Layamon
Brut
List of Characters
Translated by A. S. Kline © Copyright 2023, All Rights Reserved.
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Aaron of Caerleon, British saint, martyred c304AD, during Diocletian’s persecution of the Christians.
Abren the daughter of Locrin and Astrild.
Adlein son of Cledauks, an earl under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Aelcus King of Iceland, at the time of Arthur.
Aeridius King of Scotland, contemporary with Cassivellaunus.
Aeneas prince of Troy, who journeyed to Italy after the fall of the city. His first wife was Creusa. His second wife Lavinia. His son by Creusa was Ascanius, and his son by Lavinia was Silvius Aeneas.
Aescil king of Denmark at the time of Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Aessel of Galway, contemporary with Cassivellaunus.
Aganippus a French king to whom Cordoille was wed.
Aican an earl under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Alain King of Brittany, the son of Salomon.
Alban British saint and proto-martyr. Martyred c304AD, during Diocletian’s persecution of the Christians.
Albanac son of Brutus and Ignogen. King of Albanie (Scotland) His brothers were Locrin and Camber.
Aldadus a bishop, brother to Aldolf (3).
Aldolf (1) King of Britain, the son of Arkinaus.
Aldolf (2), an earl in Kent, at the time of Octaves. The father of Conan.
Aldolf (3) a nobleman at the time of Vortigern. Earl of Gloucester, and Steward, under Aurelius and Uther Pendragon.
Aldroein King of Brittany, the son of Conan.
Aldus King of Britain, son of Cherin. His brothers were Fulgenius and Andragus.
Alfin King of Norway, contemporary with Brenne.
Allectus a Roman commander sent to deal with Carrais. Subsequently ruler of Britain.
Aluric (or Alla) King in Northumberland under Ethelred.
Amphibal Saint (d. 304AD), said to have converted Sant Alban to Christianity.
Anacletus a nobleman of the household of King Pandrasus.
Andor the best-mannered of the daughters of King Ebrauc.
Andragus King of Britain, son of Cherin. His brothers were Fulgenius and Aldus.
Androgeus Earl of Kent, the eldest son of King Lud.
Angel King of Scotland under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Anna sister to Arthur. Mother of Walwain and Mordred.
Anster an African king at the time of Carric.
Antenor of Troy, counsellor to Priam, its king. Layamon has him as founder of a city in Spain.
Antigonus brother to King Pandrasus of Greece.
Appas an informer, who brought Pascent news of Aurelius and Uther.
Argal King of Britain, a son of King Morpidus. His brothers were King Gorbonian, Elidur, Jugenes and Peredur.
Argal (2) Earl of Warwick under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Argante the Fair, ruler of the Isle of Avalon.
Arkinaus King of Britain, brother to Blethgabreat.
Arnald Earl of Salisbury under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Arthur King of Britain, the son of Uther Pendragon. His sword is Caliburn (Excalibur), wrought in Avalon. His helm, which belonged to Uther, is named Goswhit; his shield Pridwen; his lance Ron.
Arviragus the younger son of Kinbelin.
Ascanius son of Aeneas by Creusa, half-brother to Silvius Aeneas. Father of Silvius.
Asclepidiotus. King of Britain. Successor to Carrais.
Assarac one of the sons of King Ebrauc, and their leader in Lombardy and Germany.
Assaracus an ally of Brutus, of Trojan origin.
Astrild a princess. Lover, then second wife, of Locrin. Mother of Abren.
Athelstan a Saxon leader at the time of Cadwalader, not the later Athelstan, King of the English with whom he is here confused. The later Athelstan (c894-939AD) was indeed the son of Edward the Elder and his consort Ecgwynn, and is often considered to be ‘the first King of England’.
Athionard an earl, and steward to Maximian (2). Brother to Caradoc. Uncle to Maurice. His daughter was Ursula.
