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     Llyr (Lear) (?) married Penardun (?), daughter of Llud (?) High King of Britain.¹

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     Penardun (?) married Llyr (Lear) (?), son of Caswallon (?) King of the Catuvellauni.¹

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     Llud (?) High King of Britain was living 70BC to 60BC; [Ashley, p. 69] Lud or Llud - Legendary king of the British mentioned in Geoffrey of Monmouth's "History". Lud is listed as the eldest son of Heli (or Beli) and the brother of the historically real CASWALLON, which would place Lud's existence at about 60BC. Lud was that rare combination of warrior king and town planner. He rebuilt New Troy, or Trinovantum as it was then known, and renamed it KaerLud after him. This became Lud's Town or London. When he died he was buried by the city wall where Ludgate is named after him. There is a story of Lud in the Wlesh tale "Lludd and Llefelys" collected in the "Mabinogion", wherein Lud consults his brother Llefelys on how to combat three supernatural plagues that are smiting Britain. He succeeds in defeating the source of the plagues and rules peacefully thereafter. This tale, like that of Merlin's, to which it is closely related, may be about a real British prince who ruled later than Geoffrey's Lud, possibly in the first or second century AD. He has become remembered in Welsh legend as the Celtic god Llud, also known as Nudd, the Celtic form of Nodens. A temple to Nodens was built at Lydney in Gloucestershire, where there are other places starting with Lyd-, and which may some relation to a local prince who assumed the name Lud.² GAV-62 EDV-64 GKJ-63.

     Caswallon (?) King of the Catuvellauni died ca 48BC.¹
     He was King of the Catuvellauni: [Ashley, pp. 69-70] The earliest known historical British king, Caswallon (known to the Romans as Cassivelaunos) was ruler of the Catuvellauni tribe who dominated lands to the north of the Thames, and most of what is now Bedfordwhire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and into Wiltshire. His stronghold was at what is now Wheathamstead. We know nothing of Caswallon's background, other than that he was allegedly the son of BELI and brother of LUD. He was evidently a powerful warrior king able to establish himself as the high-king of the British tribes as, before Caesar's invasion of Britain in 55 BC, Caswallon had already attacked the tribe of the Trinovantes in Essex and killed their king (see Imanuentius). Other, smaller tribes looked to Caswallon as their overlord and, more importantly, protector, as Caesar prepared for his invasion. It is recorded that Caswallon had an army of over 4,000 charioteers let alone infantry. Even these, through, were no match for the Romans. After a series of battles and sorties, the British were forced into an encampment guarded by stakes along the north side of the Thames. Realising the strength of the Roman army, Caswallon negotiated with Caesar via COMMIUS. Caesar succeeded in exacting tribute and hostages, and returned to Gaul, fearing an uprising of the Gallic tribes. The fact that Caesar was unable to conquer Britain outright says something for the power and determination of the British tribes and of Caswallon as leader. We do not know how much longer Caswallon remained in power. Evidence suggests that he continued to expand his influence during the next ten or twenty years. At some stage around 40 or 45 BC he was succeeded by his son Andoco with whom he perhaps shared part of his territory, and subsequently by Tasciovanus, who may have been his son or nephew. ca 60 BC - 48 BC.¹ GAV-62 EDV-62 GKJ-63.

     Beli Mawr "the Great" (?) was living ca 100 BC; [Ashley, p. 69] A semi-legendary British king who was probably an historical ruler, though any facts have become so covered by the dust of myth that it is impossible to be certain about his true basis. Bel was the name of one of the principal Celtic deities, the god of the sun and of light, and it is not surprising that the name would be adopted by later warrior kings, through how much the episodes about Bel in myth are derived from those of a real king of that name (or vice versa) cannot be determined. To have acquired the cognomen "Mawr" must mean that Beli was a great king and it is likely that he was one of the first to impose his authority over many of the tribes of Britain, most likely over southern Britain and Wales. The Welsh legends make him the father of LUD and Llefelys and possibly of Caswallon. Since Caswallon was High King at the time fo Caesar's invasion, this would place Beli's existence at the start of the frist century BC. It is possible to trace most of the British and Welsh rulers back to Beli.¹ GAV-63 EDV-63 GKJ-64.

