Caradoc of the Dolorous Tower. Some historians have tried to identify Caradog with the West Saxon Leader, Cerdic, but this seems unlikely.
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  === began to reign 520 of Hereford Co., Eng ===
  began to reign 520 of Hereford Co., Eng.
  
  === Name Lord of Gloucester knight of Doloro ===
  Name Lord of Gloucester knight of Dolorous Tower and King Arthur's Round
  
  === !#4568-v1-p18*; !IDENTITY: maybe the sam ===
  !#4568-v1-p18*; !IDENTITY: maybe the same Caradog married to Enhinti;
  
  === !#4568-v1-p16*; ===
  !#4568-v1-p16*;
  
  === Knight of the Round Table T Jones: Histo ===
  Knight of the Round Table T Jones: History of Brecknockshire P. 249
  
  === The Heraldic Visitations of Wales Vol 1 ===
  The Heraldic Visitations of Wales Vol 1 p 326
  
  === !#4568> Welsh Genealogies Ad 300-1400,-v ===
  !#4568> Welsh Genealogies Ad 300-1400,-v1-p7* (FHL #6025561); !ARCH REC> Brychan Documents; Eminent Welshmen; History of Breckshire; FN #S3N9VS;

• m. ABT 505

1. St. Cawrdaf ap Caradog, b. 505 in Breconshire, Wales    

1. Title: Early British Kingdoms- Caradog Freichfras, King of Gwent and the Vannetais
   Publication: Name: http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/bios/caradfgt.html;
   Note: Caradog Freichfras, King of Gwent & the Vannetais (Born c.AD 470) (Latin: Caratacus; English: Caractacus) Caradog Strong-Arm was an early ancestor of the Kings of Gwent and, as such, should be identified with Caradog ap Ynyr, mentioned in the Life of St. Tathyw. Welsh legend calls his father Llyr Marini (of the Sea), while Breton legend indicates a Caradog the Elder. The former may have been a title in honour of the Celtic Sea-God, Llyr. His disputed parentage is, in fact, the basis of an Arthurian literary tale. Caradog's mother was said to have been an unfaithful wife, for the King was her offspring by a lowly druid named Eliafres. While holding court at Caer-Ceri (Cirencester), Caradog confronted this man concerning the matter. Eliafres refused to answer his questions and caused a serpent to entwine itself around the young man's arm. It took the combined strength of both his wife, Tegau, and his friend, Cado, to remove the creature. The serpent, however, grasped Tegau's breast instead and she was forced to cut it off. Caradog's arm had shrivelled away and the, once strong, King thus became known as "Briefbras" or Short-Arm! Queen Tegau took to wearing an artificial gold breast, hence her epithet of "Eurfron" or Golden Breast. Welsh tradition tells of Tegau's story without mentioning Caradog's parental confusion. However, the Breton Arthurian tales name his wife as Cado's sister, Guignier. Probably she was King Caradog's second wife. It is not surprising that Caradog became paranoid about female fidelity and he used both a magic horn and cloak to test that of this lady. Queen Guignier passed with flying colours. According to the Breton stories, Caradog's main court was at Nantes, but this may be a confused form of Caerwent which was sometimes known as Carnant (Caer-Nantes) in literary sources. He certainly lived at Caerwent originally - possibly in the great basilica of the old Roman town - but he later gave the place to St. Tathyw in which to found a monastery. The King himself let his horse lead him to a new home: Portskewett, possibly to the hillfort & Roman outpost of Sudbrook Fort. Legend also has him holding court in the hillfort of Caer-Caradog (Cary Craddock) at Sellack (in Ergyng). Caradog, furthermore, may have been one of the British Kings who held lands on both sides of the Channel. In Brittany he is thought to have conquered the Vannetais where he became a patron of St. Padarn. The Welsh Triads, not surprisingly, portray Caradog deputising for the High-King Arthur at court in Caer-Legeion-guar-Uisc (Caerleon). He should not, however, be confused with other Arthurian Literary characters of similar name, such as Sir Carados, the King of Scotland or the evil Sir Caradoc of the Dolorous Tower. Some historians have tried to identify Caradog with the West Saxon Leader, Cerdic, but this seems unlikely.
   