Augustine Saint, of Canterbury (mission completed c604AD), termed the ‘Apostle to the English’. The first Archbishop of Canterbury. His mission to England was initiated by Pope Gregory in 595AD. Layamon’s text would indicate that the ‘Arthurian’ period extended from the death of Aurelius and Halley’s comet’s appearance in 530AD (if the comet mentioned was indeed Halley’s) until twenty years or so before Augustine’s mission, to allow for the brief reigns of the later kings preceding Layamon’s Ethelred. More specifically, given Uther’s prior reign, Arthur, who one assumes came to the throne as a young man, would have ruled, from c550AD to c570AD. Layamon’s mention, in one surviving text, of a period of a hundred and five years of heathen rule without Christianity, is then an anomaly.
Augustus Caesar (63BC-14AD), the Roman emperor.
Aurelius Ambrosius the second son of King Constantin. His brothers, according to the text, were Constance and Uther.
Bal a senator of Rome, at the time of Arthur.
Baldolf, the Fair, brother to Colgrim.
Baldric Earl of Cornwall at the time of Aluric.
Balien Earl of Silchester under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Basian King of Britain, a son of Septimius Severus. The name Basian is derived from that of Severus’ son the Roman emperor Caracalla (1188-217AD), born Lucius Septimius Bassianus, Caracalla being a nickname. The text assigns him a fictitious British mother. He assassinated his brother Geta in December 211.
Bedivere Arthur’s cupbearer, and Earl of Normandy. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Belan steward to Cassivellaunus.
Belin King of Britain, son of Dunwale, and brother of Brenne.
Beof Earl of Oxford under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon, and in Burgundy.
Biduz King of Brittany at the time of Vortigern.
Bladud King of Britain, the son of Rudhudibras.
Bledon King of Britain, the son of Merian.
Blethgabreat King of Britain, successor to Oein.
Boccus King of Media, an ally of Rome at the time of Arthur.
Boclovius an earl, a follower of Arthur.
Borel (1) a Saxon earl under Childric, slain by Arthur.
Borel (2), a noble knight under Arthur, made lord of Le Mans. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Brendan (c484-577AD), an early Irish saint, known as Brendan the Navigator.
Brenne son of Dunwale, and brother of Belin.
Brian a knight of the chamber, to King Cadwalan; his nephew, the son of the king’s sister. He assumes the name Kinebord as a pseudonym, when he feigns to be a wine-merchant from Spain.
Bride (also Brigit, or Brigid, c451-525AD) an early Irish saint.
Britael (1) King of North Wales, contemporary with Cassivellaunus.
Britael (2) steward to Gorlois, the Earl of Cornwall, under Uther Pendragon.
Brochinal a British earl, in Leicester, at the time of Ethelred.
Brutus a leader of Trojan origin, descended from Aeneas, and the son of Silvius. Declared to be the first king of all Britain, which was named after him. Accidentally killed his father Silvius, while hunting. Father of three sons, Locrin, Camber, and Albanac, by his wife Ignogen.
Brutus Vert-Escut eldest son of King Ebrauc, and his successor.
Cadal a Pict in the service of King Constantin.
Cador a lord in the service of Uther Pendragon. Earl of Cornwall under King Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Cadwal King of North Wales under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Cadwalan (d. 634AD) son of Cadwan, and king of the lands south of the Humber.
Cadwalader the son of Cadwalan, and a Welsh king (from c655-682AD). He died as a result of plague in Wales in 682AD according to other sources, or in Rome, in May, according to Layamon, at the earliest two and a half years after Sergius’ Papacy commenced (December 687AD), and at the latest two and a half years after it ended (September 701AD), that is, in May 700AD, or as late as May 704AD).
Cadwan King of North Wales at the time of Aluric.
Caesar, Julius Caesar (c100-44BC), Roman proconsul of Gaul (58-49BC), dictator (49-44BC).
Camber son of Brutus and Ignogen. King of Cambrie (Wales). His brothers were Locrin and Albanac.
Cap King of Britain, the son of Bledon.
Capor King of Britain, successor to Pir.
Caradoc an earl of Cornwall, under Octaves. His son was Maurice. His brother was Athionard.
Carrais a dissident in the days of Basian, and thereafter King of Britain.
Carric King of Britain, the successor to Malgus.
Carrius a senator of Rome at the time of Arthur.
Cassivellaunus King of Britain, brother to Lud and Nennius, uncle to Androgeus and Tennancius.
Catel (Catellus) one of the six leading senators of Rome, at the time of Arthur.
