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• FSID: GZ6S-7VM

Family/Spouse: ap Brochfael, King Cynan Garwyn. Cynan was born in 544 in Powys, Wales; died in 610 in Powys, Wales. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. verch Cynan Garwyn, Tandreg Ddu was born in 580; died in 600.

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• FSID: GZK3-34C

Domangart married of Bretagne, Gwenhwyfar. Gwenhwyfar was born in 550 in Bretagne, France; died in DECEASED. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FSID: GZ58-G9F

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• House: 8th generation of Colla Uais
• FSID: LCRS-D72
• Religion: Celtic Christian Church of the Sacred Kindred of Saint Columba
• Appointments / Titles: Between 574 and 606, Kingdom of Dál Riata, Scotland; King of Dál Riata
• Military: 583, Isle of Man, Dumfries-shire, Scotland
• Military: 599; Battle between Áedán and the Picts in Circinn - Aedan was defeated

Notes:

Áedán mac Gabráin was a king of Dál Riata from about 574 until about 609. The kingdom of Dál Riata was situated in modern Argyll and Bute, Scotland, and parts of County Antrim, Ireland. Genealogies record that Áedán was a son of Gabrán mac Domangairt.

He was a contemporary of Saint Columba, and much that is recorded of his life and career comes from hagiography such as Adomnán of Iona's "Life of Saint Columba." Áedán appears as a character in Old Irish and Middle Irish language works of prose and verse, some now lost.

The Irish annals record Áedán's campaigns against his neighbors in Ireland and in northern Britain, including expeditions to the Orkney Islands, the Isle of Man, and the east coast of Scotland. As recorded by Bede, Áedán was decisively defeated by Æthelfrith of Bernicia at the Battle of Degsastan. Áedán may have been deposed or have abdicated following this defeat. His date of death is recorded by one source as 17 April 609.

The sources for Áedán's life include Bede's "Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum"; Irish annals, principally the "Annals of Ulster" and the "Annals of Tigernach"; and Adomnán's "Life of Saint Columba." "The Senchus fer n-Alban," a census and genealogy of Dál Riata, purports to record his ancestry and that of his immediate descendants. None of these sources are contemporary. Adomnán's work was written in the very late 7th century, probably to mark the centenary of Columba's death. It incorporates elements from a lost earlier life of Columba, "De virtutibus sancti Columbae," by Cumméne Find. This may have been written as early as 640; neither the elements incorporated from Cumméne's work nor Adomnán's own writings can be treated as simple history. Bede's history was written 30 years after Adomnán's. The surviving Irish annals contain elements of a chronicle kept at Iona from the middle of the 7th century onward, so that these too are retrospective when dealing with Áedán's time.

The Rawlinson B 502 manuscript, dated to c. 1130, contains the tale "Gein Branduib maic Echach ocus Aedáin maic Gabráin" ("Birth of Brandub son of Eochu and of Aedán son of Gabrán"). In this story, Áedán is the twin brother of Brandub mac Echach, a King of Leinster who belonged to the Uí Cheinnselaig kindred. Áedán is exchanged at birth for one of the twin daughters of Gabrán, born the same night, so that each family might have a son. "The Prophecy of Berchán" also associates Áedán with Leinster. John Bannerman concluded that "[t]here seems to be no basis of fact behind these traditions." Francis John Byrne suggested that the "Echtra" was written by a poet at the court of Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó, an 11th-century descendant of Brandub, and was written to cement an alliance between Diarmait and the Scots king Máel Coluim mac Donnchada ("Malcolm III"), who claimed to be a descendant of Áedán. A lost Irish tale, "Echtra Áedáin mac Gabráin" ("The Adventures of Áedán son of Gabrán"), appears in a list of works, but its contents are unknown. Áedán is a character in the epic "Scéla Cano meic Gartnáin," but the events which inspired the tale appear to have taken place in the middle of the 7th century. He also appears in the tale "Compert Mongáin."

