Cadfan ap Iago (c. 569 – c. 625) was King of Gwynedd (reigned c. 616 – c. 625). Little is known of the history of Gwynedd from this period, and information about Cadfan and his reign is minimal.[1]
The historical person is known only from his appearance in royal genealogies, from his grant to Saint Beuno for the monastery at Clynnog Fawr, and from his inscribed gravestone in St Cadwaladr's Church, Llangadwaladr.
Cadfan was the son and successor of King Iago ap Beli and is listed in the royal genealogies of the Harleian genealogies and in Genealogies from Jesus College MS 20.[2][a][3][b] Cadfan came to the throne near the time of the Battle of Chester (Welsh: Gwaith Caerlleon) in 616, in which the Northumbrians under Æthelfrith decisively defeated the neighboring Welsh Kingdom of Powys and then massacred the monks of Bangor Is Coed. However, there is no evidence that Gwynedd had any part in the battle,[4] so Cadfan's accession at that time appears to be no more than coincidence.
Cadfan was succeeded as king by his son, Cadwallon ap Cadfan.
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