Catiger the son of Vortigern and Rowena, his brothers were Vortimer and Pascent.
Catulus King of Britain, son of Gorontes.
Cenan son of Androgeus.
Cherin King of Britain, kin to Porex.
Cheslon King of Scotland, deposed by Brenne.
Childric a chieftain holding land on the coast of Germany. An ally of Colgrim and his brother.
Claudius (10BC-54AD), the Roman emperor. He invaded Britain in 43AD, and left behind a Roman occupying force, when he departed. His British queen here is fictitious, as is his daughter Genuis.
Cledaus King of Britain, successor to Eliud.
Clofard an earl under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Cloten King of Cornwall, after Poreus was murdered.
Cocta one of the six leading senators of Rome, at the time of Arthur.
Coel King of Britain, after Asclepidiotus.
Coil King of Britain, the son of Maurus.
Coillus King of Britain, son of Catulus.
Colgrim the Fair, King of the Saxons in the north, after Octa. Related to Hengist.
Columba (521-597AD), an early Irish Saint. Layamon indicates that Arthur was alive after the deaths of Saint Brendan, Saint Bride and Saint Columba, which would place him in the early seventh century, rather than the sixth.
Columban King of the Scots, at the time of King Asclepidiotus.
Compert King of Norway at the time of Octaves and Trahern.
Conan (1) an earl under Octaves. The son of Aldolf (2). Subsequently an ally of Maximian (2) who made him king of Armorica.
Conan (2) King of Britain, and nephew to that Constantine (2) who was Arthur’s successor.
Constance the eldest son of King Constantin. His brothers, according to the text, were Ambrosius Aurelius and Uther.
Constantin brother to Aldroein. King of Britain. His sons were Constance, Ambrosius Aurelius, and Uther.
Constantine (1) the Great (c272-337AD), Roman emperor (306-337). The son of Constantius I. He defeated the unacknowledged emperor Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312AD.
Constantine (2) King of Britain, the son of Earl Cador of Cornwall, and successor to Arthur.
Constantius I (c250-306AD), Roman co-emperor (305-6, in Diocletian’s Tetrarchy). In Britain in 305, with his son Constantine, who was later Emperor. His first wife and Constantine’s mother was Saint Helena (Layamon’s Helen), though she was not of Romano-British origin.
Constantius II (317-361AD), Roman emperor (337-361), son of Constantine the Great.
Cordoille the youngest daughter of King Lear, her sisters were Gornoille, and Regau.
Corineus a leader of exiled Trojans, allied to Brutus. Father of Gwendoline.
Cradoc son of Catel, an earl under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Creusa Aeneas’ first wife. Mother of Ascanius.
Cunedagius a son of one of Cordoille’s sisters.
Cursalein Earl of Chester under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Cynric a derogatory name for King Carric, implying he was of Saxon origin, the name perhaps equivalent to ‘son of a dog’.
Damus King of Britain, a son of Sillius. His brother was Rummarus. His son was Morpidus.
Dagon a mythical supreme deity, worshipped in Rome in the days of Belin and Brenne.
Delgan the daughter of King Alfin of Norway, and wife of Brenne. Lover of Godlac.
Deruvian a legendary bishop who, with Fagan, first Christianised Britain, at the time of Lucius.
Dinabuz a playmate of the young Merlin.
Dinoth (or Dunawd), Saint, Abbot of Bangor Iscoed monastery on the banks of the Dee, at the time of Saint Augustine of Canterbury.
Diocletian (245-316AD), Roman Emperor (284-305)
Doldanim (Doldanet) the ruler of Jutland at the time of Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Doten King of Britain, successor to Cledaus.
Dubric (Dubricius), Saint (c465-550). Bishop of Erging (Archenfield) Herefordshire. Bishop of Caerleon, under Aurelius, according to Layamon. Archbishop of Caerleon under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Dunwale son of Apries, an earl under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Dunwale (Dunwallo) Molinus, King of Britain, the son of Cloten.
Ebissa brother-in-law to Octa.
