| Bledric ap Custennin | |
|---|---|
| King ofDumnonia | |
| Reign | c. 598 - c. 613 |
| Successor | Clemen ap Bledric |
| Died | c. 613 River Dee, Wales |
| Issue | Clemen ap Bledric Blethyn ap Bledric |
| Father | Constantine |
Bledric ap Custennin (also known as Blederic, Bredrice, Peledric, Bletius, Bledrys, Bledrig, Bletricius or Bledericus) was a 6th- and 7th-century ruler ofDumnonia (now part of theEnglishWest Country).
The actual status and reality of Bledric is difficult to ascertain as most his references are in oldWelsh literature variously known as "King", "Duke" or "Prince" ofDevonshire and/orCornwall. He was described as Duke of Cornwall byc.603,[1] and an ally of northern Welsh kings.
The fullest account of Bledric's life comes fromGeoffrey of Monmouth's pseudohistoricalHistoria Regum Britanniae where he is numbered amongst thelegendary Dukes of Cornwall. Here Bledric, Duke of Cornwall, was the commander of the allied British armies which included KingCadvan of North Wales (Cadfan ap Iago ofGwynedd) and King Margadud of South Wales (probably Maredydd ap Rhain ofDyfed) at the Battle ofBangor-is-Coed. He joined battle with the army ofÆthelfrith ofNorthumbria who had just slain 1200 monks, and succeeded in wounding Æthelfrith and defeating theAngles but being slain himself.[2]
Some authors have Peredur, son ofCado ap Gerren, ruling as king in thefl. 7th century, descended from a different line of Dumnonian kings fromGerrenLlyngesic.[3] This is as given in the Dumnonianking-list derived from Jesus College, Oxford, MS 20.[4]
Bledric was one of three sons of kingConstantine (or Custennin) who died inc.560, his brothers beingGerren rac Denau, who he may have succeeded as king, and Domuel (or Dywel). He also had a sister who marriedPeibio Clafrog, king ofErgyng in South Wales. Bledric may have had two sons,Clemen as given in theLlyfr Baglan (Book of Baglan) who is thought to have succeeded him, and Blethyn as given byCaradoc of Llancarfan.[citation needed]
Caradoc of Llancarfan, in hisHistorie of Cambria (History of Wales), notes that Bledric was one of the British leaders killed by KingÆthelfrith ofNorthumbria and KingÆthelberht of Kent atBangor on theRiver Dee[5] inc.613, where he is described as the Prince of Devonshire and Cornwall. It is said that 'by the valiant forgoings of his life got his partners the victory'.[1] His sons apparently went on to 'enjoy the government of North Wales ever sinceCadfan ap Iago was chief King in Britain.' Caradoc of Llancarfan also gives Bledric's descendants elsewhere and gives Blethyn (or Bleddyn) as his son and Ednowen (or Ednowain) as his grandson.[citation needed]
Bledric may also appear in one of theWelsh Triads. Triad 69, the 'Three Defilements of theSevern' give the second as 'the gift of Golydan from Einiawn son of Bedd, king of Cornwall',[6] although given the genealogy of Caradoc of Llancarfan, this could be his supposed son Bleddyn who was recorded as father of Ednowain.
He is also given inLlyfr Baglan as aDuke of Cornwall, son of Constantine,High King of Britain (e.g. Custennin) and father of Clement (e.g. Clemen), Duke of Cornwall.[7]
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | King of Dumnonia c. 598–c. 613 | Succeeded by |
| Legendary titles | ||
| Unknown Last known title holder: Constantine | Duke of Cornwall | Unknown |