Cynddylan

Cynddylan ap Cyndrwyn is the name of a figure from Welsh mythology and history. His story is in the poem Marwnad Cynddylan ( " The Elegy of Cynddylan " ) and described in the poem cycle Canu Heledd ( " Heledds songs ").

Cynddylan was a king of Pengwern in Powys, the 642 ( or 644 according to the Annales Cambriae ) fell in the battle of Maser Field (Welsh Maes Cogwy ) according to some traditions in the 7th century. The slaughter is now usually localized with Oswestry (Welsh Croesoswallt ) in Shropshire. In Marwnad Cynddylan is as his kingdom Dogfeiling ( in Gwynedd, Denbighshire today ) called.

In the confusion after the withdrawal of the Roman occupation of Britain and the conquest by the Anglo-Saxons, the Anglo-Saxon kings Oswald of Northumbria and Penda of Mercia fought for supremacy over the area south of the Humber. After Canu Heledd took Welsh from Pengwern, under the leadership of Cynddylan ap Cyndrwyn, at the decisive battle at Maser Field in part, probably as allies of the Mercians. Cynddylan fell after this poetic tradition in the battle and was mourned by his sister Heledd ferch Cyndrwyn in the poems of Canu Heledd.

However, his death anno 642/644 is uncertain since a Cynddylan is also mentioned as allies in the battle of Winwaed ( 655) and in the Battle of Deorham ( 577 ). A name similarity with another Welsh king can not be excluded.