Eudaf Hen (Eudaf "the Old") is a figure of Welsh tradition. He is remembered as a

King of the Britons The title King of the Britons ( cy, Brenin y Brythoniaid, la, Rex Britannorum) was used (often retrospectively) to refer to the most powerful ruler among the Celtic Britons, both before and after the period of Roman Britain up until the Norma ...

and the father of Elen Luyddog and Conan Meriadoc in sources such as the Welsh prose tale '' The Dream of Macsen Wledig'' and Geoffrey of Monmouth's

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

chronicle ''

Historia Regum Britanniae ''Historia regum Britanniae'' (''The History of the Kings of Britain''), originally called ''De gestis Britonum'' (''On the Deeds of the Britons''), is a pseudohistorical account of British history, written around 1136 by Geoffrey of Monmouth. I ...

''. He also figures into Welsh genealogies. Geoffrey of Monmouth calls him Octavius, a corruption and faux-Latinization of Old Welsh/Breton Outham (later spelled Eudaf). According to the medieval Welsh genealogy from Mostyn MS. 117, Eudaf was a direct ancestor of

King Arthur King Arthur ( cy, Brenin Arthur, kw, Arthur Gernow, br, Roue Arzhur) is a legendary king of Britain, and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In the earliest traditions, Arthur appears as a ...

Etymology

Modern Welsh ''Eudaf'' ( Middle Welsh ''Eudav'', early

Old Welsh Old Welsh ( cy, Hen Gymraeg) is the stage of the Welsh language from about 800 AD until the early 12th century when it developed into Middle Welsh.Koch, p. 1757. The preceding period, from the time Welsh became distinct from Common Brittonic ...

''Out(h)am'') comes from Brittonic ''*Aui-tamos'' meaning "Very Strong in Will".

Geoffrey of Monmouth

Geoffrey of Monmouth, in his ''

'', renders the name in pseudo-Latin form as ''Octavius'' and introduces him as a half-brother to

Constantine I Constantine I ( , ; la, Flavius Valerius Constantinus, ; ; 27 February 22 May 337), also known as Constantine the Great, was Roman emperor from AD 306 to 337, the first one to Constantine the Great and Christianity, convert to Christiani ...

, who has become

following the death of his father Constantius. Eventually Constantine is made Roman Emperor, requiring him to leave Britain in the hands of a

proconsul A proconsul was an official of ancient Rome who acted on behalf of a consul. A proconsul was typically a former consul. The term is also used in recent history for officials with delegated authority. In the Roman Republic, military command, or ' ...

. Octavius (Eudaf Hen), rebels against Roman rule, killing the proconsul and proclaiming himself king. Constantine responds by sending three legions to Britain under the command of his great-uncle

Trahern Trahern () is a legendary King of the Britons in Geoffrey of Monmouth's fictional ''Historia Regum Britanniae''. According to Geoffrey, Trahern was king of the Britons and Roman senator. He was the brother of the late King Coel and was sent by ...

, the brother of the late King

Coel Coel (Old Welsh: ''Coil''), also called ''Coel Hen'' (Coel the Old) and King Cole, is a figure prominent in Welsh literature and legend since the Middle Ages. Early Welsh tradition knew of a Coel Hen, a 4th-century leader in Roman or Sub-Roman ...

. Trahern lands at "Kaerperis" and captures it, forcing Octavius to conscript all the island into the army to combat the Roman legions. Octavius engages Trahern in a field outside

Winchester Winchester is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs Nation ...

and is victorious. Trahern flees to

Alba ''Alba'' ( , ) is the Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland. It is also, in English language historiography, used to refer to the polity of Picts and Scottish people, Scots united in the ninth century as the Kingdom of Alba, until it developed i ...

(

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

) and pillages the land, and Octavius comes after him. They meet at

Westmorland Westmorland (, formerly also spelt ''Westmoreland'';R. Wilkinson The British Isles, Sheet The British IslesVision of Britain/ref> is a historic county in North West England spanning the southern Lake District and the northern Dales. It had an ...

, and Octavius was defeated and forced out of Britain. Trahern takes the crown himself, while Octavius seeks aid from King Gunbert of

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...

