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List of legendary rulers of Cornwall

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"Duke of Cornwall" appears as a title in pseudo-historical authors such as Geoffrey of Monmouth. The list is patchy and not every succession was unbroken. Indeed, Geoffrey repeatedly introduces Dukes of Cornwall only to promote them to the Kingship of the Britons and thus put an end to their line as (merely) dukes. As adjuncts or supporting roles to the kings of the Britons, the legendary dukes of Cornwall are considered part of the vast Matter of Britain, and can also be found in other stories, such as Culhwch and Olwen, the Prose Tristan, Havelok the Dane, and Gesta Herewardi. Antiquaries such as Richard Carew (Survey of Cornwall, 1602) and John Williams (the Book of Baglan, 1600–1607) also provide lists of legendary rulers of Cornwall, often combining the above with other sources.

An archetypal Duke of Cornwall from the late fifteenth century Chronicle of the History of the World

As a result, these lists are more often thought of as a conglomeration of various Celtic rulers, Celtic warlords, and mythical heroes. If the lists of kings of Britain are legendary, then the list of dukes must be considered still more a genealogical and historical legend with no solid basis in the view of most historians. The titles given for the rulers also vary, even within sources; Geoffrey's History, has the title fluctuating between "duke" (dux Cornubiae) and "king" (rex Cornubiae), and Carew wrote that before the Norman Conquest "these titles of honour carry a kinde of confusednes, and rather betokened a successive office, then an established dignity. The following ages received a more distinct forme, and left us a certeyner notice."[1]

Pre-Arthurian

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Name Title Notes Approximate time frame Sources
Corineus Duke[a] First ruler of Cornwall; given the land by Brutus[b] 1154 BC[a] Historia Regum Britanniae; Survey of Cornwall
Gwendolen Queen Daughter of Corineus; became queen regnant of Britain[b] Historia Regum Britanniae
Gorbonian Duke Son of Camber; also became chief governor of Cambria[c] Book of Baglan folios 84, 305
Difnwall Hen Duke Son of Gorbonian; also one of or the chief governor of Cambria[c] Book of Baglan folios 84, 306
Kingen Duke Son of Difnwall Hen; also chief governor of Cambria[c] Book of Baglan folios 84, 306
Aser Duke Son of Kingen; also chief governor of Cambria[c] Book of Baglan folios 84, 306
Bledhud Duke Son of Aser; also chief governor of Cambria[c] Book of Baglan folios 84, 306
Henwin Duke Son of Bledhud; also chief governor of Cambria;[c] Duke under King Leir;[b] husband of Leir's daughter Regan[b][c] or Gonorille,[a] and with her ruled half of Britain[c] 899 BC[a] Historia Regum Britanniae; Survey of Cornwall; Book of Baglan folios 84, 306
Cunedagius Duke[b] Son of Henwin; duke of Cornwall under Queen Cordelia; became king of Britain;[b] built a temple to Apollo in Cornwall[a] 832 BC[a] Historia Regum Britanniae; Survey of Cornwall
Antonius Duke Great-great-grandson of Henwin; second son of Gorwst, king of Britain[c] Book of Baglan folios 83, 306
Aedhmawr Duke Son of Antonius[c] Book of Baglan folios 83, 306, 307
Prydan Duke Son of Aedhmawr[c] Book of Baglan folios 83, 307
Kynfarch Duke Son of Prydan[c] Book of Baglan folios 83, 307
Cloten King/[b][a]Duke/Prince[c] Son of Kynfarch;[c] ruled Cornwall during the pentarchy after Ferrex and Porrex[b] 528 BC[a] Historia Regum Britanniae; Survey of Cornwall; Book of Baglan folios 83, 165, 307; Gorboduc
Dyfnwal Moelmud King/[b]Duke[c] Son of Cloten; unites Britain as its king[b][c] c. 400 BC[c] Historia Regum Britanniae; Survey of Cornwall; Book of Baglan folios 83, 165, 307
Belinus Son of Dyfnwal Moelmud; became king of Britain, and direct ruler of Loegria, Kambria, and Cornwall,[b] as his appanage; brother of Brennus[a] 430 BC[a] Historia Regum Britanniae; Survey of Cornwall
Tasciovanus Duke Son of King Lud; made duke by his uncle King Cassibelanus;[b][a] succeeds him as king of Britain[b] 96 BC[a] Historia Regum Britanniae; Survey of Cornwall
Thanor King Contemporary with Joseph of Arimathea[d] c. 1st century AD Prose Tristan
Asclepiodotus Duke Duke under Allectus;[b] becomes king of Britain[b][a] 231 AD[a] Historia Regum Britanniae; Survey of Cornwall
Conan Meriadoc Duke Nephew of Octavius; became king of Armorica[a] 329 AD[a] Survey of Cornwall
Salomon Duke Father of Corinius who was said to have attended the Synod of Arles[a] 351 AD[a] Survey of Cornwall