2. Title: Early British Kingdoms - Caerwent and St Tathyw
   Author: Caerwent Church Home of St. Tathyw The parish church of St. Stephen at Caerwent was originally dedicated to St. Tathyw, its founder, who was later confused with St. Tathan and then St. Stephen. Both have feast days on 26th December. When St. Tathyw arrived in the Kingdom of Gwent in the later 5th century, King Caradog had his palace at the old Roman town of Caerwent, but he gave the whole place up to Tathyw for the foundation of a monastery. Tathyw built this in the ruins south of the old Roman basilica which may have formed Caradog's palace. He could have adapted an old Pagan temple. Although all trace of Tathyw's first church is now hidden beneath the present building, there was certainly a large Christian cemetery surrounding it from, at least, the 5th century. This was discovered through excavation in 1910.
   Publication: Name: http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/archaeology/caerwentch.html;
   
3. Title: Early British Kingdoms - Cado, King of Domnonia, friend of Caradog
   Publication: Name: http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/bios/cadodm.html;
   Note: Cado, King of Dumnonia (c.AD 482-537) (Welsh: Cadwy; Latin: Cadorius; English: Cador) Cado appears in Arthurian literary sources as Cador, Earl of Cornwall. He is first mentioned in Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain (1136); but, by 1457, his title had mistakenly transformed him into King Arthur's elder maternal half-brother, the son of Gorlois, variously called Duke of Tintagel or Earl of Cornwall. In fact, Cado succeeded his father, Gerren Llyngesoc, as King of Dumnonia. His main stronghold was probably the hillfort of South Cadbury in Somerset where Leslie Alcock has excavated a sub-Roman (5th/6th century) gateway and large feasting hall. The name means "Cado's Fort" and was, no doubt, one of Cado's many palaces, despite the excavators' attempts to link the site with King Arthur's Camelot. Tintagel may have been a more southerly Summer residence. The ageing Arthur was Cado's maternal cousin as well as his Over-King and, according to literary tradition, the two fought together many times against the Saxons and other enemies, including the famous Seige of Mount Badon. Arthur visited Cado often in the West Country, usually staying with his friend and subordinate at (Caer or) Din-Draithou, now known as Dunster in West Somerset. It was while here that St. Carannog arrived looking for his floating altar, which he had promised to follow and preach wherever it landed. Arthur would only reveal it's whereabouts if Carannog would rid Dumnonia of a terrible dragon that was terrorising the people of Carrrum (Carhampton). St. Carannog quickly despatched the serpent, and the High-King was forced to hand over the altar which he had been trying to use as a table. Carannog was given Carrum by the two Kings in gratitude for his efforts. Cado was also instrumental in restoring Queen Guinevere to her throne after she had been kidnapped by his love-sick subordinate, Sub-King Melwas of Glastening (what became Somerset). Cado was great friends with his brother-in-law, King Carodog Freichfras (Strong-Arm) of Gwent (Wales) & Vannetais (Brittany). He was with Caradog when the latter confronted the evil wizard, Eliafres, about his parentage. Eliafres refused to answer Caradog's accusations and caused a serpent to entwine itself around the young man's arm. It took the combined strength of Cado and Caradog's first wife to remove the creature, and henceforth, poor Caradog became known as Briefbras or "short arm"! Cado probably died at the beginning of the 6th century. Traditionally this was at the Battle of Camlann (AD 537), after which he was buried in the Condolden (or Cadon) Barrow near Camelford in Cerniw.
   
4. Title: History Files.co.uk
   Publication: Name: https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsBritain/CymruGwent.htm;
   Note: c.490 - c.540 Caradog Freichfras (Strongarm) ap Ynyr Brother of Iddon, Gwent & Bro Erech. Bro-in-law was Cado of Dumnonia. c.490 Caer Gwent is Caradog's original base, but later stories have him handing his headquarters (suggested as the Roman basilica in the heart of the town) over to St Tathyw so that he can found a monastery. Caradog moves his court to Portskewett, which may be the hill fort of Sudbrook Fort, which had also housed a Roman outpost, making it easy to repair and fortify. Following his accession he also sails across the Channel to found the kingdom of Bro Erech, which forms the heartland of Vannetais and serves as its largest kingdom. One of his descendants is Bleddyn ap Maenyrch ap Driffin of eleventh century Brycheiniog. Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain mentions a magnificent Whitsun ceremony at Caerleon-upon-Usk in south-east Wales (within the territory of Gwent). Nothing at the site of this former Roman legionary fortress of Isca Silurum suggests post-Roman occupation, so Geoffrey doubtless picks the place because it is close to his home town and at one time had plainly been a centre of population grand enough to suit Arthur. The guests include Cadwallo, 'King of North Wales', Cado, the early sixth century king of Dumnonia, King Lot of Guotodin, and the British Church archbishops of London, York, and Caerleon (Dubricius being the last of these three).