. In Britain, supporters of Octavius ambush Trahern and kill him near

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, allowing Octavius to return to Britain. Once arrived, he scatters the Roman forces and retakes the throne of Britain, gaining an incredible amount of wealth and prestige. Eventually, Caradocus,

Duke of Cornwall Duke of Cornwall is a title in the Peerage of England, traditionally held by the eldest son of the reigning British monarch, previously the English monarch. The duchy of Cornwall was the first duchy created in England and was established by a ro ...

, suggests that Octavius marry his only daughter

Helen Helen may refer to: People * Helen of Troy, in Greek mythology, the most beautiful woman in the world * Helen (actress) (born 1938), Indian actress * Helen (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) Places * Helen, ...

to the new Roman Emperor, Maximianus (Magnus Maximus), thereby uniting the British and Roman crowns. Octavius agrees, and Caradocus' son Mauricius is sent to Rome with the proposal. However Octavius' nephew Conan Meriadoc (elsewhere his son) opposes the union, and nearly attacks the arriving Maximianus. Finally Caradocus restores the peace, and Octavius abdicates the throne in favor of Maximianus.

The Breton Life of Saint Gurthiern

Utilizing an archaic spelling of his name, Eudaf Hen is mentioned as Outham Senis (Outham "the Old") in a fabricated genealogy from the ''

Life of Saint Gurthiern Gurthiern (also Guthiern, Gunthiern, and Gunthiernus) was a Welsh prince. According to the ''Vita sancta Gurthierni'', he became a hermit in Brittany and founder of an abbey at Kemperle (Quimperlé). He is a Catholic and Orthodox Orthodox, Ortho ...

'', included in the Breton Latin Kemperle Cartulary, compiled between 1118 and 1127. This text traces the descent of Saint Gurthiern back to the ancestor figure Beli (

Beli Mawr Beli Mawr ("Beli the Great") was an ancestor figure in Middle Welsh literature and genealogies. He is the father of Cassivellaunus, Arianrhod, Lludd Llaw Eraint, Llefelys, and Afallach. In certain medieval genealogies he is listed as the son or husb ...

) son of Outham son of Maximianus ( Maximus) son of Constantius the son of

Constantine Constantine most often refers to: * Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I * Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria Constantine may also refer to: People * Constantine (name), a masculine given na ...

the son of

"who was thought to have held the Cross of Christ". Outham is given another son, Kenan ( Conan Meriadoc), who is said to have been the founder of Brittany. Evidence suggests that the sources for the Life originated in Wales. The text's compiler, Gurheden, says that his source for the information was one "Iuthael son of Aidan"; while the name ''Iuthael'' is a Brythonic name known in both Wales and Brittany, the

Gaelic Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...

''Aidan'' is not attested in early Brittany, but is known in Wales. Additionally, Gurthiern's genealogy corresponds strongly with the descent elsewhere attributed to the Welsh saint Cadoc, further suggesting a Welsh origin.

The Dream of Macsen Wledig

Although the ''

Mabinogion The ''Mabinogion'' () are the earliest Welsh prose stories, and belong to the Matter of Britain. The stories were compiled in Middle Welsh in the 12th–13th centuries from earlier oral traditions. There are two main source manuscripts, create ...

'' tale ''Breudwyt Macsen Wledic'' (''The Dream of Macsen Wledig'') is written in later manuscripts than Geoffrey's version, the two accounts are so different that scholars agree the Dream cannot be based purely on Geoffrey's version. The Dream's account also seems to accord better with details in the Triads, so it perhaps reflects an earlier tradition. Macsen Wledig, the Emperor of Rome, dreams one night of a lovely maiden in a wonderful, far-off land. Awakening, he sends his men all over the earth in search of her. With much difficulty they find the maiden in a rich castle in Wales, Segontium (

Caernarfon Caernarfon (; ) is a royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,852 (with Caeathro). It lies along the A487 road, on the eastern shore of the Menai Strait, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is ...

