Urien Rheged ap Cyncarch King of Bernicia

• Preferred Name: Urien Rheged ap Cyncarch King of Bernicia
  
• Alternate Name: Vrien ap Kynvarch K of Reged Scotland
  
• Alternate Name: Urien Llyncatraeth
  
• Gender: M
  
• Occupation: King of Rheged and Goure (Gorre, Gowrie)579
  
• FSID: LD5G-7J5
  
• http://familysearch.org/v1/TitleOfNobility: Anglian king585 in Lindisfarne, Northumbria, England at LATI: N5.6704 LONG: E1.8011
  
• Birth: 490 in England
  
• Death: 590 in South, Wales at LATI: N2.3302 LONG: E3.7664
  
• http://familysearch.org/v1/TitleOfNobility: King of Rheged & Gowrie
  
• http://familysearch.org/v1/TitleOfNobility: King of Bernicia
  
• Notes:

  === Life Sketch ===
  Urien (/ˈjʊəriən/; Welsh pronunciation: [ˈɨ̞riɛn]), often referred to as Urien Rheged or Uriens, was a late 6th-century king of Rheged, an early British kingdom of the Hen Ogledd (today's northern England and southern Scotland). His power and his victories, including the battles of Gwen Ystrad and Alt Clut Ford, are celebrated in the praise poems to him by Taliesin, preserved in the Book of Taliesin. He became the "King Urien of Gorre" of later Arthurian legend and his son Owain mab Urien was later known as Ywain.
  
  According to the genealogies, Urien was the son of Cynfarch Oer, son of Meirchion Gul, son of Gorwst, son of Cenau, son of Coel Hen (King Cole), the first recorded post-Roman military leader in the area of Hadrian's Wall. He fought against the rulers of the Anglian kingdom of Bernicia (modern Northumbria). An Anglian noble, Ida, had occupied Metcauld around the middle of the 6th century and begun to raid the mainland. Urien joined with other northern kings, Rhydderch Hael "the Generous" of Strathclyde and two other descendants of Coel, Gwallog mab Llaenog and Morgant Bwlch. They defeated the Angles and besieged them on Lindisfarne but, according to the Historia Brittonum, Urien was assassinated at the behest of Morgant Bwlch who was jealous of his power. A man called Llofan Llaf Difo is said to have killed him. One of the Welsh Triads calls the death of Urien one of the "Three Unfortunate Assassinations" and another lists him as one of the "Three Great Battle-leaders of Britain".
  
  He had at least five sons, named Owain, Rhiwallon, Elffin, Rhun 'Baladr Bras' and Pasgen. The eldest of them succeeded him.
  
  Urien remained a popular figure in Wales over the centuries, and he and his son Owain were incorporated into Arthurian legend as it spread from Britain to continental Europe. His kingdom was eventually transferred to the mythical land of Gore, and Kings Lot of Lothian and Auguselus of Scotland are sometimes said to be his brothers. During the reign of Uther Pendragon, Urien marries Arthur's sister (often Morgan le Fay, but sometimes another sister is named). He, like the kings of several other lands, initially opposes Arthur's accession to the throne after Uther's death. Urien and the others rebel against the young monarch, but upon their defeat, the rebels become Arthur's allies and vassals.
  
  His marriage to Morgan is not portrayed as a happy one, however, as in a popular version (also included in Thomas Malory's influential Le Morte d'Arthur) Morgan plots to take Excalibur, kill Urien and Arthur, and place herself and her lover Accolon on the throne (in most tellings, she fails in all parts of that plan, being foiled by their son and by the Lady of the Lake). Malory sometimes spells his name Urience, which has led some (e.g. Alfred Tennyson) to identify him with King Rience.
  
  He is usually said to be the father of Ywain (Owain), but many texts also give him a second son, Ywain the Bastard, fathered on his seneschal's wife. Welsh tradition further attributes to him a daughter named Morfydd.
  
  === OR REGED , HE WAS LORD OF KIDWELLY , CAR ===
  OR REGED , HE WAS LORD OF KIDWELLY , CARUNLLOW AND YSKENEN IN S WALES. WAS KILLED BY THE TRECHERY OF MORCANT
  
  === [JaneMorgan.FTW]
  
  Urien Rheged, King of ===
  [JaneMorgan.FTW]
  
  Urien Rheged, King of North Rheged
  (c.530-590)
  (Welsh: Urien; Latin: Urbgenius; English: Orian)
  
