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Eudaf Hen 'Octavius' ap Einudd, King of Ewyas
- Preferred Name: Eudaf Hen 'Octavius' ap Einudd, King of Ewyas[1] [2]
- Alternate Name: Eudaf Octavius ap Einydd Gwrddwfm
- Alternate Name: Eudaf Hen ab Einudd
- Gender: M
- Burial: ABT 450 in England
- FSID: LZV5-F28
- http://familysearch.org/v1/TitleOfNobility: High King of Britain
- MilitaryService: Warlord of the Gewissi
- Death: in Powys, Wales at LATI: N2.3336 LONG: E3.3823
- http://familysearch.org/v1/TitleOfNobility: King of the Britons with note: Wikiwand: Eudaf Hen
- Occupation: Lord of the Gewissae, High King of Britain
- Birth: 267 in Glamorgan, Wales at LATI: N1.4736 LONG: E3.3653 with note: Standardized Birthplace
calculated
- http://familysearch.org/v1/TitleOfNobility: King of the Gewissi
- http://familysearch.org/v1/TitleOfNobility: King of Ewyas
- Occupation: Lord of Meriadog
- Notes:
=== Life Sketch ===
Eudaf Hen (the Old) first appears in the old Welsh mythological tale, the "Dream of Macsen". The future Roman Emperor, Magnus Maximus, dreamt of Eudaf's beautiful daughter, Elen Lluyddog (of the Host), and sent emissaries across the Empire to find her. She was discovered in her father's palace at Caer-Segeint (Caernarfon) where the old man sat, carving 'gwyddbwyll' pieces (like chess-men). Maximus came to Britain, married the girl and eventually inherited her father's kingdom, much to the disgust of his male heir, Conan Meriadoc.
If he existed at all, Eudaf lived in the mid-4th century. He would, therefore, have been a Romano-Briton, living an extremely Romanized lifestyle. The Latin Octavius the Old is therefore a much more appropriate form of his name. His daughter was Helena.
The Dream story clearly indicates that Octavius was the monarch around Caernarfon in North Wales, but later writers - chiefly the mistrusted Geoffrey of Monmouth - made him "Duke of the Giwissei" or "Iarl Ergyng ac Ewias": evidently ruling in Ergyng and Gwent. This may have arisen from his supposed descent from so-called pre-Roman Kings of Siluria (named after the Celtic tribe who lived in that area). Though the connection is persistent and it is equally possible that the Caernarfon association is due to Maximus and Helena's later residence there. Octavius would not have been a king at this date, but perhaps a decurion of one of these civitates (Roman towns). However, he is also called one of the High-Kings of Britain. Such a title would, clearly, not have existed either but it may indicate that he held a position of considerable importance in the Roman administration. The official with control of both the Caernarfon and Gwent areas was the Praeses of Britannia Prima.
Geoffrey's mythology has Octavius taking up the British High-Kingship after defeating King Coel Godhebog (the Magnificent)'s brother, Trahearn, in battle near Winchester. So perhaps he took office by force.
Early records are confused about Eudaf's descendants. Some stories claim that he had various sons, Conan, Adeon/Gadeon and Eudaf II. Others, that Helena was his sole direct heiress and that Conan, his male heir, was only his nephew. This appears to fit best. Magnus Maximus and his wife probably inherited Eudaf's position in society, helping the former to put himself forward as Emperor of the West. Conan made excellent marriages and was placated with vast estates given by his cousin's husband. Adeon/Gadeon alias Cadfan was actually his son. Eudaf II appears very late and is probably mythological.
Eudaf Hen's Ancestry
The family of Eudaf Hen - or Octavius the Old as he would have been known to his contemporaries - hailed from the Gwent area of Wales. Eudaf was apparently Lord of the Gewissae.
The Gewissae are a confused people. Some think they were the Germanic race who lived around Dorchester-on-Thames and Abingdon even before the Romans left Britain. They later merged with the West Saxons who continued to use the name. However, there are other indications that they were the British who lived further to the West. The word "Gewissae" may be related to Ewyas, the northern region of Gwent, and, possibly, to the Hwicce, an apparently Saxon people who lived in Gloucestershire. Their name may have had British origins.
There are tales of Eudaf holding court at Caer Segeint (Caernarfon), but this was probably due to associations with his son-in-law, the Emperor Magnus Maximus. The Gwent/Gloucestershire area would appear to have been his real home, like the tyrant Vortigern who seems to have claimed him as an ancestor.
But Eudaf is a man on the boundaries of mythology. All that can really be said about him is that he probably lived in the early 4th century. He supposedly took up the British High-Kingship after defeating King Coel Godhebog (the Magnificent)'s brother, Trahearn. However, even the old Celtic client-kingdoms under Roman rule had disappeared by this period. If Eudaf held any office of power, it would have been a simple administrative role; perhaps a praeses of Britannia Prima or a decurion of Gloucester or Caerwent.