Áedán additionally appears in a variety of Welsh sources, making him one of the few non-Britons to figure in Welsh tradition. Welsh sources call him "Aedan Bradawc," meaning "The Treacherous" or "The Wily." He may have earned this epithet after the collapse of an alliance with Rhydderch Hael, king of the nearby Brittonic kingdom of Alt Clut; enmity between them is remembered in the Welsh Triads and elsewhere. Another Triad records Áedán's host as one of the "Three Faithful War-Bands of the Island of Britain," as they "went to the sea for their lord." This may point to an otherwise lost tradition concerning one of Áedán's sea expeditions, such as to Orkney or the Isle of Man. Additionally, several Welsh works claim a Brittonic pedigree for Áedán. The "Bonedd Gwŷr y Gogledd" records him as a descendant of Dyfnwal Hen of Alt Clut, though the genealogy is much confused (Gauran is given as his son, rather than father).] The "Cambro-Latin De Situ Brecheniauc" and "Cognacio Brychan" claim his mother was Luan, daughter of Brychan of Brycheiniog in Wales. Though these pedigrees are inconsistent and likely dubious, they are notable in highlighting Áedán's close association with the Britons.

Neighbors
Áedán was the chief king in Dál Riata, ruling over lesser tribal kings. The "Senchus fer n-Alban" records the sub-divisions of Dál Riata in the 7th and 8th centuries, but no record from Áedán's time survives. According to the Senchus, Dál Riata was divided into three sub-kingdoms in the 7th century, each ruled by a kin group named for their eponymous founder. These were the Cenél nGabráin, named for Áedán's father, who ruled over Kintyre, Cowal and Bute; the Cenél Loairn of northern Argyll; and the Cenél nÓengusa of Islay. Within these there were smaller divisions or tribes which are named by the Senchus. Details of the Irish part of the kingdom are less clear.

Looking outward, Dál Riata's neighbors in north Britain were the Picts and the Britons of the "Hen Ogledd," the Brittonic-speaking parts of what is now Northern England and southern Lowland Scotland. The most powerful Brittonic kingdom in the area was Alt Clut, later known as Strathclyde and Cumbria. Late in Áedán's life, the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Bernicia became the greatest power in north Britain.

In Ireland, Dál Riata formed part of Ulster, ruled by Báetán mac Cairill of the Dál Fiatach. The other major grouping in Ulster consisted of the disunited tribes of the Cruithne, later known as the Dál nAraidi. The most important Cruithne king in Áedán's time was Fiachnae mac Báetáin. Beyond the kingdom of Ulster, and generally hostile to it, were the various kingdoms and tribes of the Uí Néill and their subjects and allies. Of the Uí Néill kings, Áed mac Ainmuirech of the Cenél Conaill, Columba's first cousin once removed, was the most important during Áedán's reign.

Reign
Adomnán, the "Senchus fer n-Alban" and the Irish annals record Áedán as a son of Gabrán mac Domangairt (died c. 555–560). Áedán's brother Eoganán is known from Adomnán and his death is recorded c. 597. The "Senchus" names three other sons of Gabrán, namely Cuildach, Domnall, and Domangart. Although nothing is known of Cuildach and Domangart or their descendants, Adomnán mentions a certain Ioan, son of Conall, son of Domnall, "who belonged to the royal lineage of the Cenél nGabráin," but this is generally read as meaning that Ioan was a kinsman of the Cenél nGabráin, and his grandfather named Domnall is not thought to be the same person as Áedán's brother Domnall.

Áedán was about 40 years old when he became king, following the death of his uncle Conall mac Comgaill in 574. His succession as king may have been contested; Adomnán states that Columba had favoured the candidacy of Áedán's brother Eoganán. Adomnán claims that Áedán was ordained as king by Columba, the first example of an ordination known in Britain and Ireland.