Arthurian

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Sources diverge leading up to the time of King Arthur, with Caradoc placed either during the time of Arthur (as in the Welsh Triads, and later tradition), soon before Gorlois (Carew's Survey of Cornwall), or before his brother Dionotus as Caradocus in the Historia Regum Britanniae, while the Book of Baglan only keeps Gorlois, but gives him an entirely different set of ancestors. Gorlois is sometimes given other names, such as Ricca in Culhwch and Olwen, Tador in William Worcester's Itineraries, and Hoel in the Prose Merlin. In some sources Gorlois is not ruler of Cornwall, and is replaced in this role by Mark in the Prose Tristan, Ydiers in the Prose Merlin, and the unnamed King Cornwall in "King Arthur and King Cornwall".

Welsh Triads

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Name Title Notes Approximate time frame Sources
Arthur Chief lord Chief lord of the "three tribal thrones of the Island of Prydain": Celliwig in Cornwall, Pen Rhionydd in the north, and Mynyw in Wales Peniarth MS 54, triad 1
Caradawg Vreichvras Chief elder Arthur's chief elder for Cornwall; also one of the "three cavaliers of battle of the Island of Prydain" Peniarth MS 54, triads 1, 16

Historia Regum Britanniae

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Name Title Notes Approximate time frame Sources
Caradocus Duke/King Duke under King Octavius; put forward Maximianus as king of Britain and was king of Cornwall under him Historia Regum Britanniae
Dionotus King Brother of Caradocus; made regent of Britain during Maximianus' campaigns Historia Regum Britanniae
Gorlois Duke Duke under kings Aurelius Ambrosius and Uther; first husband of Igraine, Arthur's mother Historia Regum Britanniae
Cador Duke/King Ruler of Cornwall as one of four kings under King Arthur Historia Regum Britanniae
Constantine Son of Cador; kinsman of King Arthur, who he succeeds as king of Britain 542 AD Historia Regum Britanniae

Survey of Cornwall

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Name Title Notes Approximate time frame Sources
Dionethus Duke/King Sent Saint Ursula and 11,000 handmaids to Conan Meridock in Armorica; also called Dionotus 383 AD Survey of Cornwall
Moigne Duke Brother of Aurelius and Uter-Pendragon; governor of the realm under Emperor Honorius 433 AD Survey of Cornwall
Carodoc Duke Tasked by Octavius to found the University of Cambridge 443 AD Survey of Cornwall
Gorlois Duke Husband of Igerna with whom Uter-Pendragon had Arthur and Amy 500 AD Survey of Cornwall
Cador Earl Killed King Childerick of the Saxons who invaded after being banished by Arthur 526 AD Survey of Cornwall
Marke King In the time of Arthur Survey of Cornwall

Book of Baglan

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Name Title Notes Approximate time frame Sources
Owen Duke Direct descendant of Dyfnwall Moelmud; son of Maxentius, king of Britain and emperor of Rome c. 4th century AD Book of Baglan folios 82, 276, 309
Moure Duke Son of Owen; also called Mour or Moor Book of Baglan folios 82, 276, 309
Golor Duke Son of Moure; also called Solor Book of Baglan folios 82, 276, 309
Pendoff the Great Duke Son of Golor; also duke of Wessex; also called Pendof or Pendaff the Great Book of Baglan folios 81, 276, 309
Sortogus Duke Son of Pendoff Book of Baglan folios 81, 276, 309
Gurleis Duke/Prince Son of Sortogus; married Eigyr, a descendant of Joseph of Arimathea's sister; also called Goulisor or Gwrleis Book of Baglan folios 81, 276, 309
Cador Duke/Prince Son of Gurleis Book of Baglan folios 81, 276

Culhwch and Olwen

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Name Title Notes Approximate time frame Sources
Arthur Has his court at Celliwig in Cornwall c. 6th century AD Culhwch and Olwen
Ricca Chief Elder Father of Arthur's half-brother Gormant c. 6th century AD Culhwch and Olwen
Gwyn Hywar Overseer Overseer or steward of Cornwall and Devon; one of the nine who plotted the Battle of Camlann c. 6th century AD Culhwch and Olwen

William Worcester's Itineraries

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Name Title Notes Approximate time frame Sources
Tador Duke Husband of Arthur's mother; killed at Castle an Dinas William Worcester's Itineraries, 1478, Castle an Dinas