He had no sons and was succeeded by his son-in-law, the Emperor Magnus Maximus. Conan, his nephew, had to be content as King of both Brittany and Dumnonia. Like many prominent men of their era, Eudaf and Conan claimed descent from Celtic Gods: Llyr Llediarth (Half-Speech), God of the Sea and his son, Bran Fendigaid (the Blessed), who was mortalized in popular tradition as a King of Siluria (Gwent). The pedigree below is gleaned from several sources, but is of little historical value:
Llyr Lleddiarth (Half-Speech), Abt 55 bc -
m. Iweriadd ferch Beli Mawr (the Great), 60 bc -
Bran Fendigaid (the Blessed), Abt 20 bc -
Caradog ap Bran (see below)
Alan ap Bran, Abt 22 -
Sadwr ap Bran, Abt 24 -
Nine Others, Abt 26 -
Caradog ap Bran, Abt 20 -
Coellyn ap Caradog, Abt 60 -
Owain ap Beli, Abt 100 -
Meirchion ap Owain, Abt 140 -
Cwrrig Fawr (the Great), Abt 180 -
Gwrddwfn ap Cwrrig, Abt 215 -
Einudd ap Gwrddwfn, Abt 250 -
Eudaf Hen (the Old), King of Ewyas & High-King of Britain, Abt 283 -
St. Elen Lwyddog (of the Host), Abt 340 - (m. Magnus Maximus, Emperor of the Western Roman Empire, d.388)
Gereint ap Einudd (see below)
Arthfael ap Einudd, Abt 310 -
Gwrgant ap Arthfael, Abt 330 -
Meirchion ap Gwrgant, Abt 370 -
=== !#4568-v1-p18 ===
!#4568-v1-p18
=== FROM: David Nash Ford, !!Early British K ===
FROM: David Nash Ford, !!Early British Kingdoms, 2001,www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/bios/eudanc.html, Internet. Eudaf Hen, supposed High-King of Britain Mid-4th Century (Latin: Octavius; English: Odda) Eudaf Hen (the Old) first appears in the old Welsh mythological tale, the"Dream of Macsen". The future Roman Emperor, Magnus Maximus, dreamt ofEudaf's beautiful daughter, Elen Lluyddog (of the Host), and sentemissaries across the Empire to find her. She was discovered in herfather's palace at Caer-Segeint (Caernarfon) where the old man sat,carving 'gwyddbwyll' pieces (like chess-men). Maximus came to Britain,married the girl and eventually inherited her father's kingdom, much tothe disgust of his male heir, Conan Meriadoc. If he existed at all, Eudaf lived in the mid-4th century. He would,therefore, have been a Romano-Briton, living an extremely Romanizedlifestyle. The Latin Octavius the Old is therefore a much moreappropriate form of his name. His daughter was Helena. The Dream story clearly indicates that Octavius was the monarch aroundCaernarfon in North Wales, but later writers - chiefly the mistrustedGeoffrey of Monmouth - made him "Duke of the Giwissei" or "Iarl Ergyng acEwias": evidently ruling in Ergyng and Gwent. This may have arisen fromhis supposed descent from so-called pre-Roman Kings of Siluria (namedafter the Celtic tribe who lived in that area). Though the connection ispersistent and it is equally possible that the Caernarfon association isdue to Maximus and Helena's later residence there. Octavius would nothave been a king at this date, but perhaps a decurion of one of thesecivitates (Roman towns). However, he is also called one of the High-Kingsof Britain. Such a title would, clearly, not have existed either but itmay indicate that he held a position of considerable importance in theRoman administration. The official with control of both the Caernarfonand Gwent areas was the Praeses of Britannia Prima. Geoffrey's mythology has Octavius taking up the B ritish High-Kingshipafter defeating King Coel Godhebog (the Magnificent)'s brother, Trahearn,in battle near Winchester. So perhaps he took office by force. Early records are confused about Eudaf's descendants. Some stories claimthat he had various sons, Conan, Adeon/Gadeon and Eudaf II. Others, thatHelena was his sole direct heiress and that Conan, his male heir, wasonly his nephew. This appears to fit best. Magnus Maximus and his wifeprobably inherited Eudaf's position in society, helping the former to puthimself forward as Emperor of the West. Conan made excellent marriagesand was placated with vast estates given by his cousin's husband.Adeon/Gadeon alias Cadfan was actually his son. Eudaf II appears verylate and is probably mythological. Generally considered Legendary.