In 574, following the account of Conall's death, the "Annals of Ulster" and the "Annals of Tigernach" record a battle in Kintyre, called the Battle of Teloch, or Delgu. The precise location of the battle is unidentified. The annals agree that "Dúnchad, son of Conall, son of Comgall, and many others of the allies of the sons of Gabrán, fell." In 575, the Annals of Ulster report "the great convention of Druim Cett," at Mullagh or Daisy Hill near Limavady, with Áed mac Ainmuirech and Columba in attendance. Adomnán reports that Áedán was present at the meeting. The purpose of the meeting is not entirely certain, but one agreement made there concerned the status of Áedán's kingdom. Áedán and Áed agreed that while the fleet of Dál Riata would serve the Uí Néill, no tribute would be paid to them, and warriors would only be provided from the Dál Riata lands in Ireland.

The reason for this agreement is thought to have been the threat posed to Áedán, and also to Áed, by Báetán mac Cairill. Báetán is said to have forced the king of Dál Riata to pay homage to him at Rosnaree on Islandmagee. Áedán is thought to be the king in question, and Ulster sources say that Báetán collected tribute from Scotland. Following Báetán's death in 581, the Ulstermen abandoned the Isle of Man, which they had captured in Báetán's time, perhaps driven out by Áedán who is recorded as fighting there c. 583. Earlier, c. 580, Áedán is said to have raided Orkney, which had been subject to Bridei son of Maelchon, King of the Picts, at an earlier date.

Áedán's campaigns on the Isle of Man have sometimes been confused with the battle against the Miathi mentioned by Adomnán. The Miathi appear to have been the Maeatae, a tribe in the area of the upper river Forth. This campaign was successful, but Áedán's sons Artúr and Eochaid Find were killed in battle according to Adomnán. This battle may have taken place c. 590 and been recorded as the Battle of Leithreid or Leithrig.

The Prophecy of Berchán says of Áedán: "Thirteen years (one after another) [he will fight against] the Pictish host (fair the diadem)." The only recorded battle between Áedán and the Picts appears to have been fought in Circinn, in 599 or after, where Áedán was defeated. The annals mention the deaths of his sons here. It has been suggested that this battle was confused with the "Battle of Asreth" in Circinn, fought c. 584, in which Bridei son of Maelchon was killed. This battle is described as being "fought between the Picts themselves."

A number of Welsh traditions point to warfare between Áedán and King Rhydderch Hael of Alt Clut, the northern Brittonic kingdom later known as Strathclyde. Hector Munro Chadwick and subsequent historians suggest Áedán was initially in a long-term alliance with Rhydderch and his predecessors, but that it even..

-- Wikiwand: Áedán mac Gabráin

Aedán had seven sons i. two Eochaids i. Eocho Bude and Eochaid Find, Tuathal, Bran, Baithine, Conaing, Gartnait.

Áedán married verch Maelgwyn, Domelch. Domelch (daughter of ap Cadwallon, King Maelgwyn Hir and verch Afallach, Gwallwyn) was born in 535 in Gwynedd, Wales; died in 586 in Wales. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FSID: GZ8H-76H

Other Events and Attributes:

• House: 7th generation of Colla Uais
• FSID: K4TX-Y9Y
• Appointments / Titles: Between 537 and 559, Kingdom of Dál Riata, Scotland; King of Dál Riata, Ulaid

Notes:

Reign of Gabrán, one of two sons of Domhangart #3. Brother of Congall #4. Married to Ingenach (Lleian) (Luan), daughter of Brychan, King of Brechin or Brecheiniog in Forfarshire (a Pictish kingdom in mid-Scotland). Father of Aedhan #7. When Eochaidh, King of Leinster, was banished to Alba by Niall of the Nine Hostages, Irish Kings #126, Gabhran extended his protection to Eochaidh. Slain in a battle with the Picts under their king Bridei. (538–558) [558 or 560] (535–570) {Dale thinks the Pictish King Drest, son of Girom, whose reign he estimates as from 536 to 538, may be the same person.}

Census of the men of Alba, Gabran, moreover, had five sons i. Aedan, Eoganan, Cuildach, Domnall, Domangart.

