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Glastenning
The territory around and mostly to the west of Glastonbury was a sub-kingdom of
Dumnonia, and came under its overall control. Based on Ynys
Witrin (modern Glastonbury, which was known to the early Saxons in the
region as Glestingaburg. It is otherwise known as the Isle of Avalon,
'Avalon' being an old Celtic word for
apples, the legendary resting place of Arthur). The kingdom probably covered much of modern
Somerset.
From the mid-sixth century its immediate rule was under the king of
Dogfeiling, which itself was a
sub-kingdom of Gwynedd. The son of
Cyndrwyn Glas, Morfael, also became the ruler of the Roman city of Letocetum
(Caer-Luit-Coyt) in the eastern half of Pengwern,
and his younger brother became king of all of Pengwern, probably upon Morfael's death. |
577 |
Once the
West Seaxe make the breakthrough of defeating
Caer Baddan,
Caer Ceri, and
Caer Gloui, the
heartland of eastern Dumnonia, and
Glastenning itself, are under direct threat. However, it seems likely that the three
cities had been receiving military support from Glastenning or
Dumnonia, and that these
kingdoms hold onto the West Wansdyke territory afterwards. |