=== 2 SOUR S003589 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of ===
2 SOUR S003589 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Jun 28, 2002 2 SOUR S003591 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Jun 28, 2002 2 SOUR S003620 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Aug 22, 2002 2 SOUR S003734 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Aug 22, 2002 2 SOUR S003735 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Aug 22, 2002 2 SOUR S003736 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Aug 22, 2002 2 SOUR S003723 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Aug 26, 2002 2 SOUR S003758 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Aug 27, 2002 2 SOUR S003861 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Sep 17, 2002 2 SOUR S003759 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Sep 17, 2002 2 SOUR S003863 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Sep 17, 2002 2 SOUR S003882 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Oct 8, 2002 2 SOUR S003905 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Oct 8, 2002 2 SOUR S003884 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Oct 8, 2002 2 SOUR S229184 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Dec 3, 2002 [3e william morgan.ged] Notes: Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies". The pedigree beyond this point is clearly defective. According to "the Dream of Maxen Wledig", ELEN, daughter of EUDAF, was the wife of MACSEN WLEDIG, while Cynan and Adeon (for GADEON) were sons of EUDAF. EUDAF was hereditary ruler of the Silures and became overlord of Britain. It appears that the marriage of his daughter ELEN to MAXEN WLEDIG provided the latter with a claim to the throne of Britain, which was disputed by EUDAF's son or nephew Cynan Meriadoc. 1. Gadeon 2. Elen Luyddog[3e2 william morgan.ged] Notes: Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies". The pedigree beyond this point is clearly defective. According to "the Dream of Maxen Wledig", ELEN, daughter of EUDAF, was the wife of MACSEN WLEDIG, while Cynan and Adeon (for GADEON) were sons of EUDAF. EUDAF was hereditary ruler of the Silures and became overlord of Britain. It appears that the marriage of his daughter ELEN to MAXEN WLEDIG provided the latter with a claim to the throne of Britain, which was disputed by EUDAF's son or nephew Cynan Meriadoc. 1. Gadeon 2. Elen Luyddog[L Hays 8-27-02.FTW] [Louisa Hays 05.ged] Notes: Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies". The pedigree beyond this point is clearly defective. According to "the Dream of Maxen Wledig", ELEN, daughter of EUDAF, was the wife of MACSEN WLEDIG, while Cynan and Adeon (for GADEON) were sons of EUDAF. EUDAF was hereditary ruler of the Silures and became overlord of Britain. It appears that the marriage of his daughter ELEN to MAXEN WLEDIG provided the latter with a claim to the throne of Britain, which was disputed by EUDAF's son or nephew Cynan Meriadoc. 1. Gadeon 2. Elen Luyddog[Louisa Hays 07.ged] Notes: Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies". The pedigree beyond this point is clearly defective. According to "the Dream of Maxen Wledig", ELEN, daughter of EUDAF, was the wife of MACSEN WLEDIG, while Cynan and Adeon (for GADEON) were sons of EUDAF. EUDAF was hereditary ruler of the Silures and became overlord of Britain. It appears that the marriage of his daughter ELEN to MAXEN WLEDIG provided the latter with a claim to the throne of Britain, which was disputed by EUDAF's son or nephew Cynan Meriadoc. 1. Gadeon 2. Elen Luyddog[Louisa Hays 08.ged] Notes: Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies". The pedigree beyond this point is clearly defective. According to "the Dream of Maxen Wledig", ELEN, daughter of EUDAF, was the wife of MACSEN WLEDIG, while Cynan and Adeon (for GADEON) were sons of EUDAF. EUDAF was hereditary ruler of the Silures and became overlord of Britain. It appears that the marriage of his daughter ELEN to MAXEN WLEDIG provided the latter with a claim to the throne of Britain, which was disputed by EUDAF's son or nephew Cynan Meriadoc. 1. Gadeon 2. Elen Luyddog[Louisa Hays 08a.ged] Notes: Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies". The pedigree beyond this point is clearly defective. According to "the Dream of Maxen Wledig", ELEN, daughter of EUDAF, was the wife of MACSEN WLEDIG, while Cynan and Adeon (for GADEON) were sons of EUDAF. EUDAF was hereditary ruler of th e Silures and became overlord of Britain. It appears that the marriage of his daughter ELEN to MAXEN WLEDIG provided the latter with a claim to the throne of Britain, which was disputed by EUDAF's son or nephew Cynan Meriadoc. 1. Gadeon 2. Elen Luyddog[Louisa Hays 15a.ged] Notes: Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies". The pedigree beyond this point is clearly defective. According to "the Dream of Maxen Wledig", ELEN, daughter of EUDAF, was the wife of MACSEN WLEDIG, while Cynan and Adeon (for GADEON) were sons of EUDAF. EUDAF was hereditary ruler of the Silures and became overlord of Britain. It appears that the marriage of his daughter ELEN to MAXEN WLEDIG provided the latter with a claim to the throne of Britain, which was disputed by EUDAF's son or nephew Cynan Meriadoc. 1. Gadeon 2. Elen Luyddog[Humphrey 3.ged] Notes: Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies". The pedigree beyond this point is clearly defective. According to "the Dream of Maxen Wledig", ELEN, daughter of EUDAF, was the wife of MACSEN WLEDIG, while Cynan and Adeon (for GADEON) were sons of EUDAF. EUDAF was hereditary ruler of the Silures and became overlord of Britain. It appears that the marriage of his daughter ELEN to MAXEN WLEDIG provided the latter with a claim to the throne of Britain, which was disputed by EUDAF's son or nephew Cynan Meriadoc. 