Ebrauc the son of Menbriz. King of Britain. His twenty sons were: Brutus Vert-Escut, Margadud, Sisilvius, Regin, Bladud, Moruit, Lagon, Ebedloan, Ricar, Spaden, Gaul, Pardan, Eldad, Gangu, Kerin, Luor, Ruc, Affarac, Buel, and Hector. His thirty daughters were: Gloigin, Ocidas, Ourar, Ignogen, Guardid, Radan, Guendlian, Angarad, Guenboden, Methalan, Malure, Ecub, Zangustel, Scadud, Kambrada, Methahel, Gaz, Echem, Nest, Gorgon, Wladus, Ebraen, Blangru, Ebron, Bedra, Aballac, Eangnes, Andor, Scadiald, and Galoes.
Edwin (c586AD-633AD) son of Aluric, and king of the lands north of the Humber. He was baptised in 627AD and died at the battle of Hatfield Chase (near Doncaster, 633AD).
Elfwald a noble in the days of Gratian. His brother was Ethelbald.
Eli a magistrate at Carmarthen in the days of Vortigern.
Elidur King of Britain, a son of King Morpidus. His brothers were King Gorbonian, King Argal, Jugenes and King Peredur.
Elidur (2), an earl under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Eligille King of Britain, successor to Capor.
Eliud King of Britain, kinsman to Urian.
Enmaunus, King of Britain, the son of Argal. His brother was Morgan (2).
Epistrod King of Greece, an ally of Rome at the time of Arthur.
Escol, the son of King Aelcus of Iceland.
Ethelbald a noble in the days of Gratian. His brother was Elfwald.
Ethelbert (c550-616), King of Kent (from 589AD), and effective overlord of Britain.
Ethion Duke of Boeotia, an ally of Rome at the time of Arthur.
Evander King of Syria, an ally of Rome at the time of Arthur.
Evelin a nobleman at the court of Cassivellaunus. The son of Androgeus’ sister.
Fagan a legendary bishop who, with Deruvian, first Christianised Britain, at the time of Lucius.
Febus leader of the Roman troops in Britain, at the time of Melga and Wanis.
Fereus a son of King Gorbodiagus, brother to Poreus.
Frolle King of France, at the time of Arthur. He was born of a Roman line according to Layamon. France, the Kingdom of the Franks, stretched from Cologne in the north-east, to Orleans in the south-west, with Paris, Rouen and Rheims as major settlements. Brittany was still a separate realm. France was subsequently extended by Clovis, and his descendants, southwards into much of Iberia, and eastwards into the Germanic territories.
Fulgenes a leader of the alliance of Britons and Picts at the time of Severus.
Fulgenius King of Britain, son of Cherin. His brothers were Aldus and Andragus.
Gabius one of the two lords ruling Rome, in the days of Belin and Brenne.
Gaius one of the six leading senators of Rome, at the time of Arthur.
Galarne sister to Brian.
Galoes queen of Wales. The fairest and best-loved daughter of King Ebrauc.
Galuan king of Wales.
Garengan earl of Kent under Vortigern.
Gecron son to a prince of Babylon, present at Arthur’s final battle.
Genuis a fictitious daughter of the emperor Claudius, wed to Arviragus.
Gerion (1) a priest who advised Brutus.
Gerion (2) the younger son of the African king Anster.
Gerin Earl of Chartres, under Arthur.
Germain of Auxerre (c380-448AD), bishop and saint, sent to Britain c430AD, by Pope Celestine. Lupus of Troyes accompanied him. Germaine returned to Britain in 447AD.
Geta (189-211AD), son of Septimius Severus. His brother was the emperor Caracalla. The brothers ruled jointly until Caracalla assassinated his brother in December 211. The source text calls him Gezan.
Gillemaur (1) King of Ireland at the time of Octaves.
Gillemaur (2) King of Ireland at the time of Aurelius, Uther and Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Gille Calaet a knight in Voltigern’s guard of Picts.
Gille Caor King of Ireland at the time of Maurus.
Gille Patric King of Ireland at the time of Cadwalan.
Gloi Duke of Wales, the son of the emperor Claudius by a British woman. Gloucester named after him.
Gloigin the wisest of the daughters of King Ebrauc.
Godlac King of Denmark, lover of Delgan.
Goffar king of Poitou.
Gogmagog among the number of the giants of Britain.
