08-13-2009, 07:42 PM
I expect the Votadini to have been small in number. So they would not have made any impression upon local culture.
But there is good reason to believe that the main reason that we hear about Cunedda is because another dynasty, centuries later, als came from foreign parts to lord it over Gwynedd. And it seems they chose to glorify an already known (but foreign) hero of the Welsh in order to make themselves more acceptable.
Smart, eh?
In the end, Cunedda did not force out the Irish, as he is said to have done, because it was done (again?) later on. But fact should never stand in the way of a good story.
Ron, we know that it was no retreat because we contnue to here about the Votadini much later. Remember the Gododdin poem? That was about those same Votadini organising a (fultile) expedition to undo the unification of Northumbria in the late 6th century.
But there is good reason to believe that the main reason that we hear about Cunedda is because another dynasty, centuries later, als came from foreign parts to lord it over Gwynedd. And it seems they chose to glorify an already known (but foreign) hero of the Welsh in order to make themselves more acceptable.
Smart, eh?
In the end, Cunedda did not force out the Irish, as he is said to have done, because it was done (again?) later on. But fact should never stand in the way of a good story.
Ron, we know that it was no retreat because we contnue to here about the Votadini much later. Remember the Gododdin poem? That was about those same Votadini organising a (fultile) expedition to undo the unification of Northumbria in the late 6th century.
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
