Cunedagius facts for kids

Cunedagius was a legendary king of ancient Britain. His story comes from an old book by a writer named Geoffrey of Monmouth. Cunedagius was the son of Henwinus, who was a Duke in Cornwall, and Regan, who was the daughter of King Leir. This means Cunedagius was King Leir's grandson.

Who Was Cunedagius?

Cunedagius is known as a legendary king. This means his story is part of old tales and myths, not always proven by history. He is an important figure in the stories about the early rulers of Britain. His family was connected to the royal line of King Leir.

Taking the Throne

Cunedagius did not like how his aunt, Cordelia, was ruling the kingdom. Cordelia was King Leir's youngest daughter. Cunedagius believed he should have a share of the power.

A Kingdom Divided

To gain power, Cunedagius teamed up with his cousin, Marganus. Together, they fought against Queen Cordelia. They managed to take control of the kingdom from her. After their victory, Cunedagius and Marganus decided to split Britain into two parts. Each of them ruled one half of the island.

The Battle for Britain

After two years, Marganus broke their agreement. He invaded Cunedagius's part of the kingdom, especially the area of Cornwall. This caused a lot of damage. Cunedagius gathered his forces and met Marganus in battle. Cunedagius won the fight. Marganus tried to escape across Britain, but Cunedagius cornered him in Wales. In the end, Cunedagius defeated and killed Marganus. This made Cunedagius the ruler of all of Britain.

His Time as King

Cunedagius ruled all of Britain for 33 years. He was a powerful king who brought the entire island under his control. After his long reign, his son, Rivallo, took over as king.

Geoffrey of Monmouth, the writer who told Cunedagius's story, connected his time as king to other famous ancient events. He said Cunedagius ruled around the same time as the Jewish prophet Isaiah lived. He also linked Cunedagius's reign to the founding of the famous city of Rome by Romulus and Remus. These events are believed to have happened in the 8th century BC, which is more than 2,800 years ago!