Gonwais Chieftain of the Orkney Isles at the time of Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Gorbodiagus King of Britain, the son of King Mark. Father of Fereus and Poreus.
Gorbonian King of Britain, the son of Morpidus.
Gorlois Earl of Cornwall under Aurelius Ambrosius.
Gornoille the eldest daughter of King Lear, her sisters were Regau, and Cordoille.
Gorontes King of Britain, the son of Elidur.
Gradie Duke of Lombardy in the days of Gratian.
Gratian (359-383AD), Roman emperor (367-383), the son of Valentinian I, half-brother to Valentinian II.
Gratianus a military commander under Constantine I, the Great. His sons, Valens and Valentinian I, ruled as co-emperors.
Gregory Pope (c540-604AD).
Grimark son of Kinmark, an earl under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Guaertaet King of South Wales, contemporary with Cassivellaunus.
Guencelin (1) King of Britain, the son of Gurguint. His wife was Marcie.
Guencelin (2) archbishop in London, at the time of the final Roman withdrawal
Guinevere (Guenayfer, Wenhaver), wife to Arthur, kin to Cador, Earl of Cornwall.
Guitard King of Gascony and Earl of Poitiers, under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Gurguincius King of Britain, successor to Cledaus.
Gurguint Earl of Hereford under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Gurguint Bertruc King of Britain, the son of Belin.
Gurgustius King of Britain, the son of Riwald.
Gurmund the elder son of the African king Anster.
Gwendoline daughter of Corineus, and first wife of Locrin.
Hamun a noble advisor under the emperor Claudius.
Helen the sister of Penda, King of Mercia.
Helena the daughter of King Coel, wife to Constantius, later queen in Jerusalem, and canonised as Saint Helena.
Helenus a prince of Troy, brother to Aeneas. He journeyed to Greece after the fall of Troy.
Heli King of Britain, son of and successor to Eligille. His three sons were Lud, Cassivellaunus, and Nennius.
Hemeri Duke of Cornwall, husband to Regau.
Hengist and Horsa legendary Germanic brothers who supposedly led the Angles, Saxons and Jutes in their invasion of Britain in the 5th century. Hengist ruled the Jutes in Kent, after Horsa was killed in battle. Coningsburgh, the place of Hengist’s final execution by Aurelius Ambrosius, according to Layamon, may be identified with Conisbrough, Doncaster, which was an important Viking stronghold in South Yorkshire.
Herigal a nobleman at the court of Cassivellaunus, the son of the king’s half-sister.
Howel ruler of Brittany, and kin to Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Howeldin a noble knight under Arthur, and Earl of Flanders. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Humbald ruler of Armorica, at the time of Maximian (2). Armorica was the ancient name for the area of France between the Seine and the Loire, including Brittany.
Humber King of Humbrie, an invader.
Ignogen daughter to King Pandrasus, and wife to Brutus. Mother of three sons, Locrin, Camber, and Albanac.
Igraine (Ygerne), the wife of Earl Gorlois, loved by Uther Pendragon. The mother of Arthur.
Irtac King of Turkey, an ally of Rome at the time of Arthur.
Isemberd a French nobleman, allied to Gurmund.
Iwallo King of Britain, the son of Jugenes.
Jonathas Earl of Dorchester under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Joram a sage at the time of Vortigern.
Judon the mother of Fereus and Poreus. Wife to King Gorbodiagus.
Jugenes a son of King Morpidus. His brothers were the kings Gorbonian, Argal, Elidur, and Peredur. He ruled over part of the country.
Julian (or Julius) of Caerleon, British saint, martyred c304AD during Diocletian’s persecution of the Christians.
Jurdan knight of the chamber to Gorlois, the Earl of Cornwall, under Uther Pendragon.
Kay Arthur’s steward (seneschal). Earl of Angers. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Kegein son of Elauth, an earl under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Keredic a knight at the court of Vortigern.
Kerin an earl under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Kinard Earl of Striguil under Arthur.
Kinbelin (Cymbeline?), King of Britain, the son of Tennancius. His sons were Wither and Arviragus.
Kincar an earl under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Kineus son of Coit, an earl under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Kincalin (or King Calin), King of Frisland at the time of Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Kinmare Earl of Canterbury under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Labius an earl, a follower of Arthur.
