on him to guard Britannia against all invasion and insult whether from the west, north, or east. Hence, when we read of Arthur being chosen to act for the kings of the Britons as their dux bellorum, we cannot be far wrong in suspecting that we have here the historic basis of that hero's renown. That he is never styled gwledig is true, but such equivalents as Arthur Miles, Dux Bellorum, Penteyrned (Chief of kings), and even Ameraudur (Imperator), are sufficient to assure us of the nature of his office.[1] It is expressly stated that there were many of more noble descent than himself, which is corroborated by the absence of his pedigree in all lists prior to Geoffrey of Monmouth's romance.[2] He was killed at Camlan ten years before the death of Maelgwn Gwynedd, and therefore shortly[3] before St. Gildas wrote his Epistola. It is significant that in this work there is a total absence of
- ↑ See Sir John Rhys's Introduction to Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur in the Everyman's Library.
- ↑ ' Et licet multi ipso nobiliores essent ipse tamen duodecies dux belli fuit ' (Chr. Min. III. 199, MSS. M and N).
- ↑ That is, assuming that the two following anni to be reckoned from the same initial year. 'Annus XCIII. Gueith Camlann in qua Arthur et Medraut corruerunt. Annus CIII. Mortalitas magna in qua pausat Mailcun Rex Guenedotae.' Ann. Camb. (Y Cymm. IX. 154-5). The following will assist us to determine the period we are dealing with. It appears from the Vitae that St. David was born in the thirtieth year after St. Patrick went to Ireland as Bishop, which makes 433 + 29 = 462 ; and this date is confirmed by MS. B of the Ann. Camb., which places David's birth opposite Annus XIV. For if this be computed from the false Bedan date of the Saxon Advent, we get 449 + 13 = 462. We may therefore regard A.D. 462 for David's birth as tolerably well established. St. David was a descendant of Cunedda Wledig, but whether in the fourth remove like Maelgwn or in the third is uncertain. His father was Sant or Sanddef, who was the son either of Cedig ap Ceredig ap Cunedda, or of Ceredig ap Cunedda. The expression ' Dewi Sant ' for Saint David appears to be a late misreading of Dewi ap Sant, the position of Sant being also apparently unique in Welsh hagiography.
