Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of CattraethAneirin
History
Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth
Aneirin
Cattraeth, Battle of, Catterick, England, ca. 600 -- Poetry
From other sources we learn that Cunedda was the son of Edeyrn ab Padarn
Peisrudd, by Gwawl, daughter of Coel Godebog, and that he was entitled,
in right of his mother, to certain territories in Wales. When these were
invaded by the Gwyddyl, his sons, twelve in number, left their northern
home for the purpose of recovering the same, in which they were
successful, though the enemy was not finally extirpated until the battle
at Cerrig y Gwyddyl, in the succeeding generation. It is asserted by
some that Cunedda accompanied his sons in this expedition, and that it
was undertaken as much through inability to retain possession of their
more immediate dominions, as from the desire of acquiring or regaining
other lands. However, though the sons settled in Wales and on its
borders, it is more accordant with the drift of the Poem, already cited,
to suppose that Cunedda himself died in the North. Nevertheless, it is
undoubted that the native chieftains began to suffer in that part of the
island from barbarian incursions even before the departure of the Romans.
Thus Ammianus Marcellinus, with reference to the year 364, bears
testimony, that “the Picts and Saxons and Scots and Attacots harassed the
Britons with continual oppressions.” {2b}
The final abandonment of the island by the Romans occurred, according to
Zosimus, about A.D. 408 or 409, at which time the native princes arose to
the full enjoyment of feudal dignity and power. In the North, among
others, we find Pabo Post Prydain, a descendant of Coel Godebog in the
4th degree, and Cynvarch Oer, a member of another branch of the same
family; both of whom, however, were compelled by the inroads of the
predatory hordes, to leave their territories and seek refuge in Wales,
though it would appear that Urien, son of the latter, succeeded
subsequently in recovering his paternal dominion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account