Lador King of Britain, the son of Gorbonian.
Lago King of Britain. The son of Sisillius.
Lavinia Aeneas’s second wife, mother of Silvius Aeneas.
Lear King of Britain, the son of Bladud. His daughters were Gornoille, Regau, and the youngest Cordoille, (Shakespeare’s Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia).
Leir King of Britain, the son of Brutus Vert-Escut.
Leir (2) Earl of Boulogne, under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Leonin uncle to Helena, mother of Constantine I. Father of Maximian.
Livius Gallus a Roman commander sent to Britain to deal with Carrais.
Locrin son of Brutus and Ignogen. King of all southern Britain, east of the Severn. His brothers were Camber and Albanac. Husband of Gwendoline, then Astrild. Father of a son, Madan by Gwendoline, and a daughter Abren by Astrild.
Loth the King of Lothian, husband to Anna, Arthur’s sister. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Luces King of Britain, the son of Coil.
Luces (2) Emperor of Rome in Arthur’s time. Following Layamon’s inferred chronology, Luces would seem to correspond to Justinian the Great.
Lucus one of the six leading senators of Rome, at the time of Arthur.
Lud King of Britain, son of Heli. His brothers were Cassivellaunus and Nennius. Father of Androgeus and Tennancius.
Lupus of Troyes (383-478AD), bishop and saint, sent to Britain c 430AD, by Pope Celestine. Germain of Auxerre accompanied him. Germaine returned to Britain in 447AD.
Madan the son of Locrin and Gwendoline. Father of Menbriz and Malin.
Madoc an earl under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Maerwal son of Penda.
Magan a wise man, at the time of Vortigern.
Maglaunus King of Scotland, husband of Lear’s daughter, Gornoille.
Mahound a Medieval name, used derogatively, for Muhammad, thought by the Christians, incorrectly, to be worshipped by Muslims (who worship Allah); more generically a name for all pagan gods, Greek, and Roman gods, such as Apollo, and later a name for the Devil.
Malgod an evil counsellor attached to Brenne.
Malgus King of Britain, after Vortiporus.
Malin the son of Madan, and brother to Menbriz.
Malverus King of Iceland at the time of Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Marcel a noble knight of Rome, at the time of Arthur.
Marcie the wife of King Guencelin.
Marcus one of the six leading senators of Rome, at the time of Arthur.
Margadud King of South Wales at the time of Cadwalon.
Margoit an earl under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Marin uncle to Helena, the mother of Constantine I.
Mark King of Britain, the son of Lago.
Maurice the son of Cradoc. His father was an earl under Octaves.
Maurin a relative of King Arthur. Earl of Winchester under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Maurus King of Britain, the son of Arviragus and Genuis.
Maxentius (c283-312 AD) nominally Emperor of Rome from 306 to 308, but not recognised as such by his fellow emperors of the Tetrarchy. He was the son of Maximian (1).
Maximian (1) (c250-310AD), co-emperor under Diocletian (to 305). He appointed his commander Carausius to combat piracy in the English Channel, who, by 386AD, after rebelling against Maximian’s command, controlled Britain and Northern Gaul.
Maximian (2) the son of Helena’s uncle, Leonin, according to the text. Co-emperor in Rome, under Constantine I, and subsequently King of Britain, again according to the text. Perhaps derived from the historical Maximian (1).
Maximian (3), likely identical with Magnus Maximus (d.388), Roman emperor (383-388), who usurped the throne from Gratian. He was likely in Britain in 368, and assigned there in 380. Made emperor in Britain and Gaul, he defeated Gratian in 383 and contested power with Valentinian II. Layamon’s text appears to confuse him with Maximian (1) and Maximian (2) above.
Melga a Norwegian earl, at the time of Octaves.
Melion son of Mordred.
Meodras King of Spain, an ally of Rome at the time of Arthur.
Menbriz the son of Madan, and brother to Malin.
Membricius a nobleman loyal to Brutus.
Merian King of Britain, successor to Gurguincius.
Merlin the wizard of the Arthurian legends. Met with by Vortigern’s knights at Carmarthen.
