Caswallon: a Cymric hero and god (Leader in Battle)

Synonyms: Caswallawn, Cadwallon, Catwallawn, Cassivellaunus
Cym: Leader in Battle

Like Arthur Caswallon is the conflation of a real historic personage and a deity. Actually there are two histroic leaders who bear the name Caswallon. The first of these is Caswallon the leader of the Cativellauni tribe whom the Romans called Casivellaunus. He was the leader of the British tribes in 54 BCE who led the resistance against the invasion of Julius Caesar. Caesar crossed the Thames River into Cassivellaunus's home country. Aided by discontented British tribes, he attacked Cassivellaunus in his stronghold in the marshes of Hertfordshire (probably at modern-day Weathamstead). The large fortress at Wheathampstead, north of St. Albans, was possibly the site of the decisive battle during which one Lugotorix, a Briton of noble birth, was captured by Caesar, and after which, Cassivellaunus sued for peace, which Caesar granted in return for hostages and an annual tribute. The second Caswallon, known as 'Llaw Hir' (the long-hand) succeeded his fater, Einion Yrth (the impetuous), son of Cunedda of the Gododdin to the governance of Powys in 443CE. Taking-up his father's mantle he assembled a war-band and marched upon Gwynedd and Ynys Môn to drive-out they Gwyddel (Irish) who had settled there 160 years previously. Having fought several battles against the Irish on the mainland he crossed the Menai straights into Môn where he cornered their leader, the giant, Serigi the Gwyddelian at Caergybi (Holyhead) and slew him with his own hand. After clearing the Gwyddelians from the island Caswallon erected a court for himself on a hill on the northern part of the Island, the remains of which is called “Llys Caswallon”. Caswallon died in 517CE at the age of 74 and was succeeded by his son Maelgwn.

We now come to the mythological Caswallon. Unfortunately, only hints of his true mythos remain, buried in the Mabinogi and within the Triads. Though there are sufficient remnants to indicate that Caswallon once had his own Mabinogi. A tale which, in its entirety at least, is now lost to us. Despite this something of the mythos of Caswallon can be recovered.

In the Triads of Britain and in the lineages of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Brittonum Caswallon is described as a son of Beli Mawr and therefore a member of the Plant Dôn. He next appears in the Mabinogi of Branwen ferch Llŷr. When Bendigaidd Frân sallies forth to Ireland to do battle with Matholwch he leaves his son Caradog in charge of Britain along with six other stewards and Pryderi as their page. Some while after Brân's departure Caswallon saw his chance to usurp the throne of Britain. It so happened that he had been gifted a cloak of invisibility and under the protection of this cloak he stole into the main Llys of Britain's stewards and drawing his swords he slew six of the protectors of Ynys y Cedyrn. Though he spared Caradog for he was his kinsman, the son of his nephew. For his part, Caradog came upon the scene but all he could see was a magical sword slaying his fellow protectors. Surveying such a scene of slaughter Caradog's heart simply broke with the grief and he died. However, Pryderi managed to escape into the forests. When Manawyddan, leading the remaining five survivors of Brân's Irish campaign returned to Britain they encountered a fait accompli with their comrades dead and Caswallon declaring himself the leader of Britain.

Caswallon next emerges in the Mabinogi of Manawyddan fab Llŷr where Manawyddan, Rhiannon, Pryderi and Cigfa journey to Rhydychen (Oxford) to pay homage to Caswallon as the Lord of Britain.

The remaining fragments of Caswallon's tale come from the Trioedd. Specifically he is named in seven of the triads and from these a fraction of his original tale can be reconstructed. Because of a quarrel with hi uncle, Caswallon, Afarwy, son of Lludd summoned Caesar and the men of Rome to Britain. Mwrchan, a Gaulish prince who invaded Britain along with Caesar captured Fflur (flower) the daughter of Ugnach the Dwarf the fairest maid in Britain and the love of Caswallon's life. Saddling his horse, Meinlas (pale-steed) Caswallon gathered about him his three silver host, the men of Arllechwedd, captained by Gwenynwyn and Gwnar, sons of Nwyfre and Arianrhod (who was Caswallon's brother). They marched to Gascony and there they were lost. [The assumption here is that this mighty host fought with the men of Mwrchan in Gascony and though they were victorious the host was left, leaving only Caswallon and possibly the sons of Arianrhod behind. However, the victory was hollow for Fflur had already been taken to Rome.] The next triad which describes Caswallon as one of the 'three golden shoemakers' of the island of Britain (along with Manawyddan and Lleu). Golden Shoemaker or Golden Cobbler cannot be taken literally, as this probably means something more like 'skilful craftsman' at least when taken in conjunction with the tale of Lleu who seems to be a patron of all craftsmen and golden is taken as an epithet for regal or lordly. This might suggest that Caswallon, as well as being a warrior deity is also a deity of craftsmen. It may also allude to Caswallon claoking himself in the guise of a shoe-maker before venturing to Rome to regain his lost love. The final triad describes Caswallon as one of the three great lovers of the Island of Britain, suggesting that he does, indeed, recover Fflur though the story of how this is achieved is lost.

There is another triad which describes Caswallon as presenting one of the three immense feasts of the Island of Britain where, in London, he serves-up 20000 cattle, 100000 sheep, 50000 geese and capons and more wild and domesticated fowl than anyone could count. Though no more than this is recorded, could this be Caswallon's triumphal feast when he returns to Britain with Fflur, his love? This might also be an allusion to the Cauldron of Plenty which passes from leader to leader among the Plant Dôn.

Finally one must consider the etymological origins of the name Caswallon. Casivellaunos of the Cativellauni represented the leader of the largest Belgic tribes in Britain where the name of the Cativellauni represents 'Battle host of Belenos'; originating from the Brythonic cad for battle. As the 't' and 'd' sounds in old Cymric are essentially interchangeable and Cadwallawn or Catwallon are the earliest forms of modern Cadwallon it makes sense if the name of this deity is related to the name of the Cativellauni. Thus Cadawllon's name itself probably means 'Leader in Battle'. Moreover, if the ram-honed head depiced on the on the Catuvellauni coin from the time of Cunobelinos (circa 40CE) represents Belenos then as the tutelary deity of the Catuvellauni Caswallon may even be the Janiform (ie two-faced) deity represented on other coins of the Cunibelinos age may represent Caswallon himself (as above). This would not be surprising for a deity who was both a battle leader and a deity of craftsmen – facing towards both peace and war.

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