Gabrán mac Domangairt (Old Welsh: "Gawran map Dinwarch") or Gabrán the Traitor ("Gwran Wradouc") was King of Dál Riata, Ulaid, in the mid-6th century. He is the eponymous ancestor of the Cenél nGabráin. Gabrán was the son of Domangart Réti.

The historical evidence for Gabrán is limited to the notice of his death in the Irish and Welsh annals. It is possible that Gabrán's death should be linked to a migration or flight from Bridei mac Maelchon, but this may be no more than coincidence.

Gabrán's chief importance is as the presumed ancestor of the Cenél nGabráin, a king group that dominated the kingship of Dál Riata until the late 7th century and continued to provide kings thereafter. Kings of Alba and of Scotland traced their descent through Gabrán to his grandfather Fergus Mór, who was seen as the ultimate founder of the royal house as late as the 16th and 17th centuries, long after the Gaelic origins of the kingdom.

Unlike the "Cenél Loairn," the "Senchus Fer n-Alban" does not list any kindreds within the Cenél nGabráin. However, probable descendants of Gabrán, such as Dúnchad mac Conaing and his many kinsmen, would appear to have disputed the succession with the descendants of Eochaid Buide, grandson of Gabrán, so that this absence of explicit segments in the kindred may be misleading. A genealogy of David I of Scotland in the "Book of Ballymote" notes the following divisions:

. After Áedán mac Gabráin, between the main line, called "the sons of Eochaid Buide" and "the children of Cináed mac Ailpín," and the "sons of Conaing"
. After Eochaid Buide, between the main line and the "children of Fergus Goll" and the "children of Connad Cerr ... or the men of Fife," although modern studies make Connad Cerr a member of the Cenél Comgaill
. After Eochaid mac Domangairt, between the main line and the Cenél Comgaill

The domain of the Cenél nGabráin appears to have been centered in Kintyre and Knapdale and may have included Arran, Jura and Gigha. The title "King of Kintyre" is used for a number of presumed kings of the Cenél nGabráin. Two probable royal sites are known: Dunadd, which lies at the northern edge of their presumed lands; and Aberte (or Dún Aberte), which is very likely the later Dunaverty on the headland beside Southend, Kintyre.

Kilmartin may have been an important early Christian site by reason of its proximity to Dunadd and its dedication to Saint Martin of Tours, as may Kilmichael Glassary. However, there appears to be no religious site of the importance of Lismore in the lands of the rival Cenél Loairn.

-- Wikiwand: Gabrán mac Domangairt. “The Treacherous”, “The Traitor.”

Gabrán married verch Brychan, Lleian Ada. Lleian (daughter of ap Brycheiniog, King Brychan and ingen Dyfnwal, N.N.) was born in 500 in Kingdom of Dál Riata, Scotland; died in 550 in Kingdom of Dál Riata, Scotland; was buried in 550 in Kingdom of Dál Riata, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FSID: MS9Q-V3N

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• FSID: LYSJ-8JQ
• Appointments / Titles: Between 517 and 547, Gwynedd, Wales; King of Gwynedd

Notes:

Ancient Wales Studies-

The casual student of early Welsh History will recognize this man, sometimes called Maelgwn Hir, as a powerful 6th century ruler of Gwynedd. He was one of 5 contemporary rulers singled out for scorn by Gildas in his c. 540 The Ruin of Britain. Much has been written about him by later men, some probably accurate but much clearly fables. Leaving aside the preachy condemnation directed at him by Gildas, he tells us several specific things about his life[1]:

a. As a youth, he "dispatched his uncle the king with sword and spear".
b. Soon afterward, he repented his wickedness and entered a monastery, vowing to remain a monk forever.
c. Later, he violated that oath and returned to his evil ways.
d. After leaving the monastery, he took a wife.
e. After enjoying his wife "for some little time", he spurned her and sought another.
f. The object of his affections was a young lady already married to his nephew.
g. To have that lady, he killed her husband and his own lawful wife.