1. Gadeon 2. Elen Luyddog[Humphrey 5.ged] Notes: Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies". The pedigree beyond this point is clearly defective. According to "the Dream of Maxen Wledig", ELEN, daughter of EUDAF, was the wife of MACSEN WLEDIG, while Cynan and Adeon (for GADEON) were sons of EUDAF. EUDAF was hereditary ruler of the Silures and became overlord of Britain. It appears that the marriage of his daughter ELEN to MAXEN WLEDIG provided the latter with a claim to the throne of Britain, which was disputed by EUDAF's son or nephew Cynan Meriadoc. 1. Gadeon 2. Elen Luyddog[Humphrey 7.ged] Notes: Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies". The pedigree beyond this point is clearly de fective. According to "the Dream of Maxen Wledig", ELEN, daughter of EUDAF, was the wife of MACSEN WLEDIG, while Cynan and Adeon (for GADEON) were sons of EUDAF. EUDAF was hereditary ruler of the Silures and became overlord of Britain. It appears that the marriage of his daughter ELEN to MAXEN WLEDIG provided the latter with a claim to the throne of Britain, which was disputed by EUDAF's son or nephew Cynan Meriadoc. 1. Gadeon 2. Elen Luyddog[Humphrey 25.ged] Notes: Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies". The pedigree beyond this point is clearly defective. According to "the Dream of Maxen Wledig", ELEN, daughter of EUDAF, was the wife of MACSEN WLEDIG, while Cynan and Adeon (for GADEON) were sons of EUDAF. EUDAF was hereditary ruler of the Silures and became overlord of Britain. It appears that the marriage of his daughter ELEN to MAXEN WLEDIG provided the latter with a claim to the throne of Britain, which was disputed by EUDAF's son or nephew Cynan Meriadoc. 1. Gadeon 2. Elen Luyddog[Humphrey 30.ged] Notes: Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies". The pedigree beyond this point is clearly defective. According to "the Dream of Maxen Wledig", ELEN, daughter of EUDAF, was the wife of MACSEN WLEDIG, while Cynan and Adeon (for GADEON) were sons of EUDAF. EUDAF was hereditary ruler of the Silures and became overlord of Britain. It appears that the marriage of his daughter ELEN to MAXEN WLEDIG provided the latter with a claim to the throne of Britain, which was disputed by EUDAF's son or nephew Cynan Meriadoc. 1. Gadeon 2. Elen Luyddog[Humphrey 33.ged] Notes: Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies". The pedigree beyond this point is clearly defective. According to "the Dream of Maxen Wledig", ELEN, daughter of EUDAF, was the wife of MACSEN WLEDIG, while Cynan and Adeon (for GADEON) were sons of EUDAF. EUDAF was hereditary ruler of the Silures and became overlord of Britain. It appears that the marriage of his daughter ELEN to MAXEN WLEDIG provided the latter with a claim to the throne o f Britain, which was disputed by EUDAF's son or nephew Cynan Meriadoc. 1. Gadeon 2. Elen Luyddog[Corrie Hale Families 11-18-02.FTW] [3e william morgan.ged] Notes: Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies". The pedigree beyond this point is clearly defective. According to "the Dream of Maxen Wledig", ELEN, daughter of EUDAF, was the wife of MACSEN WLEDIG, while Cynan and Adeon (for GADEON) were sons of EUDAF. EUDAF was hereditary ruler of the Silures and became overlord of Britain. It appears that the marriage of his daughter ELEN to MAXEN WLEDIG provided the latter with a claim to the throne of Britain, which was disputed by EUDAF's son or nephew Cynan Meriadoc. 1. Gadeon 2. Elen Luyddog[3e2 william morgan.ged] Notes: Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies". The pedigree beyond this point is clearly defective. According to "the Dream of Maxen Wledig", ELEN, daughter of EUDAF, was the wife of MACSEN WLEDIG, while Cynan and Adeon (for GADEON) were sons of EUDAF. EUDAF was hereditary ruler of the Silures and became overlord of Britain. It appears that the marriage of his daughter ELEN to MAXEN WLEDIG provided the latter with a claim to the throne of Britain, which was disputed by EUDAF's son or nephew Cynan Meriadoc. 1. Gadeon 2. Elen Luyddog[L Hays 8-27-02.FTW] [Louisa Hays 05.ged] Notes: Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies". The pedigree beyond this point is clearly defective. According to "the Dream of Maxen Wledig", ELEN, daughter of EUDAF, was the wife of MACSEN WLEDIG, while Cynan and Adeon (for GADEON) were sons of EUDAF. EUDAF was hereditary ruler of the Silures and became overlord of Britain. It appears that the marriage of his daughter ELEN to MAXEN WLEDIG provided the latter with a claim to the throne of Britain, which was disputed by EUDAF's son or nephew Cynan Meriadoc. 1. Gadeon 2. Elen Luyddog[Louisa Hays 07.ged] Notes: Bartrum's "Welsh Genealogies". The pedigree beyond this point is clearly defective. According to "the Dream of Maxen Wledig", ELEN, daughter of EUDAF,
=== !1. Bartrum, 300-1400, pg. 24 ===
!1. Bartrum, 300-1400, pg. 24
=== Bartrum's "Early Welsh Genealogical Tra ===
Bartrum's "Early Welsh Genealogical Tracts." The pedigree beyond this point is clearly defective. According to the Dream of Maxen Wledig, ELEN, daughter of EUDAF, was the wife of MACSEN WLEDIG, while Cynan and Adeon (for GADEON) were sons of EUDAF. EUDAF was hereditary ruler of the Silures and became overlord of Britain. It appears that the marriage of his daughter ELEN to MAXEN WLEDIG provided the latter with a claim to the throne of Britain, which was disputed by EUDAF's son or nephew Cynan Meriadoc.
