Celtic Kingdoms of the British Isles

Dunoting / Dunaut (North Pennines)

Dunoting should not be confused with the Dunoding sub-kingdom of Gwynedd which was created in circa 445. Arthwys ap Mor, great-grandson of Coel Hen, was the first King of the Pennines, apparently ruling the whole length of the Pennines from Dunoting to The Peak. Upon the death of his son, this land was further divided into two kingdoms, and this appears to have borne the name of its first and apparently only ruler. His life seems suspiciously long, however, so perhaps he and his brother were both infants at the time of their accession.

Dunoting, occupying windswept and fairly bleak countryside around Dent and Craven, was likely the lesser of the two kingdoms, but the area's British influences live on in local place names, most noticeably the peak of Pen-y-Ghent. The name Pennines is believed to be derived from the Celtic penno, meaning 'hill', although the earliest written reference to the name dates only from the eighteenth century.

c.525

Upon the abdication of Pabo Post Prydain of the Pennines, the kingdom of the Pennines is divided into The Peak and Dunoting. Given the reignal lengths of both his sons, Sawyl Penuchel and Dunaut, they must both be infants at the time. Dunaut is clearly active in the later years of what appears to be a very long reign, so it seems possible that he does not rule this territory in person from such an early date.

Instead, three possibilities are raised: either the name of a possible first ruler has been forgotten and his reign has subsequently been merged into that of Dunaut's; or the territory is bequeathed to him upon his birth and he takes control when he comes of age; or finally that it remains part of the fragmenting kingdom of the Pennines for longer than is thought, and is only sub-divided away from it a generation later than is generally assumed. This raises the possibility that the 'lost king' who might precede Sawyl and Dunaut is their father while Pabo is their grandfather. A simple case of a name lost from a later royal pedigree.

c.525 - 595

Dunaut / Dynod Bwr / Dunod Fawr (St)

King of Dunoting (North Pennines). 'Dunaut the Stout / Great'.

545

The Daniel of the British Church that is given by Geoffrey of Monmouth is St Deiniol, traditionally thought of as being the first bishop of Bangor, which lies within the kingdom of Gwynedd. According to the Latin Life of St Deiniol, he is the son of Dunod Fawr, and grandson of Pabo Post Prydein, early sixth century king of the Pennines. He is apparently consecrated in 545 by St David, and dies in 584. The present Bangor Cathedral is said to stand on the site of Deiniol's first monastery.

573

Dynod allies himself with the joint kings of Ebrauc to stake a claim against Caer Guendoleu for territory to the north, probably in Caer Guendoleu. As Caer Guendoleu apparently passed to Urien Rheged upon the death of its king, this could explain Dynod's later invasion of North Rheged, fighting King Owein. The kings of The Peak and Ebrauc would both have had a valid claim to this territory through their joint descent from 'High King' Coel Hen.

c.570 - 580

The Deirans continue to gain ground in neighbouring Ebrauc. Although by now they seem to have already captured the coast by about 570, the city of Ebrauc (York) is known to have fallen later, between about 570-580, so it seems likely, given their dates of death (Annales Cambriae), that the sons of Eliffer had been fighting on from their capital until overrun. The loss of Ebrauc to the Deirans leaves Dunoting's long eastern border exposed.

595

The Annales Cambriae records Dynod's death in battle against the Bernicians. He is probably the last British ruler of the Pennines (unless the remnants of the territory are absorbed into North Rheged). His family are forced to flee to Powys, including his second son, the famous bard, Aneirin, while another son, Deiniol, is already in Gwynedd as the British Church's first bishop of Bangor.

By this time the Deiran and Bernician Angles are pushing far into British territory, and the Iclingas are expanding to the south with only Elmet and Cynwidion holding out in this region as enclaves until 616-617, and South Rheged until about 635.