Metel one of the six leading senators of Rome, at the time of Arthur.
Mildburg son of Maerwal, grandson of Penda.
Mordred the son of Anna, sister to Arthur. Brother to Walwain.
Morgan, a son of one of Cordoille’s sisters.
Morgan (2) King of Britain, the son of Argal. His brother was Enmaunus.
Morpidus King of Britain, son of Damus. His sons were Gorbonian, Argal, Elidur, Jugenes and Peredur.
Morvith Earl of Gloucester under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Nennius brother to Lud and Cassivellaunus.
Netan an earl under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Neton an earl under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Numbert an envoy to King Goffar.
Octa the son of Hengist.
Octaves Duke of Wales, then King of Britain, after the death of Trahern.
Oein King of Britain, the successor to Cap.
Ofustesar King of Africa, an ally of Rome at the time of Arthur.
Osric (1) the son of King Edwin.
Osric (2) the son of Oswy.
Ossa a companion of Octa and Ebissa.
Oswald kin to King Edwin.
Oswy brother to Oswald.
Pandras King of Egypt, an ally of Rome at the time of Arthur.
Pandrasus King of Greece at the time of Brutus.
Pantolaus a Spanish chieftain, at the time of Gurguint, and proclaimed King of Ireland.
Pascent the son of Vortigern and Rowena, his brothers were Vortimer and Catiger.
Patrick a Scottish thane allied to Arthur.
Pelluz a wise Spaniard at the court of Edwin.
Penda, (d. 655AD) King of Mercia.
Peredur King of Britain, a son of King Morpidus. His brothers were the kings Gorbonian, Argal, and Elidur, and also Jugenes, who ruled part of the country but was not King of Britain.
Peredur (2) an earl under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Petreius a noble roman warrior, at the time of Arthur
Piner King of Logres, after Poreus was murdered.
Pir King of Britain, successor to Samupensel.
Piram archbishop of York, appointed by Arthur.
Pollidices King of Bitunia, an ally of Rome at the time of Arthur.
Poreus a son of King Gorbodiagus, brother to Fereus.
Porex King of Britain, kin to Catulus and his son Coillus.
Prosenna one of the two lords ruling Rome, in the days of Belin and Brenne.
Quencelin a Roman nobleman at the time of Arthur. Kin to the emperor Luces.
Redait King of Britain, brother and successor to Redion.
Redion King of Britain, the successor to Aldolf.
Regau daughter to King Lear, her sisters were Gornoille, and Cordoille.
Richer an earl at the time of Arthur.
Riculf a Norwegian earl, king-elect of Norway, at the time of Arthur, the Norwegians seeking to deny the deceased Sichelin’s wish that Loth should be king after him.
Ridwathlan the son of Bedivere’s sister.
Rimarc an earl, a follower of Arthur.
Rime King of Britain, the son of Peredur.
Riun a king of France slain by Arthur.
Rodric a Scythian king, leader of the Picts.
Romain pope and saint, according to the text. The Catholic Church’s date for the mission of Germain of Auxerre and Lupus of Troyes, sent to Britain by Pope Celestine, c 430AD, is here at odds with the arrival date for Hengist and Horsa of c449AD according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The former date is a firmer one, while much of the history of Britain in the 5th century is surmise.
Rowena daughter to Hengist.
Rudauc King of North Wales, after Poreus was murdered.
Rudhudibras King of Britain, the son of King Leil.
Rumareth King of Winetland (Wendland, or possibly Finland?), at the time of Arthur.
Rummarus King of Britain, a son of Sillius. His brother was Damus.
Run an earl under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Salomon King of Brittany at the time of Cadwalan. Cousin to the latter, being Cadwalan’s aunt’s son.
Sampson (Samson), Saint. Bishop of York, under Aurelius, according to Layamon.
Samupensel (or Samul-Penicel), King of Britain, successor to Redait.
Sergius Saint Sergius I of Palermo, Pope in Rome (687/8AD, to his death in 701AD) at the time of Cadwalader’s vision.
Severus the Roman emperor Lucius Septimius Severus (145-211AD), emperor 193-211AD. He was in Britain from 208 until his death at York in 211.
Sextorius King of Libya, an ally of Rome at the time of Arthur.
