Celtic Gods: The Cymric hero, Cunedda (Good Lord)

Cunedda
Cymric Hero and Paterfamilias, also known as Cunedag, Cynedda: Good Lord

Cunedda (Cunedag, Cynedda) is Cymric (Welsh) hero known from Welsh Triads and Nennius' History where he was a leader in the Clyde area of Scotland. He is the originator of the Gwynedd dynasty and his name echoes that of the Irish god In Dagda and he may originally have been a founder deity of the Cymry.



Synonyms: Cunedag, Cynedda
Cym: Goog Lord

Cunedda, also sometimes known as Cunedda Wledig (Protector Cunedda) [Old Cymric Cunedag], the tutelary founder of the mediaeval north Cymric dynasties is mentioned in the Trioedd Ynys Prydein and Nennius' Historia Brittonum. Though perceived as historical, he may be either entirely legendary or conflated with a mythical being.

According to the Historia Cunedda was a tribal and possibly battle-leader in the regoin of Ystrad Clud (southern Scotland). He and his entire peoples are said to have come to the region that would later be called Gwynedd to drive out the invading Irish. The geneologies place this event to about 390CE.

Cunedda is said to have had eight sons whom he brought with him. Archetypically this represents the potency of a triple triplicity and echoes the pseudo-histroy of Míl Espáine who with his eight sons established the original Irish dynasties.

Cunedda's name has been proposed to originate (in the Old Cymric form of Cunedag) from couno (good) and dagos (god or lord) giving us The Good Lord; a name which echoes that of the Irish father deity the In Dagda. The possible original rôle of Cunedda as an originator figure or deity are strengthened by his status in the Bonedd y Saint as the ancestor of several Cymric saints including Dewi, Teilo and Seiriol — which may represent the Mediaeval survival of his original role as 'Father of the Gods'.



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