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AP RHODI Cynan
Birth:          ABT  720 
Death:           816 

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynan_Dindaethwy
Cynan Dindaethwy (English: "Cynan of Dindaethwy") or Cynan ap Rhodri ("Cynan son 
of Rhodri") was a king of Gwynedd (reigned c. 798 – c. 816) in Wales of the Early 
Middle Ages. Cynan was the son of Rhodri Molwynog and ascended to the throne of 
Gwynedd upon the death of King Caradog ap Meirion in 798. His epithet refers to the 
commote of Dindaethwy in the cantref Rhosyr. Unlike later kings of Gwynedd, usually 
resident at Aberffraw in western Anglesey, Cynan maintained his court at Llanfaes on 
the southeastern coast.[1] Cynan's reign was marked by a destructive dynastic power 
struggle with a rival named Hywel, usually supposed to be his brother.

There is no historical record of Cynan's early years as king, but his reign ended in a 
combination of natural disasters and military reverses. In 810, there was a bovine 
plague that killed many cattle throughout Wales. The next year Deganwy, the ancient 
wooden court of Maelgwn Gwynedd, was struck by lightning.

A destructive war between Cynan and Hywel raged on Anglesey between 812 and 
816, ultimately ending with Cynan's defeat and banishment. Cynan and Hywel are said 
to be brothers in historical works such as Lloyd's History of Wales,[2] although Lloyd 
does not cite its source. The Annals of Wales mention the pair only by name, without 
any title, relation, or patronym.[3] (In comparison, it takes care to point out the 
brotherly nature of Elisedd's slaughter of Gruffydd ap Cyngen in Powys around the 
same time.) The genealogies from Jesus College MS 20 deny Cynan and Hywel were 
brothers at all, instead making Hywel the son of Caradog ap Meirion[4] and a distant 
cousin of Cynan Dindaethwy son of Rhodri Molwynog.[5] The Harleian genealogies 
agree with this.[6] Cynan died within a year of his exile according to the Annals of 
Wales[7] and the Irish Annals.[8]


 


 A map of Gwynedd showing its traditional cantrefs.
After Cynan's death, there was a battle at his former court at Llanfaes on Anglesey 
noted by the chronicles,[9] but the combatants are not identified.[note 1]

Cynan's daughter Esyllt became the mother of Merfyn Frych ap Gwriad, the first King 
of Gwynedd (825-844) known not to have descended from the male line of Cunedda.

Parents
AP IDWAL Rhodri Molwynog (ABT  690 - ABT  754)
----- ----- ()

Siblings
AP RHODI Cynan (ABT  720 -  816)

Marriage To ----- ----- () m. Notes Children by ----- -----
VERCH CYNAN Ethyllt (ABT 742 - )
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