=== THE FAMILY of Eudaf Hen or Octavius (his ===
THE FAMILY of Eudaf Hen or Octavius (his Roman name) the Old (Hen), are purported to hail from the modern Gwent area of Cymru, although at the time this was known as Ewyas, and encompassed later Gwent and Ergyng.
Eudaf supposedly took up the British High Kingship after defeating Trahearn, the brother of King Coel Godhebog (the Magnificent), in the fourth century. He had no sons, and was succeeded by his son-in-law, the Emperor Magnus Maximus. Conan Meriadoc, his nephew, eventually became king of both Armorica and Dumnonia.
Like many prominent men of their era, Eudaf and Conan would have dressed as Romans, but maintained continuity with their Celtic traditions by claiming descent from Celtic "gods": Llyr Llediarth (Half-Speech), God of the Sea and his son, Bran Fendigaid (the Blessed), who was mortalised as a King of the Silures (in the Gwent region). These "gods" were in all likelihood glorified versions of historic Britons who ruled the Dumnonii and Silures, and perhaps others, as the High Kings of Britain.
Eudaf also claimed the title Lord of the Gewissæ. This may have been applied to him by later Gwent or even Dumnonian rulers to establish the legitimacy of a possible brief overlordship over the West Saxon Gewissæ (until they became a dominant force in the mid-sixth century). There is the possibility that this title was incorrectly applied in reference to the Hwicce, Saxons of a later kingdom based on Gloucestershire, which had its own British origins in Caer Gloui. The West Saxons led the fighting against British kingdoms around Gloucester and the River Severn in the late sixth century, and the Hwicce seem to have grabbed their own kingdom from at least some of the land taken.
After Eudaf Hen, Ewyas was ruled for a short period by his brother, Arthfael, and was passed onto his sons, Gwrgant ap Arthfael and Meirchion ap Gwrgant. This final probable ruler of Ewyas died childless, and the, by then, High King Vortigern, placed his eldest son in charge of the kingdom. By c.474, Gwrfoddw Hen, son of Amlawdd Wledig, had laid claim to the eastern half of Ewyas, and the Kingdom of Ergyng emerged from that under his rule, taking its name from its capital of Din Aricon. ___________________________________________
FROM WIKIPEDIA: In Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia regum Britanniae . . . Octavius (Welsh: Eydaf) was a legendary king of the Britons. He reigned when Constantine I was emperor in Rome. Constantine had been crowned king of the Britons upon his father's death in 306 at York. As Constantine became more powerful, he was forced to leave Britain in the hands of a proconsul while he ruled in Rome. This prompted Octavius, then Duke of the Gewissei tribe of Celts, to begin a rebellion against Roman rule. Octavius murdered the proconsul and his aides then took the crown of Britain upon his own head.
This led to a response from Constantine who sent three legions to Britain under the command of his great-uncle, Trahern, the brother of the late King Coel. He landed at Kaerperis and captured it forcing Octavius to conscript all the island into the army to combat the Roman legions.
Octavius met Trahern in a field outside Winchester where they fought and Octavius won. Trahern fled to Albany and pillaged the land. That caused Octavius to react again, where he met Trahern in Westmorland, but Octavius was defeated this time. Octavius fled Britain and Trahern took on the crown himself. Octavius fled to Norway where he sought help from King Gunbert. In Britain, supporters of Octavius managed to ambush Trahern and kill him near London, allowing Octavius to return to Britain. Once arrived, he scattered the Roman forces and retook the throne of Britain, gaining an incredible amount of wealth and prestige. Following years of rule, Octavius decided to marry his only daughter off to the Roman emperor Maximianus. After a brief struggle with his nephew, Conan Meriadoc, the kingship of Britain was given to Maximianus, and Octavius abdicated.
Sources:
Title: British Monarchs
Author: Mike Ashley
Publication: Robinson Publishing Ltd., London, 1998
Note: Excellent
Repository:
Note: My library
Media: Book
=== King of Ewyas & High-King of Britain. ===
King of Ewyas & High-King of Britain.
=== [JaneMorgan.FTW]
Eudaf Hen, supposed Hi ===
[JaneMorgan.FTW]
Eudaf Hen, supposed High-King of Britain
Mid-4th Century
(Latin: Octavius; English: Odda)
Eudaf Hen (the Old) first appears in the old Welsh mythological tale, the "Dream of Macsen". The future Roman Emperor, Magnus Maximus, dreamt of Eudaf's beautiful daughter, Elen Lluyddog (of the Host), and sent emissaries across the Empire to find her. She was discovered in her father's palace at Caer-Segeint (Caernarfon) where the old man sat, carving 'gwyddbwyll' pieces (like chess-men). Maximus came to Britain, married the girl and eventually inherited her father's kingdom, much to the disgust of his male heir, Conan Meriadoc.
If he existed at all, Eudaf lived in the mid-4th century. He would, therefore, have been a Romano-Briton, living an extremely Romanized lifestyle. The Latin Octavius the Old is therefore a much more appropriate form of his name. His daughter was Helena.