), and lead the Emperor to her. Everything he finds is exactly as in his dream, including the presence of her young, ''

gwyddbwyll (in Irish; also spelled , , or , and pronounced in Old Irish) or (in Welsh, pronounced ) was a board game popular among the ancient Celts. The name in both Irish and Welsh is a compound translating to "wood sense"; the fact that the compou ...

''-playing brothers Cynan ( Conan Meriadoc) and Gadeon, as well as her father, king Eudaf Hen, son of Caradawc (

Caradog ap Bran Caradog ap Bran (sometimes spelled as Caradoc) is the son of the British king Bran the Blessed in Welsh mythology and literature, who appears most prominently in the second branch of the Mabinogi, the tale of Branwen ferch Llŷr. He is further men ...

). The maiden, whose name is

or ''Elen Llwyddawc'', accepts and loves him. Because Elen is found a virgin, Macsen gives her father sovereignty over the island of Britain and orders three castles built for his bride. In Macsen's absence, a new emperor seizes power and warns him not to return. With the help of men from Britain led by Cynan and Gadeon, Macsen marches across Gaul and Italy and recaptures Rome. In gratitude to his British allies, Macsen rewards them with a portion of Gaul that becomes known as Brittany.

Medieval Welsh Genealogies and Triads

Eudaf appears in a number of medieval Welsh genealogies and Triads including:

Genealogies from Jesus College MS 20

The lineage of Saint Cattwg (''Llyma weithon ach Cattwc sant'')

Kynan son of Eudaf son of Custenin son of Maxen son of Maximianus son of Constantinus son of Custeint.

Family of Cunedda (''Plant Cunedda'')

The wife of Coel Hen was daughter of Gadeon son of Eudaf Hen (''Gwreic Coyl hen oed verch Gadeon m Eudaf hen vchot'').

Lineage of Morgan son of Owein (''Ach Morgan ab Owein'')

Gereint Geraint () is a character from Welsh folklore and Arthurian legend, a valiant warrior possibly related to the historical Geraint, an early 8th-century king of Dumnonia. It is also the name of a 6th-century Dumnonian saint king from Briton hagi ...

son of Erbin son of ustennin son ofKynwawr son of Tudwawl son of Gwrwawr son of Gadeon son of Cynan son of Eudaf Hen.

Genealogies from Mostyn MS. 117

Arthur son of Vthyr son of Kustenhin son of Kynuawr son of Tutwal son of Moruawr son of Eudaf son of Kadwr son of Kynan son of Karadawc son of Bran son of Llyr lletieith.

The North Britain Triads

These are the three times when the Lordship of Gwynedd went by the Distaff

One of them was Stradweul daughter of Gadean ap Cynan ab Eudaf ap Caradog ap Bran ap Llyr Llediaith; and this Stradweul wife of Coel Godebog was mother to Dyfrwr and mother to Ceneu son of Coel ().

Medieval Welsh Poetry

The Gododdin

The "daughter of Eudaf ''Hir'' (''the Tall'')" is mentioned briefly in the famous poem Gododdin of Aneirin: :A.67 (LXVII): : : : : :"Poetry as deserved for brilliant high hosts. :for the purpose of the courtly subjects of the mountain realm, :and the daughter of Tall Eudaf,

here came Here is an adverb that means "in, on, or at this place". It may also refer to: Software * Here Technologies, a mapping company * Here WeGo (formerly Here Maps), a mobile app and map website by Here Technologies, Here Television * Here TV (form ...

the violence of border fighting. :The breakers of countries were dressed in purple."

Lewis Glyn Cothi

The poet Lewis Glyn Cothi (''fl.'' 1447-86 CE), in an ode to Dafydd ap Sion of Gower, compares his subject to Macsen Wledig and his bride Gwenllian (daughter of Jenkin son of Owen) to Elen daughter of Eudaf: :XXXVI, ''I Davydd ap Sion, o Vro Wyr'', l. 51: :''Ail yw Gwenllian Elen verch Eudav'';Glyn Cothi, Lewis, Gwaith Lewis Glyn Cothi, Cymmrodorion Society, 1837, p. 118 : :"Gwenllian is a second Elen daughter of Eudaf"

References

{{Geoffrey of Monmouth British traditional history Britons of the North