Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Mordaf Hael
MORDAF Hael (i.e. the Generous) (fl. 550?), North British prince, figures in the 'Historical Triads' (Myvyrian Archaiology, 2nd edition, pp. 389, 397, 404) as one of the three lavish (princes) of the isle of Britain. According to the tradition recorded in manuscript A of the 'Venedotian Code' (Ancient Laws of Wales, 1841 edition, i. 104), he was contemporary with the other two, viz., Rhydderch Hael (fl. 580) (see Nennius and Adamnan's Life of St. Columba) and Nudd Hael, and joined them in the expedition undertaken by the northern princes in the time of Rhun ap Maelgwn Gwynedd (fl. 560) to avenge upon Arfon (the southern coast of the Menai) the death of Elidyr Mwynfawr. His father's name (Serguan, in mediæval Welsh Serfan) appears in the Nennian genealogies (Cymmrodor, ix. 175), but not in such a connection as to enable the date of Mordaf to be fixed with any certainty. Mordaf ap Serfan appears in two of the lists of saints printed in the Iolo MSS. (Liverpool edition, pp. 106, 138).
[Authorities cited.]