The Dream story clearly indicates that Octavius was the monarch around Caernarfon in North Wales, but later writers - chiefly the mistrusted Geoffrey of Monmouth - made him "Duke of the Giwissei" or "Iarl Ergyng ac Ewias": evidently ruling in Ergyng and Gwent. This may have arisen from his supposed descent from so-called pre-Roman Kings of Siluria (named after the Celtic tribe who lived in that area). Though the connection is persistent and it is equally possible that the Caernarfon association is due to Maximus and Helena's later residence there. Octavius would not have been a king at this date, but perhaps a decurion of one of these civitates (Roman towns). However, he is also called one of the High-Kings of Britain. Such a title would, clearly, not have existed either but it may indicate that he held a position of considerable importance in the Roman administration. The official with control of both the Caernarfon and Gwent areas was the Praeses of Britannia Prima.
Geoffrey's mythology has Octavius taking up the British High-Kingship after defeating King Coel Godhebog (the Magnificent)'s brother, Trahearn, in battle near Winchester. So perhaps he took office by force.
Early records are confused about Eudaf's descendants. Some stories claim that he had various sons, Conan, Adeon/Gadeon and Eudaf II. Others, that Helena was his sole direct heiress and that Conan, his male heir, was only his nephew. This appears to fit best. Magnus Maximus and his wife probably inherited Eudaf's position in society, helping the former to put himself forward as Emperor of the West. Conan made excellent marriages and was placated with vast estates given by his cousin's husband. Adeon/Gadeon alias Cadfan was actually his son. Eudaf II appears very late and is probably mythological.
From www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/bios/eudance.html
________________________________________
From P L Kessler , History Files - The King Lists, 1999-2002 at http://homepages.tesco.net/~plk33/plk33/HistoryFiles.htm:
CELTIC BRITAIN
EUDAF HEN
By P L Kessler
THE FAMILY of Eudaf Hen (Octavius (his Roman name) the Old (Hen)), are purported to hail from the modern Gwent area of Wales, although at the time this was known as Ewyas, and encompassed later Gwent and Ergyng.
Eudaf supposedly took up the British High Kingship after defeating Trahearn, the brother of King Coel Godhebog (the Magnificent), in the fourth century. He had no sons, and was succeeded by his son-in-law, the Emperor Magnus Maximus. Conan Meriadoc, his nephew, eventually became king of both Armorica and Dumnonia.
Like many prominent men of their era, Eudaf and Conan would have dressed as Romans, but maintained continuity with their Celtic traditions by claiming descent from Celtic "gods": Llyr Llediarth (Half-Speech), God of the Sea and his son, Bran Fendigaid (the Blessed), who was mortalised as a King of the Silures (in the Gwent region). These "gods" were in all likelihood glorified versions of historic Britons who ruled the Dumnonii and Silures, and perhaps others, as the High Kings of Britain.
Eudaf also claimed the title Lord of the Gewissæ. This may have been applied to him by later Gwent or even Dumnonian rulers to establish the legitimacy of a possible brief overlordship over the West Saxon Gewissæ (until they became a dominant force in the mid-sixth century). There is the possibility that this title was incorrectly applied in reference to the Hwicce, Saxons of a later kingdom based on Gloucestershire, which had its own British origins in Caer Gloui. The West Saxons led the fighting against British kingdoms around Gloucester and the River Severn in the late sixth century, and the Hwicce seem to have grabbed their own kingdom from at least some of the land taken.
Division of Ewyas
After Eudaf Hen, Ewyas was ruled for a short period by his brother, Arthfael, and was passed onto his sons, Gwrgant ap Arthfael and Meirchion ap Gwrgant. This final probable ruler of Ewyas died childless, and the, by then, High King Vortigern, placed his eldest son in charge of the kingdom. By c.474, Gwrfoddw Hen, son of Amlawdd Wledig, had laid claim to the eastern half of Ewyas, and the Kingdom of Ergyng emerged from that under his rule, taking its name from its capital of Din Aricon.
Domesday Ewias
Early Ewyas seems to have encompassed rather more of Wales than the later Gwent and Ergyng kingdoms, apparently reaching north towards the Black Mountains just below modern Clifford in Herefordshire, and perhaps taking in part of Herefordshire itself. This region split from Gwent to form the northern point of Ergyng. By the time of the Domesday Survey, Ergyng had long since disappeared, and Gwent was slightly reduced. Ewias (a later spelling, and maybe a Norman pronunciation) was a semi-independent principality covering an area roughly between the line of Offa's Dyke path beneath the Black Mountains in the west, Craig Serrethin in the south, the line of the Golden Valley in the east, and Yager Hill and Cefn Hill to the north, just below Clifford. Although it cannot have survived for long, its capital is still remembered today in the village of Ewyas Harold.
