General Notes

Cunedda Weledig (Cunedda the Great), was the first in the dynasty of Cunnedda, the line of Gwynedd. According to Davies tradition states Cunneda and eight sons and one grandson came down from the north and drove the Irish from Gwynedd.

notes or source:
ancestry.com & HBJ
"A History of Wales" by John Davies

A group of Votadini Picts (nominal Britons from the Pictish border areas) under Cunedda Wledig were transferred by Magnus Maximus to secure Western Britain from Irish raiders, moving from the Manau Goutodin kingdom. In Wales, Cunedda governed most of the north (hence "King of North Wales"). His father and grandfather bore Roman names and in true Celtic fashion, Cunedda could trace his lineage back to Beli Mawr.

Following that Celtic tradition, upon Cunedda's death the territory under his control was divided between his sons. Most of these were "regained" by the main Gywneddian kingdom within a generation or two. Ceredigion, along the upper west coast of Wales, remained independent for much longer. The name of [Sub-Kingdoms of Gwynedd] Gwynedd either derives from the Latin Venedotia, or more probably from Cunedda (=Weneda =Gwynedd).

Cunedda (or Cunedag) was a northern British chieftain, a sub-King of Gododdin who ruled Manau Gododdin on the Firth of Forth around Clackmannan. He was requested by the northern Welsh to help them expell the invading Irish from their lands, and he eagerly obliged. With his many sons, Cunedda settled down in the area and founded a number of Royal dynasties: Gwynedd Rhos Ceredigion
Meirionydd
Dunoding
Dogfeiling
Rhufoniog: founded by Rhufon around Denbigh
Edeyrnion: founded by Edeyrn around Bala
Afflogion: founded by Afloyg on the Lleyn Peninsula Osmaeliog: founded by Osfael probably on Anglesey

Cunedda Wledig (or Cunedag) hailed from Manau Gododdin, a sub-division of the greater Kingdom of Gododdin (Lothian) in modern Scotland. His capital may have been in the Clackmannan region. His father, grandfather & great grandfather bore Roman names and were probably confederate allies of the Roman administration living just north of Hadrian's Wall. The appendage to Paternus' name is particularly telling. Like many prominent men of his era, Cunedda claimed descent from Beli Mawr, the Celtic Sun-God, through his son, Lludd Llaw Ereint, God of Healing & grandson, Afallach, God of the Underworld.

Marwnad Cunedda (Elegy for Cunned - in Welsh)

Mydwyf taliessin deryd gwawt godolaf vedyd.
Bedyd rwyd rifedeu eidolyd.
kyfrwnc allt ac allt ac echwyd
Ergrynawr cunedaf creisseryd.
ygkaer weir achaer liwelyd.
Ergrynawt kyfatwt kyfergyr.
kyfanwanec tan tramyr ton.
llupawt glew ygilyd.
kan kafas y whel uch eluyd.
mal vcheneit gwynt wrth onwyd.
kefynderchyn ygwn ygyfyl kyfachetwyn achoelyn kerenhyd.
Gwiscant veird kywrein kanonhyd.
marw cunedaf agwynaf agwynit.
Cwynitor tewdor tewdum diarchar.
Dychyfal dychyfun dyfynveis
dyfyngleis dychyfun.
Ymadrawd cwdwdawd caletlwm.
kaletach wrth elyn noc ascwrn.
ys kynyal cunedaf kyn kywys athytwet.
ywyneb a gatwet kanweith cyn bu lleith yndorglwyt
Dychludent wyr bryneich ympymlwyt.
Ef canet racyofyn ae arswyt oergerdet.
kyn bu dayr dogyn ydwet.
heit haual am wydwal gwnebrwyt.
gweinaw gwaeth llyfred noc adwyt.
Adoet hun dimyaw agwynaf amlys am grys cynedaf
Am ryaflaw hallt am hydyruer mor.
Am breid afwrn aballaf.
gwawt veird aogon aogaf.
Ac ereill arefon arifaf.
Ryfedawr yn erulawd
Anaw cant gorwyd kyn kymun cuneda.
Rymafei biw blith yrhaf.
Rymafei edystrawt ygayaf.
Rymafei win gloyw ac olew.
Rymafei torof keith rac vn trew.
Ef dyfal ogressur o gyflew gweladur.
Pennadur pryt llew lludwy uedei gywlat rac mab edern kyn edyrn anaelew.
Ef dywal diarchar diedig.
Am ryfreu agheu dychyfyg.
Ef goborthi aes ymanregorawl gwir gwrawl oed y vnbyn.
Dymhun achyfatcun athal gwin kamda.
diua hun o goelig.

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