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Aurelius ConanusA king of the Britons who lived in the mid-6th century.
Date of Birth: .
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Content:
- Reign of Aurelian Conan: A Controversial Figure
- Historical Accounts
- Geoffrey of Monmouth's Embellishments
- Reign and Succession
- Identification Theories
- Possible Descendant of Ambrosius Aurelianus
Reign of Aurelian Conan: A Controversial Figure
Aurelian Conan, a British king in the mid-6th century, remains an enigmatic figure in history.
Historical Accounts
The only written record of Aurelian Conan is found in Gildas's "De Excidio Britanniae." Gildas portrays him as the last in the line of Ambrosius Aurelianus, who betrayed his ancestors' ideals and engaged in civil war.
Geoffrey of Monmouth's Embellishments
Geoffrey of Monmouth added his own creative touches to Gildas's account. He claims that Conan was the grandson of Mordred, Arthur's nephew, and the son of an "impure Damnonian she-wolf."
Reign and Succession
After ruling for three years, Conan is said to have assassinated his cousin, King Constantine III, and seized power. He ruled for two years before an untimely death, leaving the kingdom to Vortipor.
Identification Theories
Gildas does not mention the specific region ruled by Aurelian Conan. John Edward Lloyd suggests that "Caninus," Gildas's name for Conan, is a corruption of the Celtic "Cuna(g)nus" or the Welsh form "Cynan." This might identify him with one of several rulers with the name Cynan, including Cyngen Glodrydd, Cynan Garwyn, or Cynin ap Millo. However, this would contradict any relation to Ambrosius Aurelianus, as this line of kings descends from Vortigern.
Possible Descendant of Ambrosius Aurelianus
An alternative theory proposed by Lloyd and N. Yu. Chekhonadska suggests that Aurelian Conan was indeed the heir to Ambrosius Aurelianus, placing his kingdom in Southern England, which was later overrun by Anglo-Saxons.
