The British History Podcast 92 – WelshCast Part Five: More People that Gildas Hated
Jul 15, 2013
Gildas' fiery condemnation of King Kuna Glass for waging war against his own countrymen and committing adultery. The powerful reign and controversial figure of Maelgwyn, facing criticism but also known for his physical prowess, intelligence, and generosity. The rise and fall of Gwyneth, a ruler in Wales, and the quiz-style segment testing listeners' knowledge of Welsh history.
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Gildas Is Biased And Information Was Limited
- Gildas is a deeply religious, educated monk whose account is limited and biased by rumor and local perspective.
- Jamie emphasizes that missing kingdoms in Gildas' list reflect information gaps, not necessarily good rulers, so treat Gildas as unreliable evidence.
Always Crosscheck Gildas With Other Evidence
- Treat Gildas as a partisan source: verify claims against archaeology and other chronicles before accepting moralized accusations.
- Jamie repeatedly advises skepticism, reminding listeners Gildas relied on rumor and had limited info.
Cunaglass Likely Ruler Of Rhos Not Literally A Tawny Butcher
- Cunaglass (likely Cynlas or Kinlos of Rhos) is portrayed by Gildas as a pagan warmonger and philanderer, though his Latin translation 'Tawny Butcher' is erroneous.
- Jamie links the 'bear' imagery to place-names like Dinerth (Fort of the Bear), suggesting local roots to Gildas' slur.