In the early 800s, Cynan and Hywel are recorded to be fighting each other for control of Anglesey. In the record of his death in the Annals of Ulster Cynan is called “Conan m. Ruadhrach rex Britonum”, implying that he was a powerful king.
Events
Date of Birth: about 750.
This estimated date is given by Bartrum (EVWG [3]).
Date of Death: 816.
This date is given by Lloyd (1:231) and by Kirby (p. 91). Annales Cambriæ (Williams p. 12) records the death under the year 817, and Brut y Tywysogion (Williams pp. 10-11) under the year 816. The Annals of Ulster record the death under U816.
Relationships
Father: Rhodri Molwynog ab Idwal Iwrch ap Cadwaladr Fendigaid (died 754).
This relationship is shown by Bartrum (EVWG [3]) and given by Lloyd (1:231). It is recorded in the Annals of Ulster under the year U816 (“Conan m. Ruadhrach rex Britonum”).
Mother: unknown.
Spouse: unknown.
Children:
Esyllt married Merfyn Frych.
References
The Annals of Ulster electronic edition at CELT.
Bartrum, Peter C (ed.) Early Welsh Genealogical Tracts. (Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1968).
The sources Bartrum gives for Cynan include:
Harleian MS. 3859 -- compiled in about the 970s (“...Rotri map Mermin map Etthil merch Cinnan map Rotri map Iutguaul map Catgualart map Catgollaun map Catman map Iacob map Beli map Run map Mailcun map Catgolaun Iauhir map Eniaun girt map Cuneda ....”);
Historia hen Gruffudd vab Kenan vab Yago -- compiled in the middle of the 13th century (...Anaraut m. Rodri m. Etill verch Kenan o Gastell Dindaethue [m. Rodri] m. Idwal dere m. Catwalader vendigeit m. Catwallaun m. Catvan m. Yago m. Beli m. Run m. Maelgun m Catwallawn llauhir m. Einnyawn yrth m. Cuneda vrenhin…)
Mostyn MS. 117 -- dated to the last quarter of the 13th century (“...Rodri mawr m. Meruyn vrych, gwr priawt Esyllt verch Kyuan Tindaethwy mab Rodri maelwynawc m. Idwal iwrch m. Katwaladyr vendigeit m. Katwallawn m. Katuan m. Iago m. Beli m. Run m. Maelgwn Gwyned, herwyd dull y beird. Namyn o herwyd yr Istoria Beli oed vab y Eynyan vab Maelgwn, y gwr a uu petweryd brenhin ar Ynys Prydein gwedy Arthur. Maelgwn oed vab Katwallawn llawhir m. Eynyawn yrth m. Kuneda wledic...”);
Jesus College MS. 20 -- dated to the last part of the 14th century, probably based on an early-13th-century source:
22. “Rodri m. Meruyn m. (space) Ethellt merch Cynan Tintaethwy m Rodri molwynawc m. Idwal iwrch m. Kadwaladyr vendigeit m. Katwallawn m. Kadwgawn m. Iago m. Beli m. Run hir m. Maelgwn Gwyned m. Kadwallawn llawhir m. Einyawn yrth m. Kuneda wledic.”
Bonedd yr Arwyr (“Y dryddedd oedd Esyllt verch Gynan Dindaethwy, gwraig Vervyn vrych mam Rodri mawr.”)
Achau Brenhinoedd a Thywysogion Cymru:
1a. “...Anarawd m. Rodri mawr m. Esyllt verch Kynan Dindaethwy m. Rodri malwynawc m. Idwal iwrch m. Kydwaladr vendigaid m. Kadwallawn m. Kaduan m. Iago m. Beli m. Run m. Maelgwn Gwynedd m. Kadwallawn llawir m. Einion yrth m. Kunedda wledic...”
Annales Cambriæ (814, 816)
Bartrum, Peter C., “[3]”, in An Electronic Version of Welsh Genealogies AD 300-1500. [The source Bartrum cites for Cynan is his own Early Welsh Genealogical Tracts]
Guy, Ben. Medieval Welsh Genealogy. (The Boydell Press, 2020).
From Guy’s attempted recreation of the St David’s recension of the Gwynedd collection of genealogies as it might have existed in the tenth century, based on the Harleian genealogies:
1. [O]uen map [H]iguel map Catell map Rotri map Mermin map Etthil merch Cinnan map Rotri map Iutguaul map Catguala[tr] map Catgollaun map Catman map Iacob map Beli map Run map Mailcun map Catgolaun [L]auhir map Eniaun Girt map Cuneda map Ӕtern map Patern Pesrut map Tacit map Cein map Guorcein map Doli map Guordoli map Dumn map Guordumn map Amguoloyt map Amguerit map <Oumiud> map Dubun map Brithguein map Eugein map Aballac map Amalech, qui fuit Beli Magni filius et Anna mater eius, quam dicunt esse <consobrinam> Mariae uirginis matris Domini nostri Iesu Christi.
Kirby, D.P. “British Dynastic History in the Pre-Viking Period” in The Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies 28 (i) (University of Wales Press, 1976) pp. 81-114.
Lloyd, John Edward, A History of Wales. 2 volumes (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1911-1912).
Williams ab Ithel, John (ed.). Annales Cambriæ (London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts; 1860).
Williams ab Ithel, John (ed.). Brut y Tywysogion; or, The Chronicle of the Princes (London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts; 1860).
Abstracts and Transcriptions
From Annales Cambriæ:
813. CCCLXIX. Annus. Bellum inter Higuel [et Kinan, Howel] victor fuit.
814. CCCLXX. Annus. … Higuel de Monia insula triumphavit et Cinan de ea expulit cum contritione magna exercitus sui.
816. CCCLXXII. Annus. Higuel iterum de Monia expulsis est [a Kenan:] Cinan rex moritur.