Bladud was a legendary king of the Britons as recounted by Geoffrey ofMonmouth. He was the son of King Rud Hud Hudibras.
He ruled for twenty years in which time he built Kaerbadum (Bath) and themany hot baths in that city. This was because he was a leper and a hotbath cured him. He dedicated the city to the Greek goddess Minerva andlit undying fires in honor of her.
During his reign, he also encouraged the practice of necromancy, ordivination through the spirits of the dead. Through this practice, he issaid to have contructed wings for himself and tried to fly to the templeof Apollo in Trinovantum (London) but was killed when he hit a wall. Hewas succeeded by his son, Leir.
Moyra Caldecott has written a fictional account of the life of Bladud,called The Winged Man.