To learn who this Maelgwn was, we must turn to the early pedigree manuscripts...none written before c. 970. Here, we learn that he was a son of Cadwallon Lawhir ap Einion Urdd ap Cunedda[2]. His mother was Meddyf ferch Maeldaf ap Dylan Traws of Nant Conwy[3]. His father had cleared the last of the Irish squatters from the island of Anglesey[4], a task begun by Cadwallon's grandfather, father and uncles about 435/440AD. Cadwallon had an elder brother, Owain Ddantgwyn[5], who seems to have succeeded their father as king of Gwynedd.

Marriages cited for Maelgwn include an unknown Gwallen ferch Affleth[6]; while she was the mother of his eldest son, Rhun, most sources say she was merely a mistress of young Maelgwn, but the boy was acknowledged by his father and became his heir[7]. Maelgwn did marry a lady named Nest ferch Samuel Penisel ap Pappo ap Ceneu ap Coel Hen[8], by whom he had a son Einion[9] and a daughter Eurgain. The other lady cited as his wife was Sanan ferch Cyngen Glodrydd[10], a sister of Brochwel Ysgithrog of Powys.
The "king, his uncle" whom Maelgwn slew in his youth is nowhere named. Gildas referred to him as "avunculus" or "mother's brother", so this seems to rule out Owain Ddantgwyn... his father's brother. Thus, the deposed king must have been a son of Maeldaf ap Dylan Traws of Nant Conwy[11]. We suggest some of the men Gildas called "kings" were merely rulers of appanages of larger kingships[12]. This man likely ruled Nant Conway, a part of Gwynedd subject to its king. Likewise, Cadwallon Lawhir ruled only Anglesey (and possibly Arfon) while his brother was overall king of Gwynedd[13].

Since Gildas first took notice of Maelgwn when he was in his youth, i.e. early 20's, we should describe his world as he might have seen it in the period AD500-505. The battle of Baden had recently defeated the main Saxon army and Wales was no longer threatened by outside invaders. It is quite likely that Maelgwn, and his cousins, had been among Arthur's warriors at Baden. His father and uncle were in their 50's, probably still capable of leading a warband to defend their own lands, but a bit old to be active on the battlefield far from home. Flush with victory in his first campaign, Maelgwn may have chafed under the constraints imposed back home. He would not step into his father's shoes until Cadwallon Lawhir either died or retired to a monastery in his old age, but he had a following of noble youths that had fought with him; they saw him as a born leader and powerful warrior and gladly joined him in an attempt to unseat the neighboring ruler in Nant Conwy. The coup was successful, his mother's brother fell to their swords and spears as the band of youths despoiled his lands, taking loot and young maidens.

Maelgwn took over the Lord's manor and took to his bed a young lady, Gwallwen ferch Afallach. It was about the year 505 when she bore a son, Rhun, whom Maelgwn saw as a mirror image of himself (and indeed the boy did grow up to be taller and stronger than the average man). In seeking to identify this lady, we note that Maelgwn's mother would have been born c. 465 and her brother perhaps c. 460. A daughter of that brother would have occurred c. 490 and thus be of child-bearing age in 505. The timeline is wholly consistent with identifying the slain Lord of Nant Conwy as Afallach ap Maeldaf and Gwallwen as his daughter.

We further suggest that family was among the descendants of Eudaf Hen who had ruled Gwynedd prior to the arrival of Cunedda. Dylan Traws fits as a younger son of Tudwal ap Turmwr Morfawr ap Gaedon ap Cynan ap Eudaf Hen, and may have received the Lordship of Nant Conwy when his brother, Cynfawr, succeeded to the overall kingship.

