Post-Roman Britain

August Hunt, in his internet article, Arthur and Camlann, argues plausibly the case for identifying Arthur as Cadwaladr, ruler of Meirionydd and contemporary of Owain Ddantgwyn.

Cadwaladr, we are told, could have been known as Dux Bellorum, a Latin title that was used to describe Arthur, since by analysing Cadwaladr's name we arrive at a similar title. In answer to those who would contest the use of Latin military titles being used by Nennius, Hunt goes on to illustrate with several precedents:

Cuneglasus = lanio fulve ('tawny butcher' - a military title?). Actually, it means nothing of the sort, it translates as 'grey hound'!

Vortigern = superbus tyrannus

Voteporix = protictoris ('protector') [uotep = votep + rix (king) - as Hunt puts it 'a sort of onomastic explicatory gloss'].

Hunt also demonstrates the explanatory etymological leap between the Dumnonian king Mark [Marcus Conomari] and his alternative names Cunomorus or Cynfawr ('hound-great'). By linking Germanic components Cuno / Cyn with the Old English Cyne - and similarly -morus / -fawr = OE mearh (horse) we arrive at ON 'marr' - 'horse', 'steed'). By these methods Hunt demonstrates that with such precedents it is quite feasible for Cadwaladr to be synonymous with the Dux Bellorum (from Cad-, 'battle', and gwaladr, 'lord, prince, leader, chieftain', for a meaning of 'battle-leader').

However, in the case of Cunomorus, an equally logical link could be drawn with the Votadini chieftain, Cunedda, as can be seen with the Viroconium inscription 'Cunorix' [see the Owain Ddantgwyn feature for more details].

Likewise, if such linguistic gymnastics can be applied to provide, in my opinion, these most fragile and tenuous links, then surely the connections between Owain Ddantgwyn and his father , Enniaun Yrth (Yrthr = Uther), and the description of Cuneglasus as 'the charioteer of the Bear's stronghold' (din Arth) are no less shaky and unconvincing?

When all is said and done we can do no more in this case than to theorise and say that Maelgwn [of Gwynedd] killed his uncle, therefore the legendary tale of Medraut (Mordred) killing his uncle - Arthur - would seem to be based on the King of Gwynedd.

Hunt says that Cadwaladr has the right name at the right place at the right time and he knows of no other candidate that fits all three conditions. I can only concur with reference to the place. The name is arrived at on very thin evidence and I have never seen a direct reference to Cadwaladr as 'Dux Bellorum'.

I would dispute the date in Hunt's hypothesis, preferring the more likely date of 519 or 520 for Arthur's final conflict. There are too many other contemporary dates that fit in with this one for Cadwaladr to be considered as a possible candidate. I would add, however, that a conflict with a Medraut at a place called Camlann does make this an attractive theory, date notwithstanding.

Another theory, developed by Mark DeVere Davis has Cuneglasus himself identified as Arthur. This is a well-argued and fascinating hypothesis, which deserves the full attention of any serious scholar (see Arthur and Cuneglasus, by Mark DeVere Davis at the author's web site).

Text copyright © Mick Baker. An original feature for the History Files.