Prose Tristan

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Name Title Notes Approximate time frame Sources
Felix King Many generations after Thanor c. late 5th century AD Prose Tristan
Mark of Cornwall King Son of Felix, and uncle of Tristan c. early 6th century AD Prose Tristan

"King Arthur and King Cornwall"

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Name Title Notes Approximate time frame Sources
King Cornwall King Unnamed magician-king of Cornwall; fathered a daughter with Guinevere; beheaded by King Arthur "King Arthur and King Cornwall"

Prose Merlin

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Name Title Notes Approximate time frame Sources
Hoel Duke Duke of Tintagel, husband of Ygerne; had five daughters with her, who married King Lot, King Ventres, King Urien, and King Briadas Prose Merlin
Ydiers King King of Cornwall; one of seven kings who fight Arthur; joins forces with Arthur during the Saxon invasion Prose Merlin

Post-Arthurian

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Historia Regum Britanniae

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Name Title Notes Approximate time frame Sources
Blederic Duke Duke at the time Augustine arrives; dies leading the Britons in war against the Saxon King Ethelfrid of Northumbria 597 AD Historia Regum Britanniae

Survey of Cornwall

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Name Title Notes Approximate time frame Sources
Blederic Duke Fought with other Welsh kings against Ethelferd, and by dying won the battle 603 AD Survey of Cornwall
Ivor Son of King Alane of Brittany; won Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset from the Saxons 688 AD Survey of Cornwall
Roderic King King of the Bretons in Wales and Cornwall; lost Cornwall to King Adelred of Wessex and fled to Wales 720 AD Survey of Cornwall
Bletius Prince Prince of Cornwall and Devon under King Roderic 720 AD Survey of Cornwall
Dungarth King Drowned by mischance 872 AD Survey of Cornwall
Alpsius Duke Duke of Devon and Cornwall 900 AD Survey of Cornwall
Orgerius Duke Father of Alfride who married King Edgar 959 AD Survey of Cornwall
Condor Earl Paid homage to William the Conqueror for his earldom 1067 AD Survey of Cornwall

Book of Baglan

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Name Title Notes Approximate time frame Sources
Bredrice Duke Grandson of Cador; son of Constantyn III the king of Britain; also called Peledric c. 6th century AD Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Clement Duke/Prince Son of Bredrice; also called Clemeas Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Pedrock Duke Son of Clement; also called Pedronck Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Progmaell Duke Son of Pedrock Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Coilbye Duke Son of Progmaell; also called Koilbie Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Caret Duke Son of Coilbye; also called Garet Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Dwn Duke Son of Caret Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Ithel Duke Son of Dwn; also called Ithyn Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Dyfnuall Duke Son of Ithel; also called Boifunall Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Canordolye Duke Son of Dyfnuall; also called Canordoly Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Ostwallt Duke Son of Canordolye; also called Ustwalld Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Hernam Duke Son of Ostwallt Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Hopkin Duke Son of Hernam; also called Hopkyn Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Mordaph Duke Son of Hopkin; also called Mordaff Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Fferverdyn Duke Son of Mordaph Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Elnyd Duke Son of Fferverdyn Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Alanor Duke Son of Elnyd Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Rolopedaph Duke Son of Alanor Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Vortegyn Duke Son of Rolopedaph; also duke of Wessex Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Vephyne Duke Son of Vortegyn; also duke of Wessex Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Alured Duke Son of Vephyne; also duke of Wessex Book of Baglan folios 81, 276
Godwyn Duke Son of Alured; also duke of Wessex Died 1013 Book of Baglan folios 39, 81, 276, 327, 373
Herbert Lord/Earl Son of Godwyn; also duke of Wessex; father of Henry Herbert Lord of the Forest of Deane and Chamberlain to Henry I of England Book of Baglan folios xxiii, xxiv, 39, 81
Candor Earl Paid homage to William the Conqueror Earl in 1066 Book of Baglan folio 196
Candor Earl Son of Candor; father of Avicia who married Reginald de Dunstanville, 1st Earl of Cornwall Book of Baglan folio 196

Havelok the Dane

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Name Title Notes Approximate time frame Sources
Godrich Earl Earl under King Athelwold; made regent of England c. 6th/7th century AD Havelok the Dane
Bertram Earl Godrich's cook; made earl by Havelok c. late 6th/7th century AD Havelok the Dane

Gesta Herewardi

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Name Title Notes Approximate time frame Sources
Alef Prince/King Gave shelter to Hereward the Wake during his first exile c. 1050s/1060s AD Gesta Herewardi

See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ Carew, Richard (1769) [1602]. The Survey of Cornwall. And An Epistle concerning the Excellencies of the English Tongue. E. Law and J. Hewett.