CYNAN DINDAETHWY (died 816), prince

Name: Cynan Dindaethwy
Date of death: 816
Child: Esyllt ferch Cynan Dindaethwy
Parent: Rhodri Molwynog
Gender: Male
Occupation: prince
Area of activity: Military; Politics, Government and Political Movements; Royalty and Society
Author: John Edward Lloyd

was, according to the oldest pedigree, the son of Rhodri, a grandson of Cadwaladr (died 664). Inasmuch as Rhodri (usually found with the epithet 'Molwynog') died in 754 and Cynan is first mentioned in 813, this descent is open to question. His brief appearance in history gathers round a struggle with a certain Hywel, whom Dr. David Powel treats as his brother, for the possession of Anglesey. In 814 Hywel was the victor, but Cynan won back the island in 816, only to die in that year. According to the life of Gruffudd ap Cynan, his descendant, he was of Castell Dindaethwy, which has been identified with the hill-fort near Plas Cadnant, in the parish of Llandysilio (Inv. Anglesey, xciii). He left a daughter, Ethyllt (for the form see Rhys, Celtic Folklore, 480, n.), who became the mother of Merfyn Frych (died 844) and thereby foundress of the royal houses of Gwynedd and Deheubarth in the Middle Ages.

Author

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-RUU/1.0/

The Dictionary of Welsh Biography is provided by The National Library of Wales and the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. It is free to use and does not receive grant support. A donation would help us maintain and improve the site so that we can continue to acknowledge Welsh men and women who have made notable contributions to life in Wales and beyond.

Find out more on our sponsorship page.