Sichelin King of Norway in Arthur’s day.
Sillius the son of Guencelin and Marcie.
Sillius (2), King of Britain, the son of Oein.
Silvius son of Ascanius, named after Silvius Aeneas, his father’s half-brother. Father to Brutus by Lavinia’s niece.
Silvius (2) King of Lombardy, and of Trojan descent.
Silvius Aeneas son of Aeneas and Lavinia, half-brother to Ascanius.
Sisillius King of Britain, son of Gurgustius.
Siward a king of France, in the days of Fereus and Poreus.
Stater King of Scotland, after Poreus was murdered.
Stater (2) King of South Wales, under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Suard a thane of King Goffar.
Syrian the Roman emperor Heliogabalus (reigned 218-222AD). He came from an Arab family, of Homs in Syria, though related to the Severan dynasty.
Teilesin (Taliesin?), a wise man, considered a prophet, in the days of Kinbelin.
Tennancius Earl of Cornwall, then King of Britain. The younger son of King Lud, and father of Kinbelin.
Tervagant a mythical deity, worshipped in Rome in the days of Belin and Brenne.
Teucer Duke of Phrygia, an ally of Rome at the time of Arthur.
Tonuenne Queen of Britain, wife to Dunwale, and mother of Belin and Brenne.
Trahern uncle to Helena, the mother of Constantine I.
Trahern (2) an earl under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Tremoriun a bishop in Caerleon at the time of Aurelius.
Turnus Duke of Tuscany. Aeneas’ rival in Italy, whom he slew.
Turnus (2) a kinsman of Brutus.
Ulfin a counsellor to Uther Pendragon.
Urgein Earl of Bath under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Urian King of Britain, the son of Andragus.
Urien King of Moray under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon. His son was Yvain.
Ursula daughter to Athionard.
Uther the youngest son of King Constantin. His brothers, according to the text, were Constance and Ambrosius Aurelius. Regarding the comet, whose form Merlin interprets, if this is taken as a reference by Layamon to Halley’s comet and its cyclic re-appearance, then a date of 530AD would mark the end of Aurelius’ reign and the beginning of Uther Pendragon’s.
Valentinian I (321-375AD) Roman emperor (jointly with his brother Valens). The son of Gratianus.
Valentinian II (371-392AD) Roman emperor (375-392, initially with his half-brother Gratian).
Vespasian (9-79AD), Roman emperor (69-79AD). He served in Britain during Claudius’ invasion, and became emperor in the ‘Year of the four Emperors’, 69AD. During his reign Agricola replaced Coelius as commander of the Legio XX (Valeria Victrix) stationed in Britain. Vespasian’s return to Britain is an invention.
Vortigern an earl, and steward under King Constantin. King of Britain after usurping the throne from Constantin’s eldest son, Constance. Regarding the place of his death, a strong candidate for the location identified by Layamon, is Little Doward hill, near Ganarew, in the ancient realm of Erging. The names correspond to Layamon’s Cloard, Genoire, and Hergin. The hill near the Wye, north-east of Monmouth, occupied in pre-historic times, is topped by an iron-age hillfort.
Vortimer the eldest son of Vortigern and Rowena, his brothers were Pascent and Catiger. King of Britain while his father Vortigern still lived.
Vortiporus King of Britain, successor to Conan (2).
Walwain the son of Anna, Arthur’s sister. Brother to Mordred. He was raised in Rome by Pope ‘Supplice’ according to Layamon. If the Pope referenced is the saintly Boniface IV, who leant to the monastic life, then again Layamon is suggesting a seventh century dating for Arthur.
Wanis a Norwegian earl, at the time of Octaves.
Wigein Earl of Leicester under Arthur. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Wither the elder son of Kinbelin.
Wygar an elven smith, who wrought Arthur’s steel armour.
Xerxes King of Ituria, an ally of Rome at the time of Arthur.
Ypolite King of Crete, an ally of Rome at the time of Arthur.
Yuni Cadwalader’s nephew, his sister’s son.
Yvaine the son of Urien, a commander in Arthur’s host. Present at the gathering at Caerleon.
Yvor (or Ivor) Cadwalader’s stepson.
End of the Character List