1. Cadwaladr died in one of two devastating plagues that happened in 664 and in 682.
22 Facts About Cadwaladr
1. 2.
The association with Cadwaladr is a traditional one without any historical basis.
3.
Cadwaladr is a prominent character in the romantic stories of Geoffrey of Monmouth, where he is portrayed as the last in an ancient line to hold the title King of Britain.
4.
Cadwaladr was the son of Cadwallon ap Cadfan, and the successor to King Cadafael.
5.
Cadwaladr's name appears in the pedigrees of the Jesus College MS.
6.
Cadwaladr appears to have suffered a major military defeat at the hands of the West Saxons at Pinhoe near Exeter in 658.
7.
Cadwaladr is said to have been of a "peaceful and pious" temperament and to have patronised many churches.
8.
The date of Cadwaladr's death is uncertain but is thought to be either 664 or 682.
9.
Cadwaladr's name appears as 'Catgualart' in a section of the Historia Brittonum, where it says he died of a dreadful mortality while he was king.
10.
The plague of 682 is not noted by Bede, but the Annales Cambriae note its occurrence in Britain and that Cadwaladr was one of its victims.
11.
Cadwaladr's name is invoked in a number of literary works such as in the Armes Prydein, an early 10th-century prophetic poem from the Book of Taliesin.
12.
Cadwaladr is typically paired with Conan Meriadoc, the founder of British settlements in Brittany.
13.
Conan and Cadwaladr are identified as warriors who will return to restore British power.
14.
In Book XII, Chapter XIV of the Historia, Cadwaladr is given as the last in a line of kings that began with Brutus of Troy.
15.
Cadwaladr is received as a guest by Alan Hir, King of Brittany.
16.
The Breton king agrees, but Cadwaladr hears a prophetic voice which tells him that he must sacrifice personal power for the sake of his people.
17.
Cadwaladr is told that if he lives a penitent life he will become a saint.
18.
Edward IV claimed to be restoring the authentic ancient lineage of Cadwaladr, thus fulfilling Merlin's prophecy of the victory of the Red Dragon.
19.
The Tudors claimed descent from Cadwaladr to legitimize their authority over Britain as a whole.
20.
Owen Tudor claimed descent from Cadwaladr and used a red dragon badge.
21.
Tudor historian Thomas Gardiner created a genealogical roll that gave Henry's son, Henry VIII, a pedigree showing his descent from Cadwaladr, referred to as "the laste kynge of that blode from whome by trew and lynyall descensse" the Tudors descended.
22.
The English critics stated that Geoffrey had simply mixed up the two kings and that Cadwaladr's pilgrimage was thus pure fiction.