Probably never his intent to rule these conquered lands to the benefit of their occupants, he and his rowdy group of friends simply took what they wanted from the people of Nant Conway. We suggest these people appealed to the clergy to assist them in their woes, and asked St. Illtud to intercede with Maelgwn. Illtud was then the most respected bishop in Wales[14], a first-cousin of Arthur[15] and probably maternally related to Maelgwn[APPENDIX I]. Early writers identify Illtud (born c. 460/465) as the "teacher" of Maelgwn, so we think he is the holy man who convinced Maelgwn to renounce his selfish and evil past and enter a monastery to train for a peaceful life as a spiritual leader. Maelgwn was wholly won over and Illtud promised to see that the infant Rhun was cared for and raised to be a fine man of whom a father could be proud.

After some few years as a monk, during which time he ministered to the weak and poor and comforted the ill, and indeed led an exemplary life, his father finally died near age 65. When it became evident that other male kinfolks were prepared to assume rule over his own paternal lands, Maelgwn renounced his vows and left the monastery. He returned to become Lord of Anglesey, was reunited with his young son, and took a wife.

Gildas called this marriage "illegal", but we aren't sure if he meant Maelgwn already had a "wife" in the eyes of the church...the mother of Rhun...or he meant Maelgwn had taken the celibacy oath of a monk. We suggest this wife was Nest, a lady about 10 years younger than himself. Maelgwn was now about 35 years old, so Nest likely was a 25 year old widow or divorcee.

By this lady, Maelgwn had a son Einion and a daughter Eurgain, probably in the years 516/520. We suggest he did not emerge from the monastary and immediately resume the evil ways of his youth. But an event around the year 525 changed him forever; he was selected to be the interim king of all Gwynedd.

His cousin, the king of Gwynedd, had fallen in battle that year...a man in his mid-40's[16]. The king's eldest son was but a teenager so the leading men of the realm gathered to select an interim king to rule until the legal heir came of his full age. There were several eligible candidates, but it was Maelgwn who received the nod[17]. He moved from Anglesey to occupy the royal manor at Degannwy, and all the trappings of power went to his head. Becoming as ruthless as when a youth, but with all the authority and power of kingship, Maelgwn indeed returned to iniquities "like a sick dog returns to his vomit".

Disdaining his wife, now in her 30's, he became enamored of a much younger lady whom we would identify as the 16 year old wife of his own nephew[18]...Sanan ferch Cyngen Glodrydd.

Unable to induce the lady to leave her husband and come to his bed, he killed that man leaving her a widow. Apparently his wife Nest objected to having the younger woman take her place in Maelgwn's bed, so she too was slain. Maelgwn was a man near age 41 at the time he wed the pretty teenage widow. By the account of Gildas, he went downhill from there so far as decency and honor were concerned. It is known, however, that he made many generous gifts and landgrants to various churches throughout Wales. Whether these were proof that he had a strong spiritual nature, or were simply bribes he offered the holy men to offset the offenses he committed against them and his fellow men, is anyone's guess.

But his heady ride as the most powerful man in north Wales ended, we suggest, about 545. The rightful heir was now of full age and the "regency" of Maelgwn was declared over. Nearing age 65, Maelgwn reverted to simply Lord of Anglesey. Rather than accept this demotion, he installed his son Rhun, now about 40, in his manor of Afferfraw and retired back to monastic life. He was still there in 547 when the ''yellow plague" swept over Gwynedd, and he died as he sought shelter from it in the nearby church[19].

Maelgwyn married verch Afallach, Gwallwyn. Gwallwyn (daughter of ap Maeldaf, Afallach and ap Maeldaf, N.N.) was born in 485 in Gwynedd, Wales; died in 543 in Gwynedd, Wales; was buried in 543 in Kingdom of Alba. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FSID: G783-8VL