Bledric ap Custennin (also known as Blederic, Bredrice, Peledric, Bletius, Bledrys, Bledrig, Bletricius or Bledericus) was a 6th and 7th century ruler of Dumnonia (now the English West Country).
Contents
Life and rule
The actual status and reality of Bledric is difficult to ascertain as he figures in much old Welsh literature variously as "King", "Duke" or "Prince" of Devonshire and/or Cornwall. He was described as Duke of Cornwall by c.603,[1] and an ally of northern Welsh kings.
The fullest account of Bledric's life comes from Geoffrey of Monmouth's pseudohistorical Historia Regum Britanniae where is numbered amongst the Legendary Dukes of Cornwall. Here Bledric, Duke of Cornwall, was the commander of the allied British armies which included King Cadvan of North Wales (Cadfan ap Iago of Gwynedd) and King Margadud of South Wales (probably Maredydd ap Rhain of Dyfed) at the Battle of Bangor-is-Coed. He joined battle with the army of Æthelfrith of Northumbria who had just slain 1200 monks, and succeeded in wounding Æthelfrith and defeating the Angles but being slain himself.[2]
Some authors have Peredur, son of Cado ap Gerren, ruling as king in the fl. 600s, descended from a different line of Dumnonian kings from Gerren Llyngesic.[3] This is as given in the Dumnonian king-list derived from Jesus College, Oxford, MS 20.[4]
Family
Bledric was one of three sons of king Constantine (or Custennin) who died in c.560, his brothers being Gerren rac Denau, who he may have succeeded as king, and Domuel (or Dywel). He also had a sister who married Peibio Clafrog, king of Ergyng in South Wales. Bledric may have had two sons, Clemen as given in the Llyfr Baglan (Book of Baglan) who is thought to have succeeded him, and Blethyn as given by Caradoc of Llancarfan.
Death
Caradoc of Llancarfan is his Historie of Cambria (History of Wales) notes that Bledric was one of the British leaders killed by King Æthelfrith of Northumbria and King Æthelbert of Kent at Bangor on the River Dee[5] in c.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 since Cadfan 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.
Literature
Bledric may also appear in one of the Welsh Triads. Triad 69, the 'Three Defilements of the Severn' 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 in Llyfr Baglan as a Duke of Cornwall, son of Constantine, High King of Britain (e.g. Custennin) and father of Clement (e.g. Clemen), Duke of Cornwall.
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