| Cunedagius | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Cornwall | |
| Predecessor | Henwin, Duke of Cornwall |
| Successor | Rivallo |
| King ofSouth Britain | |
| Reign | c. 850BCE |
| Predecessor | Cordelia |
| Successor | Rivallo |
| King ofNorth Britain | |
| Reign | c. 850BCE |
| Predecessor | Marganus I |
| Successor | Rivallo |
| Issue | Rivallo |
| Father | Henwin, Duke of Cornwall |
| Mother | Regan |
Cunedagius (Latinized form;Welsh:Cunedda[1]) was a legendary king of theBritons, as recounted byGeoffrey of Monmouth. He came to power in 850BC.[2]
He was the son of Henwin,Duke of Cornwall, andRegan, the daughter of KingLeir.
Cunedagius, grandson ofLeir, despised the rule of his auntCordelia. With the help of his cousinMarganus, Cunedagius took over the kingdom from Cordelia and ruled half of it. Following Cordelia'sSuicide, Cunedagius came to rule the region of Britain southwest of theHumber.[3]
Two years after they split the island,Marganus invadedCornwall and destroyed much of the land. Cunedagius met him in battle and defeated him. Marganus fled throughout Britain until he was cornered inWales. Cunedagius killed him and became king of all of Britain. He ruled all of Britain for 33 years and was succeeded by his sonRivallo.[3]
Geoffrey synchronizes Cunedagius' reign with the ministry of the Jewish prophetIsaiah and the founding ofRome byRomulus and Remus.[3] Both events are dated to the 8th century BC.
Cunedagius and Marganus' conflict is mentioned twice inThomas Norton andThomas Sackville's playGorboduc (1561), as a warning against the possibility of civil strife: "Morgan slaine did yeld his conquered parte unto his cosins sworde in Camberland" (Act I, Scene II); "the cruell sworde bereft Morgan his life with cosyns hand" (Act III, Scene I).
| Legendary titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Henwin | Duke of Cornwall | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | King ofSouth Britain | |
| Preceded by | King ofNorth Britain | |