=== !#4568> Welsh Genealogies Ad 300-1400,-v ===
!#4568> Welsh Genealogies Ad 300-1400,-v1-p18,24* (FHL #6025561);
Preferred Parents:
Father: Einudd ap Gwrddwfn II, b. um 0245 in Glamorgan, Wales d. 300 in Somme, Picardy, France
Mother: Helen de la Croix of Colchester, b. 248 in Colchester, Essex, England
Family 1: Thametes de Bretagne, b. 267 in Rome, Italy
- Conon Meiriadog ap Eudaf Hen, King of Dumnonia, b. ABT 300 in Dumnonia, Devon, England d. ABT 387 in Nantes, Loire-Atlantique, Pays de la Loire, France
- Cynan ap Eudaf, b. um 0290
- Eudaf Hen Ap Einydd II, b. 298 in North Britain d. 4 APR 384 in Wales
Sources:
- Title: Legacy NFS Source: Eudaf Hen Ap Einydd Gwrddwfm - Published information: aka-name: Octavius the Old
Note: Published information: aka-name: Octavius the Old
Published information: birth-name: Eudaf or Eudes or Odes or Octavius the old or Eudaf Hen Ap Caradawc of Ewyas
Published information: birth: 0300; Gwent, Wales, United Kingdom
Published information: male
Published information: aka-name: Eudaf or Eudes or Odes or Octavius the old or Eudaf Hen Ap Caradawc of Ewyas
Published information: birth: about 0300; Gwent, Wales, United Kingdom
Published information: male
Published information: death: ; Wales, United Kingdom
Published information: birth-name: Octavius Eudes Euidaf of Ewyas
Published information: birth: about 0300; Gwent, Wales, United Kingdom
Page: Migrated from user-supplied source citation: urn:familysearch:source:2036922561
- Title: Wikiwand: Brittany
Author: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Publication: Name: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Brittany;
Note: Brittany (/ˈbrɪtəni/; French: "Bretagne" [bʁətaɲ]); Breton: "Breizh," pronounced [bʁɛjs] or [bʁɛx]; Gallo: "Bertaèyn" [bəʁtaɛɲ]) is a cultural region in the west of France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period of Roman occupation. It became an independent kingdom and then a duchy before being united with the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province governed as if it were a separate nation under the crown.
Brittany has also been referred to as "Less," "Lesser" or "Little" Britain (as opposed to "Great Britain," with which it shares an etymology). It is bordered by the English Channel to the north, Normandy to the northeast, Pays de la Loire to the southeast, the Bay of Biscay to the south, and the Celtic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its land area is 34,023 km² (13,136 sq mi).
Brittany is the site of some of the world's oldest standing architecture, home to the Barnenez, the Tumulus Saint-Michel and others, which date to the early 5th millennium BC. Today, the historical province of Brittany is split among five French departments: Finistère in the west, Côtes-d'Armor in the north, Ille-et-Vilaine in the northeast, Loire-Atlantique in the southeast and Morbihan in the south on the Bay of Biscay. Since reorganization in 1956, the modern administrative region of Brittany comprises only four of the five Breton departments, or 80% of historical Brittany. The remaining area of old Brittany, the Loire-Atlantique department around Nantes, now forms part of the Pays de la Loire region.
At the 2010 census, the population of historic Brittany was estimated to be 4,475,295. Of these, 71% lived in the region of Brittany, while 29% lived in the Loire-Atlantique department. In 2012, the largest metropolitan areas were Nantes (897,713 inhabitants), Rennes (690,467 inhabitants), and Brest (314,844 inhabitants). Brittany is the traditional homeland of the Breton people and is recognised by the Celtic League as one of the six Celtic nations, retaining a distinct cultural identity that reflects its history. A nationalist movement seeks greater autonomy within the French Republic.
Etymology
The word Brittany, along with its French, Breton and Gallo equivalents Bretagne, Breizh and Bertaèyn, derive from the Latin Britannia, which means "Britons' land." This word had been used by the Romans since the 1st century to refer to Great Britain, and more specifically the Roman province of Britain. This word derives from a Greek word, Πρεττανικη (Prettanike) or Βρεττανίαι (Brettaniai), used by Pytheas, an explorer from Massalia who visited the British Islands around 320 BC. The Greek word itself comes from the common Brythonic ethnonym reconstructed as *Pritanī, itself from Proto-Celtic *kʷritanoi (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kʷer- 'to cut, make').
The Romans called Brittany Armorica. It was a quite indefinite region that extended along the English Channel coast from the Seine estuary, then along the Atlantic coast to the Loire estuary and, according to several sources, maybe to the Garonne estuary. This term probably comes from a Gallic word, aremorica, which means "close to the sea." Another name, Letauia (in English "Litavis"), was used until the 12th century. It possibly means "wide and flat" or "to expand" and it gave the Welsh name for Brittany: Llydaw.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, many Britons settled in western Armorica, and the region started to be called Britannia, although this name only replaced Armorica in the sixth century or perhaps by the end of the fifth. Later, authors like Geoffrey of Monmouth used the terms Britannia minor and Britannia major to distinguish Brittany from Britain.