     Isabel Bigod married Sir Robert de Burton Knt.¹
Isabel Bigod married Sir Walter de Fauconberge Knt., 4th Lord Fauconberge, son of John de Faucomberge 3rd Lord Faucomberge and Ivod/Eve de Bulmer, before 15 January 1360
; his 2nd wife.^1,2
Isabel Bigod died on 19 May 1401; died testate.^1,2
      ; Isabel (dsp 19 May 1401), dau of Sir Roger Bigod, of Settrington, Yorks, and widow of Sir Roger de Burton.¹

     Sir Robert de Burton Knt. married Isabel Bigod, daughter of Sir Roger le Bigod Knt., of Settrington, Yorks and Joan (?).²

Sir Robert de Burton Knt. died before 10 October 1359.^2,1

     Sir Roger le Bigod Knt., of Settrington, Yorks married Joan (?)³

Sir Roger le Bigod Knt., of Settrington, Yorks died on 17 April 1362.³
     Sir Roger le Bigod Knt., of Settrington, Yorks lived at Settrington, Yorkshire, England.^3,2,1

; Weis MCS 3-5.³ Sir Roger le Bigod Knt., of Settrington, Yorks was also known as Sir Roger Bigod Knt.

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     Eleuther (?) died circa 550.¹
     He was living between 530 and 550; ELEUTHER or ELIDYR Catraeth and York, fl 530s-550s. There were two kings of the North with this name. Although the names are the same (the Roman and Celtic equivalents) over the years they have become known separately in order to avoid confusion (see ELIDYR). Eleuther (also known as Eliffer) was the son of GURGUST. In the inter-dynastic rivalries amongst the sons and successors of COEL in the fifth and sixth centuries, Eleuther seems to have inherited or claimed the lands around York and Catraeth (modern Catterick). He is known as "Eleuther of the Great Army", from which we can presume he was a powerful defender of his lands, particularly against the increasing waves of Angles who were settling in Northumbria in the mid sixth century (see IDA and AELLE). Eleuther was father of PEREDUR.
Geoffrey of Monmouth must have detected a whiff of these historical facts in his own History although they got lost beneath the delight of his own imagination. His Elidurus the Dutiful was one of the five sons of the heroic and unfortunate Morvidus, who was killed by a sea-monster. His eldest son, Gorbonianus, was a benign king under whose reign Britain prospered, but after his death his brother, Archgallo was a tyrant. He was deposed and his brother Elidurus made king in his place. After five years Elidurus encountered Archgallo wandering lost in the forests of the north and he forced his nobles to swear allegiance to Archgallo and accept him again as their king. Archgallo was a changed man and ruled wisely for ten years from his kingdom at York. After his death Elidurus returned to the throne but now faced an insurrection from his younger brothers Ingenius and PEREDURUS who dethroned Elidurus, imprisoned him in London, and then shared the kingdom between them. Ingenius died seven years later and Peredurus ruled alone, a good king who was fondly remembered. After his death, Elidurus was released and restored to the throne. He must by now have been very old. He was succeeded by an unnamed nephew, and thereafter Geoffrey rattles through the names of over thirty kings, few of whom are known amongst the historical records, although the much later ruler Samwl was probably his cousin SAMWL. The fact that Geoffrey has Elidurus ruling from York rather than London suggests he was basing him upon the real king of this name.¹

     Cinmarc ap Meirchion died circa 570.¹
     He was living between 560 and 570; [Ashley, p. 103] CINMARC or KYNMARCH Rheged, fl 560s-c570s. The son of MERCHIAUN and the father of URIEN. We can imagine that in Cinmarc's time, if not earlier, the rulers of Rheged established an overlordship of the Isle of Man. Cinmarc is known to have had a substantial fleet of ships for in around the year 560 he and his contemporaries, RHYDDERCH and CLYDNO, raided Anglesey in revenge for the death of his brother ELIDYR at the hands of the Welsh king RHUN. They did a lightning strike and returned, but this incurred the wrath of Rhun whose march across north England in revenge passed into legend.¹

