General Notes

The family of Eudaf Hen - or Octavius the Old as he would have
been knownto his contemporaries - hailed from the Gwent area of
Wales. Eudaf wasapparently Lord of the Gewissae. The Gewissae
are a confused people. Some think they were the Germanicrace
who lived around Dorchester-on-Thames and Abingdon even before
theRomans left Britain. They later merged with the West Saxons
who continuedto use the name. However, there are other
indications that they were theBritish who lived further to the
West. The word 'Gewissae' may be relatedto Ewyas, the northern
region of Gwent, and, possibly, to the Hwicce, anapparently
Saxon people who lived in Gloucestershire. Their name may
havehad British origins. There are tales of Eudaf holding court
at Caer Segeint (Caernarfon), butthis was probably due to
associations with his son-in-law, the EmperorMagnus Maximus.
The Gwent/Gloucestershire area would appear to have beenhis
real home, like the tyrant Vortigern who seems to have claimed
him asan ancestor. But Eudaf is a man on the boundaries of
mythology. All that can really besaid about him is that he
probably lived in the early 4th century. Hesupposedly took up
the British High-Kingship after defeating King CoelGodhebog
(the Magnificent)'s brother, Trahearn. However, even the
oldCeltic client-kingdoms under Roman rule had disappeared by
this period.If Eudaf held any office of power, it would have
been a simpleadministrative role; perhaps a praeses of
Britannia Prima or a decurionof Gloucester or Caerwent. He had
no sons and was succeeded by his son-in-law, the Emperor
MagnusMaximus. Conan, his nephew, had to be content as King of
both Brittanyand Dumnonia. Like many prominent men of their
era, Eudaf and Conanclaimed descent from Celtic Gods: Llyr
Llediarth (Half-Speech), God ofthe Sea and his son, Bran
Fendigaid (the Blessed), who was mortalized inpopular tradition
as a King of Siluria (Gwent). . [David Nash Ford,Ancestry of
Eudaf Hen] ---------- Eudaf Hen, supposed High-King of Britain
Mid-4th Century(Latin-Octavius, English-Odda) . Eudaf Hen (the
Old) first appears in theold Welsh mythological tale, the
'Dream of Macsen'. The future RomanEmperor, Magnus Maximus,
dreamt of Eudaf's beautiful daughter, ElenLluyddog (of the
Host), and sent emissaries across the Empire to findher. She
was discovered in her father's palace at
Caer-Segeint(Caernarfon) where the old man sat, carving
'gwyddbwyll' pieces (likechess-men). Maximus came to Britain,
married the girl and eventuallyinherited 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
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 British
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.