Breton-speaking people may pronounce the word "Breizh} in two different ways, according to their region of origin. Breton can be divided into two main dialects: the KLT (Kerne-Leon-Tregor) and the dialect of Vannes. "KLT" speakers pronounce it [brɛjs] and would write it "Breiz," while the Vannetais speakers pronounce it [brɛχ] and would write it Breih. The official spelling is a compromise between both variants, with a "z" and an "h" together. In 1941, efforts to unify the dialects led to the creation of the so-called "Breton zh," a standard which has never been widely accepted. On its side, Gallo language has never had a widely accepted writing system and several ones coexist. For instance, the name of the region in that language can be written "Bertaèyn" in ELG script, or "Bertègn" in "MOGA," and a couple of other scripts also exist.
History
Main article: History of Brittany
Prehistoric origins
Brittany has been inhabited by humans since the Lower Paleolithic. The first settlers were Neanderthals. This population was scarce and very similar to the other Neanderthals found in the whole of Western Europe. Their only original feature was a distinct culture, called "Colombanian." One of the oldest hearths in the world has been found in Plouhinec, Finistère. It is 450,000 years old.
Homo sapiens settled in Brittany around 35,000 years ago. They replaced or absorbed the Neanderthals and developed local industries, similar to the Châtelperronian or to the Magdalenian. After the last glacial period, the warmer climate allowed the area to become heavily wooded. At that time, Brittany was populated by relatively large communities who started to change their lifestyles from a life of hunting and gathering, to become settled farmers. Agriculture was introduced during the 5th millennium BC by migrants from the south and east. However, the Neolithic Revolution in Brittany did not happen due to a radical change of population, but by slow immigration and exchange of skills.
Neolithic Brittany is characterized by important megalithic production and sites such as Quelfénnec, it is sometimes designated as the "core area" of megalithic culture. The oldest monuments, cairns, were followed by princely tombs and stone rows. The Morbihan "département," on the southern coast, comprises a large share of these structures, including the Carnac stones and the Broken Menhir of Er Grah in the Locmariaquer megaliths, the largest single stone erected by Neolithic people.
Gallic era
During the protohistorical period, Brittany was inhabited by five Celtic tribes:
The Curiosolitae, who lived around the present town of Corseul. Their territory encompassed parts of Côtes-d'Armor, Ille-et-Vilaine and Morbihan "départements."
The Namnetes, who lived in the current Loire-Atlantique "département" (in today's administrative "région" of Pays de la Loire), north of the Loire. They gave their name to the city of Nantes.
The south bank of the river was occupied by an allied tribe, the Ambilatres, whose existence and territory remain unsure.
The Osismii, who lived in the western part of Brittany. Their territory comprised the Finistère département and the western extremity of Côtes-d'Armor and Morbihan.
The Redones (or "Rhedones"), who lived in the eastern part of the Ille-et-Vilaine "département." They gave their name to the city of Rennes ("Roazhon" in Breton language, in the center of the département) and to the town of Redon (in the south of the "département," bordering the "département" of Loire-Atlantique in the administrative "région" of Pays de la Loire, where its suburb town of Saint-Nicolas-de-Redon is located; however the city of Redon was founded around AD 832 under the initial name of "Riedones," long after the "Redones" people were assimilated to Bretons; the cultural link between "Riedones" and the former "Redones" people is highly probable but difficult to recover and the name of "Riedones" may have been written from a local usage preserving the name of the former people in the vernacular oral language from a reading of an ancient Greek orthography).
The Veneti, who lived in the present Morbihan "département" and gave their name to the city of Vannes. Despite confusion by the classical scholar Strabo, they were unrelated to the Adriatic Veneti.
Those people had strong economic ties to the Insular Celts, especially for the tin trade. Several tribes also belonged to an "Armorican confederation," which, according to Julius Caesar, gathered the Curiosolitae, the Redones, the Osismii, the Unelli, the Caletes, the Lemovices and the Ambibarii. The last four peoples mentioned by Caesar were respectively located in Cotentin (Lower-Normandy), pays de Caux (Upper-Normandy), Limousin ("Aquitany") and the location of the Ambibarii is unknown. The Caletes are sometimes also considered as Belgians and ″Lemovices″ is probably a mistake for ″Lexovii″ (Lower-Normandy).
Gallo-Roman era
The region became part of the Roman Republic in 51 BC. It was included in the province of Gallia Lugdunensis in 13 BC. Gallic towns and villages were redeveloped according to Roman standards, and several cities were created. These cities are Condate (Rennes), Vorgium (Carhaix), Darioritum (Vannes) and Condevincum or Condevicnum (Nantes). Together with Fanum Martis (Corseul), they were the capitals of the local civitates. They all had a grid plan and a forum, and sometimes a temple, a basilica, thermae or an aqueduct, like Carhaix.
The Romans also built three major roads through the region. However, most of the population remained rural. The free peasants lived in small huts, whereas the landowners and their employees lived in proper villae rusticae. The Gallic deities continued to be worshiped, and were often assimilated to the Roman gods. Only a small number of statues depicting Roman gods were found in Brittany, and most of the time they combine Celtic elements.
During the 3rd century AD, the region was attacked several times by Franks, Alamanni and pirates. At the same time, the local economy collapsed and many farming estates were abandoned. To face the invasions, many towns and cities were fortified, like Nantes, Rennes and Vannes.
Immigration of Britons
Toward the end of the 4th century, the Britons of what is n..
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