     Urien ap Meirchion died circa 590.¹
     He was King of Rheged, [Ashley, pp. 104-105] URIEN Rheged, c570-590. Urien is one of the better attested rulers of the North Britons in the period between the end of the Roman Empire in Britain and the emergence of the Saxon kingdoms of England. He ruled the territory known as Rheged, which equates roughly to Cumbria and Lancashire and possibly part of Galloway. Urien inherited the kingdom from CINMARC around the year 570, probably just after the battle of Arthuret in which the northern renegade GWENDDOLAU was killed. Urien is not specifically named as being at that battle, and he may therefore have benefited from the victory of PEREDUR, DUNAUT and his father Cinmarc. This gave Urien authority over the region north of Carlisle into the old kingdom of Galloway. This brought him into conflict with the expansionist regime of MORCANT of the Votadini, who had been expelled from his lands to the east by the Angles of Bernicia and was carving out for himself a kingdom south of the Clyde.
In 580, or soon after, the Angles defeated and killed PEREDUR of York and his brother leaving the old British kingdoms of York and Catraeth exposed. The main conflict was with THEODORIC of Bernicia. Urien appears to have recovered the lands of Catraeth, around Catterick and Richmond, but was then defeated by Theodoric and had to seek refuge back in his homeland. It seems that Urien then succeeded in convincing the other British kings RHYDDERCH, GWALLAWG and Morcant to forget their differences and unite to defend their lands against the Angles. A vast confederate army swept across the Cheviots and down on the Angles. Although their main fort was at Bamburgh, the focus of the ensuing battle was on the headland opposite Lindisfarne, where Urien and his army succeeded in trapping the English on the island. The weight of the siege went in favour of the British and the Bernicians were nearly annihilated. However, during the siege, one of Morcant's men, called Lovan, slew Urien. The motive was probably jealousy. Bamburgh was the site of Morcant's original kingdom and it seemed he wanted the victory and the spoils to be his. Unfortunately with the death of Urien the strength evaporated from the army and they departed, even on the edge of victory. Urien's battle was continued by his son OWAIN.
Urien was so famous in his day that his exploits have been compared with those of King ARTHUR. Like Arthur he commanded forces who fought the Picts and Saxons. Like Arthur his kingdom was regarded as one of plenty where no man suffered. There are those that believe Urien was the original Arthur. His adventures form part of the later Arthurian legends, where he appears as the husband of Morgan Le Fay. Urien's family is also well remembered. His sister, called variously Enhinti or Efrddf, who may have been a twin, reputedly married king TEWDRIG of Gwent and was the mother of King MEURIG. In addition to his successor, Owain, Urien was the father of Rhun, who entered the Celtic church and is recorded as baptising EDWIN of Northumbria during his exile in Powys. Interestingly, although the genealogies list Urien's grandfather as MERCHIAUN, tradition also cites his mother's father as BRYCHAN who was the founding ruler of Breichiniog. There probably were considerable links between the British of the North and the British of Wales during the fifth and sixth centuries, which were, however, severed (other than by sea) once the English kingdoms established themselves across the north and in the Midlands. Urien's cousin LLYWARCH, who briefly ruled part of southern Rheged early in Urien's career went into self-imposed exile in Wales and became renowned as a poet. between 570 and 590.¹

     Owain map Urien died circa 595 at Battle of Catraeth, Catterick, Yorkshire, England.¹
     He was King of Rheged, [Ashley, p. 106] OWAIN MAP URIEN Rheged, c590-c595. Owain was the son and successor of Urien who took over after his father's treacherous murder while fighting the Angles of Bernicia. Owain continued the battle against THEODORIC and his successor ATHELRIC. He allied himself with the Gododdin king MYNYDDOG and together they sought to reunite a confederate British army to defeat the Bernicians. The resultant host, which numbered in its thousands (some records say tens of thousands) met the English under ATHELFRITH at Catraeth (Catterick) in 595, give or take a year. The result was total annihilation for the British. Even allowing for poetic licence the later ballad of the battle, which cites there was only one survivor amongst the British, indicates how total the victory was for the English. Owain fell in the battle and with his death the kingdom of Rheged was extinguished. Owain's uncle LLYWARCH retired to live in Powys as a court poet where Owain's own brother, Rhun also settled as a priest. Owain is remembered in Arthurian legend as Sir Yvain, though his adventures there have little relation to his harsh struggle for British survival. between 590 and 595.¹

     Rhun map Urien King of Rheged died circa 630.¹
     He was King of Rheged, [Ashley, p. 107] RHUN MAP URIEN Rheged, fl 600s. Whether Rhun ever succeeded to the kingship of Rheged is uncertain. He was the younger brother of OWAIN and may well have already entered the church by the time Owain fell at Catraeth. He may briefly have returned in order to defend the kingdom against being overwhelmed by the Bernicians but if he ruled at all it is likely to be only as a client king to ATHELFRITH. This was probably of only a short duration for we read of Rhun being resident in Powys a few years later, where he is supposed to have baptized the young EDWIN of Northumbria. Rhun may therefore have left the kingdom to his son RHOETH. circa 600.¹ He was living in 600.¹