  He was perhaps the most famous of the Kings of the North, and possibly one of the earliest Christian Kings in Britain. One of the sons of Cynfarch Oer, Urien appears to have united a Kingdom that was originally either divided between, or shared with his brothers, Llew and Arawn. These latter appear to have held sway north of the Solway Firth, probably in Galwyddel (Galloway) - where Din-Rheged (Dunragit) still stands - and the area where King Gwenddoleu later ruled. Urien's power-base was at Caer-Ligmaclid (Carlisle), though he also had a palace at Llwyfenydd on the River Lyvennet, and probably at Caer-Brogwm (Brougham) and Pen Rhionydd (possibly near Stranraer) too. The heart of his kingdom was modern Cumbria, which even today is named after the British Cymri, though his Kingdom, at one time, appears to have stretched as far north as Murief (Moray). Tradition asserts that his court played host to the High-King Arthur whenever he was travelling through the North, and Urien is thought to have married Arthur's half-sister, the enigmatic Morgan Le Fay. The King of Rheged, however, must have been something of a toy-boy, even if Morgan was the High-King's neice as some sources insist. A geneaological based birth date of AD 490 for the king is historically unacceptable. It is possible, even probable, that Urien's wife was a different lady, Modron ferch Afallach, though this name has unfortunate immortal overtones.
  
  There is some controversy as to whether or not Urien Rheged should be identified with King Urien of Gore. Goodrich thinks that Gore was an area of Ynys Manaw (Isle of Man) that the King of North Rheged conquered though her reasoning is flawed. Bruce makes a good case for it being the whole Island of Man based on Chretien's geography and description. The name may derive from the French or Welsh words for Glass, indicating an underworld connection. The identification with Gwyr (Gower) in South Wales is probably derived from the fact that Urien's son, Pasgen, later settled there. Urien was a great patron of the arts, particularly the works of his personal bard, the famous Taliesin.
  
  Throughout his time as King, Urien's relations with his fellow British monarchs were erratic. He made many raids on rival kingdoms as far north as Manau Gododdin and once captured King Selyf Sarffgadau (Battle-Serpent) of Powys in battle. However, towards the end of a long reign, Urien led a coalition of British Kings against the expanding Saxons. His allies included Kings Riderch Hael (the Generous) of Strathclyde, Gwallawc Marchawc Trin (the Battle Horseman) of Elmet and, probably, Morcant Bulc of Bryneich. Many battles were fought including Gwen Ystrad and the Cells of Berwyn. This latter, probably fought at the Roman Fort of Brememium (High Rochester) may have later been turned into High-King Arthur's supposed 11th Battle, of Breguoin. After the defeat of the Yorkist Kings, Peredyr Arueu Dur (Steel Arms) and Gwrgi, by the Bernicians in 580, Urien was quick to claim the strategic region around Catraeth, before the Saxons of Bernicia and Deira were able to secure the area and unite their two peoples. This struggle may have culminated in the Battle of Argoed Llwyfein (Leeming Lane, Yorks). It was at this battle that King Theodoric Flamddwyn (the Firebrand) of Bernicia was killed by Urien's son. The British probably held both the old Roman fort of Catraeth itself and the hillfort site at Richmond.
  
  By around 590, the Bernicians under Hussa were almost totally defeated. Pushed back to the sea's edge, the British besieged them on Ynys Metcaut (Lindisfarne) for three days, while Irish allies, under King Fiachna of Ulster, ousted the Saxons from Din-Gmacrdi (Bamburgh). However, before Urien could seize victory and finally rid Britain of the Saxon scourge, he himself was treacherously assassinated at Aber Lleu (Ross Low). His assassin, a nocturnal foreigner by the name of Llofan Llaf Difo (Severing-Hand), cut-off Urien's head at the instigation of the King's own ally, Morcant. The latter was, apparently, jealous of Urien's victories, and thought that he should lead the push to rid his own kingdom of the Saxon menace. His plan, of course, completely backfired and the Saxons soon re-asserted their stranglehold on the North. Urien was succeeded by his son, Owein.
  
  From www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/bios/urienrd.html
  
  === !1. Bartrum, 300-1400, pg. [11] ===
  !1. Bartrum, 300-1400, pg. [11]
  
  === OR "URBGEN""URIEN" ===
  OR "URBGEN""URIEN"
  
  === King North of the Salway. ===
  King North of the Salway.
  
  === King of North Rheged. King of North Rheg ===
  King of North Rheged. King of North Rheged.
  
  === !Brown book 5, P C 650. Sir Rhys ap Thom ===
  !Brown book 5, P C 650. Sir Rhys ap Thomas, Knight of the Garter. Research by Mrs Alice Miller, MD.
  
  === !#4568> Welsh Genealogies Ad 300-1400,-v ===
  !#4568> Welsh Genealogies Ad 300-1400,-v1-p11* (FHL #6025561); !PL> Llydaw (Letavia/Letha in Brittany);
  
  === !#4568> Welsh Genealogies Ad 300-1400,-v ===
  !#4568> Welsh Genealogies Ad 300-1400,-v1-p11* (FHL #6025561); #2105> Wales Visitations-v2-p104 (FHL Q942.9 D23d);
  
  === Bishop of Llydaw. ===
  Bishop of Llydaw.
  
  === T Jones: History of Brecknockshire P 4 ===
  T Jones: History of Brecknockshire P 4

1. Owain ap Urien, King Of Rheged, b. in Glastonbury, Somerset, England     d. 595 in Killed in the Battle of Catterick