Cadell ap Elisedd

Called Cadell ap Brochfael ( Cadell son of Brochfael ) also Cattell ap Broch Mail ( † 808), was 773-808 rulers of medieval Celtic kingdom of Powys, which in the northeastern part of Wales ( Welsh: Cymru ) was located in Britain. He succeeded despite rivalry with the neighboring Welsh kingdoms and especially despite the threat of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Mercia, to preserve the independence of his kingdom.

Origin

Cadell comes from the so-called Gwertherion ( Gwrtheyrnion ) dynasty that the name of their eponymous ancestor, the Roman -Celtic warlord Vortigern ( Welsh: Gwrteyrn ) which was soon after the withdrawal of the Roman Empire from Britain in 410 AD to most powerful warlord in Britain rose. On him the momentous invitation of the Saxons to settle in Britain is returned, which was for the extensive displacement of the Celtic character of Britain führte.Er according to tradition, married with a daughter Severa of the Roman general Magnus Maximus, who by the Roman troops in 383 Britain was called as Holy Roman Emperor.

The father of Cadell ap Brochfael was, as the pillar of Eliseg ( Elisedd ) states Brochfael ap Elisedd ( Brochfael son of Elisedd ), who reigned as King of Powys 755-773. He was thus a grandson of Elisedd was ap Gwylog ( Elisedd son of Gwylog ), King of Powys from about 725 to about 755, the honor to 850 of Cadells son, Cyngen ap Cadell, the so-called pillar of Eliseg (English: Pillar of Eliseg ) was built.

From Cadells mother neither the name nor the origin is known.

Life

Cadell ap Brochfael succeeded his father Brochfael ap Elisedd in the years 773-808 as King of Powys. His life was significantly influenced by the development of the neighboring States, in particular the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia in the east, and the Welsh kingdoms in the west and south.

Relations with Mercia

The expansive Kingdom of Mercia, against which already had to defend his grandfather and his father Elisedd Brochfael, proved also for Cadell constant threat. This is because there with King Offa ( 757-796 ) was a power-conscious and energetic rulers in power, who established the lost after the death of King Aethelred previous hegemony of the Kingdom of Mercia vigorously over the other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. King Offa turned, however, as to be expected against its western neighbors, the Kingdom of Powys. How the Welsh chronicles, the Annales Cambriae report Offa of Mercia took multiple military expeditions to Wales, such as in the years 778, 784 and 796 The brunt of these attacks had naturally the nearest neighbor - to take the Kingdom of Powys. It is shown that they can lead to loss of land of the Kingdom of Powys border conflicts and that these were by no means on the other side, but there were also attacks by Cadell and other Welsh princes.

This results from the fact that King Offa was forced to protect the frontier against Powys with a new massive border wall, although that of his predecessor, King Aethelbald of Mercia ( 716-757 ) built around 750 border barrier against Wales, the Wat 's Dyke, probably was still functional. Offa's Border Wall " Offa 's Dyke " was not just an improved version of Wat 's Dyke but also significantly longer (103 km! ) And a few kilometers further applied in the West to secure territorial gains. It was also designed so that he offered strategic insights on Welsh territory. To date, the massive mound is not only visible with vorgelagertem pit, but still shows the original width of almost 20 meters, a (reduced ) level of 2.4 meters.

This wall, which was built towards the end of the 8th century, defined - with variations - until today the border between England and Wales.

Relations with Welsh neighbors

Between the medieval Welsh kingdoms, there was a constant struggle for supremacy in Wales, which led to numerous internal conflicts. Powys was repeatedly threatened by the neighboring kingdoms - particularly of Gwynedd. From the time in question, however, are hardly documented messages, so insist on presumptive neighborly conflicts no concrete evidence.

Marriage and issue

About the wife of King Cadell ap Brochfael there before does not state their names nor their origin.

Children: King Cadell had at least two children:

• Cyngen ap Cadell († 855 ), King of Powys ( 808-855 ), the last king of Powys from the house of the Roman -Celtic warlord Vortigern ( Welsh: Gwrteyrn ), which had ruled the kingdom of Powys since the 5th century.

• Nest ferch Cadell. She married Merfyn Frych ap Gwraid ( Merfyn the dappled, son of Gwriad ), King of Gwynedd ( 825-844 ). Called your son Rhodri the Great ( Rhodri Mawr ) and Rhodri ap Merfyn Frych (* c. 820 † c. 878 ) was King of Gwynedd ( 844-878 ) and inherited the Kingdom of Powys in 855 after the death of his uncle Cyngen ap Cadell. He was the first ruler in Wales, the "the Great" was called.