Gradlon Mawr 'The Great' ap Cynan, King of Brittany

Gradlon Mawr, King of Brittany

['Mawr' mean 'The Great' and this can be written Gradlon Mawr OR Gradlon The Great]

Gradlon was known as Gradlon the Great in Brittany, but was mostly called Urban outside his kingdom.
(Welsh-Erbin, Latin-Urbanus, English-Urban)

Born c. 330 AD, he believed to be the eldest son of Cynan/Conan Meriadoc by his second wife, St. Darerca.

In his youth, when he was a pagan, Gradlon is said to have fallen deeply in love with a beautiful half-woman/half-fairy (the Bible refers to these as Nephilim). Unfortunately however, he later offended this mysterious creature by converting to Christianity and seeking the counsel of St. Gwenole. The fairy fled from Gradlon across a torrential river, warning him not to follow. The brave Breton, however, plunged headlong into the swirling waters after her. The fairy was forced to save his life, but spurned him nevertheless and hated him all the more for having made her admit that she loved him still. One version has her taking him with her to her 'world' or mystical dwelling. Unfortunately, because of this legend written about him, skeptic historians who have dictatorial control of history's narration denounce nearly every ancient record of Gradlon (and there are several) as mere myth, even deny him his kingship and demoting him to a mere governor or petty ruler.

One factual point of the historical Gradlon is, that he was a devout pagan who took quickly to the new religion of Roman Catholicism invented and labeled "Christian" by Emperor Constantine in 313 by the Edict of Milan, which immediately began persecution of biblical Christians who refused to embrace Constantine's pagan-based religion. While out hunting, he became separated from his entourage and found himself lost in the great Forest of Menez-Hom, a totemic hilltop dominating the Bay of Douarnenez in Brittany, which had been sacred to the ancient Breton peoples that inspired legends. Almost dead from exhaustion and hunger, he eventually stumbled across the hermitage of a man now called St. Cornetin (now built upon by Plomodiern). Corentin kept a marvellous fish from which he cut a slice to sustain him every day. The fish would be found miraculously whole again in the morning. He happily shared his meal with the Breton King and he was thus brought back to health. As a reward for his hospitality, Gradlon made Corentin the first Bishop of Cornouaille.

In the legends of Gradlon, his first fairy-love returned in later years, to possess the mind of (or rather, brainwash) Gradlon's daughter, Dahut, who thence became known as the most wicked (i.e. sexually promiscuous) of Breton women. She built a castle over the River Argent in the Huelgoat Forest, to which a different suitor was invited every night. Each was given a black mask to wear so he could not look upon Dahut's face. Then the revelries began. At the end of a thoroughly enjoyable evening, however, hidden springs would shoot out from the mask and strangle the wearer! Dahut would then have the body thrown into the nearby forest caves. This was very similar to the practices of Roman Emperor Tiberius who would fornicate with young teenagers at his cliff-side estate in Capri, and them throw them to their deaths from the cliff.

Gradlon's main power-base was Cornouaille and his capital was the beautiful city of Caer Ys which stood at the Bay of Douarnenez. It was a low lying city with a large dike to keep back the sea, similar to the dike network in The Netherlands. Using Plato's description description of of the use of sluice gates in Atlantis, Gradlon built and kept the key to the sluice gates in the dikes hung around his neck at all times. While sleeping, his daughter Dahut, bitter at her father's conversion to Catholicism, stole the key and opened the gates in some sort of sadistic game. The raging sea waves immediately invaded the city. Gradlon was awakened with barely enough time to jump on his horse and race ahead of the torrential waves. Spying his daughter in the streets, and being unaware of her crimes, he pulled her up behind him. They rode ahead of the series of oncoming waves until they reached higher ground where Gwenole (later named Saint Gwenole) was waiting. Gwenole is said to have commanded the king, "Cast off the demon that is riding behind you!" but Gradlon did not understand the him. So Gwendole pushed Dahut into the sea himself, and immediately the waves were calm once more.

Gradlon made his new capital at Corspotium (Quimper), where his statue can be seen in front of the Cathedral. It is said that the bells of the churches of Ys can still be heard on stormy nights at sea. Upon Gradlon's death, he was succeeded by his son, Salomon I; followed by his grandson, Aldrien.

Generally considered legendary.

King of Brittany Gradlon Mawr ap Cynan Meriadoc of Brittany

b. circa 330

Father King of Brittany Erbin ap Cynan Meriadoc of Britain1

    King of Brittany Gradlon Mawr ap Cynan Meriadoc of Brittany established his first power-base in Cornouaille and his capital was the beautiful city of Caer Ys which stood in, what is now, the Bay of Douarnenez.2 He was half-brother of Erbin, King of Brittany.1 He made his new capital at Corspotium (Quimper), where his statue can be seen in front of the Cathedral.2 He was born circa 330. The eldest son.2 He was the son of King of Brittany Erbin ap Cynan Meriadoc of Britain.1 King of Brittany Gradlon Mawr ap Cynan Meriadoc of Brittany married Tigridia of Ireland before 355.2 King of Brittany Gradlon Mawr ap Cynan Meriadoc of Brittany was the predecessor of Prince of Dumnonée Guitol ap Gradlon of Brittany; Prince of Domnonée.1 King of Brittany Gradlon Mawr ap Cynan Meriadoc of Brittany was the successor of King of Brittany Erbin ap Cynan Meriadoc of Britain; King of Vannetais.1 King of Vannetais at Brittany between 400 and 434.1 King of Brittany Gradlon Mawr ap Cynan Meriadoc of Brittany died. Upon Gradlon's death his Kingdom appears to have been divided amongst his sons in the usual Celtic manner. Saloman, as the eldest son, took the Breton heartland of Cornouaille and the over-kingship, while Guitol became the first Prince of Domnonée.2

Family

Tigridia of Ireland b. circa 330

Children

High King of Brittany Salomon I ap Gradlon of Brittany+ b. c 355, d. 4462

Prince of Dumnonée Guitol ap Gradlon of Brittany+ b. c 3592

Citations

[S640] History Files, online http://homepages.tesco.net/~plk33/plk33/history.htm

[S266] EBK, online http://freespace.virgin.net/david.ford2/…

Born : Abt. 330

Died : 434

Age : 104

Father Conan Meriadog King of Brittany and Dumnonia

Mother Dareca of Queen of Brittany and Dumnonia

Marriage - Tigridia of Ireland Queen of Brittany

Children Abt. 355 - Salomon I King of Brittany 

Abt. 359 - Gwidol ap Gradlon Prince of Domnonée

Forrás / Source:

http://www.american-pictures.com/genealogy/persons/per08905.htm#0

Please see Darrell Wolcott: Harleian Ms 3859; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id129.html. (Steven Ferry, March 11, 2021.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: Britain's Royal Roman Family; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id141.html. (Steven Ferry, July 25, 2021.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: Who Was Yspwys in Welsh History?; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id303.html (Steven Ferry, September 30, 2022.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: The Family of Emyr Llydaw; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id305.html (Steven Ferry, October 7, 2022.)