DUMNONIA Bledric ap Custennin

Abt 0550 - 0613  (63 years)

• Name	DUMNONIA Bledric ap Custennin
  Birth	Abt 0550
  Gender	Male
  Death	0613	Bangor-is-Coed, Britain
  Notes	Bledric was one of three sons of King Constantine (or Custennin) who died in c.560. The others being Gerren rac Dehau ('for the South') who appears to have been the eldest[1] and Domuel (or Dywel). The mother is not named. His life was one of continual fighting against Saxon incursions. The West Seaxe break the Dumnonian defensive positions along a wide front, breaking through by capturing Caer Baddan, Caer Ceri, and Caer Gloui, around 577 to 580. Glastenning and the heartland of eastern Dumnonia are under direct threat. It seems that Dumnonia and Glasteening hold the West Wansdyke territory for some time after. However these two kingdoms ahve now been cut off. At around this time, c. 590, Cadbury Castle is abandoned and people evacuated, likely to Tintagel. The Hwicce soon migrate into the northern remainder of the territory of the three cities while Caer Baddan is inhabited by the Saxons of the Somersaete (Somerset settlers) who retain the name, but pronounce it as Bathanceaster (the city or fort of Bathan). In time it becomes the city of Bath. His brother, Gerren, died c. 598, and Bledric becomes King. The West Seaxe, under Ceolwulf, force the Dumnonians out of the West Wansdyke region of Caer Baddan (Somerset). However the Glastenning find time to found the Abbey at Glastonbury suggesting that the Saxons had not yet broken through in the south. The monastic home of the British church is moved from the island of Beckery in the nearby Avalon Marshes which was home to the British Church since the late 400s. Bledric ap Custennin appears to have fought at the Battle of Caer Legion (Chester) where he survived where many of the British nobility were killed. Death Caradoc of Llancarfan[2] provides that Bledric was killed at the Battle of Bangor-is-Coed (now Bangor on Dee, Clwyd, Wales), King Æthelfrith of Northumbria and King Æthelberht of Kent in c.613. This battle, and that of Caer Legion, devastated the British nobility creating a power vacuum that was difficult to fill and gives rise to many anomalies in source material. Family Source material does not provide the name of his wife. He is known to have had one son: Clement ap Bledric; who will rule Dumnonia from 613. Sources ↑ Note that the wikipedia article suggests that was younger but Gerren fought the Bernician Angles at Catreath which predates Bledric as King ↑ Historie of Cambria (History of Wales)
  Person ID	I58627	Freeman-Smith
  Last Modified	27 Jan 2026

  
  

  Father	DUMNONIA Constantine ap Cado,   b. Abt 0500   d. Abt 0589 (Age 89 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Family ID	F347205	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family
  Children	1. DUMNONIA Clemen ap Bledric,   b. Abt 0580, Dumnonia, England  [Father: natural]
  Family ID	F347204	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	27 Jan 2026