Emerging from the gloom of the Dark Ages, Cadwallon was one of the last of the British kings to overthrown an Anglo-Saxon Kingdom.
The historic tale of Cadwallon ap Cadfan, King of Gwynedd, is mainly known through the actions of his allies and enemies. It is not clear when, exactly, Cadwallon became the ruler of Gwynedd, but the year 625 is often given. It is also not known exactly how far his kingdom extended, because there is little written record of his kingdom until the year 629, when he lost it. It was in this year, that King Edwin invaded.
Edwin was king of the two Anglian kingdoms of Deira and Bernecia, and is listed by the Venerable Bede as the strongest of the Anglo-Saxon kings up to that point in English History. It is likely that he was recognized as overlord to many of the Saxon kingdoms to the south. In 629, Edwin invaded Gwynedd and his army swept across North Wales. For a time, Cadwallon was besieged on the tiny Puffin Island in the North West corner of Wales.
From this precarious position, it is not completely clear what happened next. Either, Cadwallon fled to Ireland, or he stayed in Wales and used the island as a base from which to strike back. One way or another, Cadwallon formed an alliance with Penda, a member of the royal house of Mercia. This alliance between the greatest British King and a man destined to become the greatest Saxon king, was too much for Edwin. The sides met at the battle of Hatfield Chase where Edwin was killed.
The war continued after Edwin’s fall, and Cadwallon and Penda together ravaged the country and killed the new king Osric as well. However, Penda soon became busy making his claim to the crown of Mercia. Meanwhile a new king arose in the countries of Deira and Bernecia, King Oswald, who would be later recognized as a saint. Oswald attacked Cadwallon on the battlefield of Heavenfield. There Cadwallon fell.
Geoffrey of Monmouth, writing in his History of the Kings of Britain gives a much fuller account of Cadwallon. In his version, Cadwallon led an army against Penda and forced him into an alliance and sealed the pact by marrying Penda’s half-sister. Geoffrey also has Cawallon living another twenty years past the generally accepted date.
Geoffrey of Monmouth’s tale of Cadwallon is more the tale of a legendary hero, and for a time, he was. In history, he was the last of the British Kings to overthrow an Anglo-Saxon kingdom.
Primary information for this article comes from Anglo-Saxon England by Frank Stenton, Oxford University Press, 1971
