Individual Details

Urien Rheged AP CYNFARCH

(Abt 491 - )

He was a late 6th century king of Rheged, an early British kingdom of the Hen Ogledd (northern England and southern Scotland).  He became the 'King Urien of Gore' of later Arthurian legend and his son Owain mab Urien was later known as Ywain.

He fought against the rulers of the Anglian kingdom of Bernicia (modern Northumbria). An Anglian noble, Ida, had occupied Metcauld around the middle of the sixth century and begun to raid the mainland. Urien joined with other northern kings, Rhydderch Hael "the Generous" of Strathclyde and two other descendants of Coel, Gwallog mab Llaenog and Morgant Bwlch. They defeated the Angles and besieged them on Lindisfarne but, according to the Historia Brittonum. Urien was assassinated at the command of Morgant Bwlch who was jealous of his power. One of the Welsh Triads calls the death of Urien one of the "Three Unfortunate Assassinations" and another lists him as one of the "Three Great Battle-leaders of Britain".

Events

BirthAbt 491South Reged
DeathY

Families

SpouseModron VERCH AFALLACH (497 - )
ChildRhun AP URIEN ( - )
FatherCynfarch AP MEIRCHION (570 - )
MotherNyfain VERCH BRYCHAN (570 - )