Bledric ap Custennin
Bledric ap Custennin (also known as Blederic, Bredrice, Peledric, Bletius, Bledrys, Bledrig, Bletricius or Bledericus) was a 6th and 7th century ruler of Dumnonia (now the English West Country).
Life and rule
The actual status of Bledric is difficult to ascertain as he figures in much old Welsh literature variously as "King", "Duke" or "Prince" of Devonshire and/or Cornwall. He was described as Duke of Cornwall by c.603,[1] and an ally of northern Welsh kings. Some authors have Peredur, son of Cado ap Gerren, ruling as king in the fl. 600s, descended from a different line of Dumnonian kings from Gerren Llyngesic.[2] This is as given in the Dumnonian king-list derived from Jesus College, Oxford, MS 20.[3]
Family
Bledric was one of three sons of king Constantine (or Custennin) who died in c.560, his brothers being Gerren rac Denau, who he may have succeeded as king, and Domuel (or Dywel).[4] He also had a sister who married Peibio Clafrog, king of Ergyng in South Wales. Bledric may have had two sons, Clemen as given in the Llyfr Baglan (Book of Baglan) who is thought to have succeeded him, and Blethyn as given by Caradoc of Llancarfan.
Death
Caradoc of Llancarfan is his Historie of Cambria (History of Wales) notes that Bledric was one of the British leaders killed by King Æthelfrith of Northumbria and Ethelbert at Bangor on the river Dee[5] in c.613, where he is described as the Prince of Devonshire and Cornwall. It is said that 'by the valiant forgoings of his life got his partners the victory'.[6] His sons apparently went on to 'enjoy the government of North Wales ever since Cadfan ap Iago was chief King in Britain.' Caradoc of Llancarfan also gives Bledric's decendants elsewhere and gives Blethyn (or Bleddyn) as his son and Ednowen (or Ednowain) as his grandson.
Literature
Bledric may also appear in one of the Welsh Triads. Triad 69, the 'Three Defilements of the Severn' give the second as 'the gift of Golydan from Einiawn son of Bedd, king of Cornwall',[7] although given the genealogy of Caradoc of Llancarfan, this could be his supposed son Bleddyn who was recorded as father of Ednowain.
He is also given in Llyfr Baglan as a Duke of Cornwall, son of Constantine, High King of Britain (eg Custennin) and father of Clement (eg Clemen), Duke of Cornwall.[8]
References
- ^ Carew, Richard. The Survey of Cornwall And An Epistle Concerning the Excellencies of the English Tongue. London. 1769 p77
- ^ Ashley, Mike The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens New York: Carroll & Graff 1998 ISBN 0-7967-0692-9 p118
- ^ Snyder, Christopher A. The Britons Blackwell 2003 ISBN 0-631-22260-6 p166
- ^ Hughes, David. Royalty, The British Chronicles, 2 vols 2007 ISBN 0-78-843301-6 Cornovia, 3A
- ^ Powell, David. The History of Wales written originally in British by Caradoc of Llancarfan. T. Evans, London. 1774 p17
- ^ Carew, Richard. The Survey of Cornwall And An Epistle Concerning the Excellencies of the English Tongue. London. 1769 p77
- ^ Mariboe, Knud. Encyclopaedia of the Celts. 1994, ISBN 87-985346-1-0
- ^ Williams, John. Llyfr Baglan: or The Book of Baglan. Compiled Between the Years 1600 and 1607. Edited by Joseph Alfred Bradney. London: Mitchell, Hughes and Clarke, 1910. p80