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Caradocus (middleWelsh:Karadawc), according toGeoffrey of Monmouth'sHistoria regum Britanniae, a pseudohistorical account of thekings of the Britons, was the duke of Cornwall under the reign ofOctavius, who became king of Cornwall and died during the EmperorMagnus Maximus' reign.
Caradocus was theDuke ofCornwall during the reign ofOctavius. It was he who suggested to Octavius that he should wed his daughter to Maximus and uniteBritain withRome through that union. When Octavius agreed to the idea, Caradocus sent out his son, Mauricius, to Rome as to deliver the message to Maximus.Conan Meriadoc, the king's nephew, did not approve and nearly attacked Maximus when he landed nearSouthampton. Only when Caradocus arrived was peace restored. They dispersed and Octavius handed Maximus the kingship and retired, as Caradocus rallied behind Maximus.
Five years after Maximus became king of Britain, he left the country to ravage the land of Gaul, and Geoffrey of Monmouth says that Maximus had left governance of his kingdom to Caradocus' brother,Dionotus, whom he calls the king of Cornwall, "who had succeeded his brother Caradoc in that kingdom." Geoffrey of Monmouth varies his use of the termsdux ('duke') andrex ('king') of Cornwall, even for the same person (for example,Cador), but his account consistently presents Caradocus as ruler of Cornwall under first Octavius and then Maximus, dying within the first five years of the latter's reign.
CornishantiquaryRichard Carew has Caradocus as Carodoc Duke of Cornwall, and gives an earlier source (D. Kay) who says that he was tasked by Octavius to found theUniversity of Cambridge in 443. Carew has him succeeded byGorlois in 500.[1]
Welsh Triads mentionCaradoc (Welsh:Caradawg Vreichvras) asKing Arthur's chief elder atCelliwig inCornwall, who may have served as Monmouth's source for Caradocus.[2]
| Legendary titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Unknown Last known title holder: Asclepiodotusas duke | King of Cornwall | Succeeded by |
