All the People in The Retreat to Avalon

Hello! As I continue to make progress on The Strife of Camlann, Book 2 of The Arthurian Age trilogy, someone suggested I post up some of the appendix material from the end of The Retreat to Avalon. I have already made a page that includes many of the sources I used for the series. You can see that at this link.

So today I’ll listed talk about the characters within the Retreat to Avalon. There are a lot listed here because if a character has the barest mention, I tried to list him or her in the appendix. So without further ado, here is an excerpt from the book. There may be some slight spoilers below. I hope you enjoy.

Here is a bit of an explanation on the characters I used for this story. Most people are familiar with the Arthurian characters and stories from the much later “Romances”, such as Mallory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, which was published in 1485. These are what movies, such as Boorman’s 1981 classic, Excalibur, are based on. However, these have little, if anything, to do with any historical Arthur. For my story, I wanted to go back to the much earlier legends such as those from The Mabinogion, including Culhwch and Olwen and The Dream of Rhonabwy, as well as The Triads of the Island of Britain. And, of course, Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain. In some cases, such as Gawain, I have used the later names because, while Welsh is a beautiful language, it is very foreign to English speakers, and the original names would not have evoked Arthurian images in most people. Another detail of my approach is that the characters are not always related, as they often are in later legends, usually with many contradictions. I suspect that it was a result of later medieval sensibilities that wanted to tie major historical and legendary people together that resulted in so many Arthurian characters being related.

Adeon	A member of Gawain’s turma.
Aergol Lawhir	King of Demetia. Historically referred to by Gildas as a “Good King”. Father of Vortipor.
Aegidius	The Magister Militum of the Western Roman Empire. He attempted to maintain a semblance of Roman rule in northern Gaul when the region was cutoff from the rest of the Roman Empire by the encroachment of Germanic kingdoms to the south. An opponent of Ricimer, he died mysteriously and was succeeded by his less-capable son, Syagrius.
Aergyn Faen	Known in the later Romances as Agravain, he is a brother of Gawain and halfbrother of Mordred, joining Mordred in the rebellion against Arthur. In this story, he is Modred’s older brother, assigned as a staff officer to Gwynn. His epithet means “The Rock”.
Ambrosius Aurelianus	A historically attested person referred to by Gildas as a “gentleman” and among the last of the “Romans”. He is said to have led the first successful campaigns against the invading Anglo-Saxons and was in opposition to Vortigern. He does not appear to have adopted any form of kingship or the form of leadership undertaken by Vortigern or Arthur.
Ajax	His true name is Tegid. A member of Gawain’s combrogi from a neighbouring village, he earned his nickname due to his immense size and strength. This was to show the familiarity of the locals with at least some classical culture, as stories like The Iliad would have been widely known and popular.
Amren	Son of Bedwyr and a junior member of Arthur’s guard. In Culhwch and Olwen, he is one of Arthur’s four chamberlains who guard Arthur’s bed and attend him in the mornings.
Anthemius	Western Roman Emperor from 467 to his death in 472, he is considered the last of the effective emperors and might have reversed the fortunes of the Western Empire if not continually thwarted and then killed by his Magister Militum, Ricimer. Anthemius arranged the alliance with Riothamus that this story is built upon.
Arbogast	Comes of Treveris, he ruled a small Roman rump state under much the same circumstances as Syagrius with the help of remaining Roman troops and Frankish foederati. Arbogast was well-educated, and Sidonius praises him as one of the last defenders of the collapsing Western Roman Empire and Roman culture.
Arthur	Arthur is well-known, though generally more so from the Romances than from the earlier legends or the historical possibilities. This series hopes to change that.
Arvandus	Praetorian Prefect of Gaul, he treasonously encouraged Euric to cast aside the treaty with Rome and attack Roman lands, including the Britons north of the Loire, suggesting Gaul should be divided between the Visigoths and the Burgundians. He was tried and convicted, but the efforts of Sidonius and other friends saved him from death and he was exiled.
Atfodla	A member of Gawain’s turma, from the Gododdin.
Bachlach	Scoti warrior of Meirchion Gul’s retinue. He sets the stage for my imagining of how the Gawain and the Green Knight story could have developed from a challenge.
Beatha	Gawain’s sister, married to a minor warlord to the south of Alt Clut.
Bedwyr	One of Arthur’s leading warriors, his second closest friend and leader of one of his three legions. Known to most as “Sir Bedivere”, the knight who returns Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake in Le Morte d’Arthur, he is one of the characters linked closely to Arthur from the earliest legends and may have been a historical person.
Bonitus	A Gaulish farmer from near Dolens. I used his character to incorporate the historical letter from Sidonius to Riothamus. I also used the incident to include elements of a romance legend known as The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle.
Brychan	King of Brycheiniog, he was born in Ireland before his parents emigrated to Britain. He married the heiress to the small kingdom and changed its name to his own.
Cador	Son of Gerren “The Fleet Owner”, King of Dumnein, father of Constantine. He took the throne on the death of his father in battle against the Saxons and was a close ally and friend of Arthur.
Cadwal	Cadwaladr; line leader in Gawain’s turma, he is from the Gododdin.
Cadwallon	ap Einion; King of Gwynedd. He was called “Lawhir”, or “Long Hand”. His grandfather, Cunedda Wledig, is said to have brought his warband from the lands of the Gododdin to north-west Wales to expel the Irish who were colonising the region.
Calpornus	The magistrate of Cair Cerin. The status of various cities and realms is ambiguous in the 5th century. It appears that some developed into kingdoms, while others retained their Roman-styled civil leadership until later.
Carnedaur	ap Gofynion Hen; Leader of Drustan’s Second Cavalry Ala. In Culhwch and Olwen, he is listed as a member of Arthur’s court.
Caw	A minor warlord within Alt Clut, he is descended from the Picts that used to inhabit the region before the Britons pushed them further north. He is the father of many children, including Hueil , Etmic, Cwyllog and St. Gildas.
Cei	One of Arthur’s leading warriors, his oldest friend and leader of one of his three legions. Known to most as “Sir Kay”, Arthur’s foster brother in Le Morte d’Arthur, he is one of the characters linked closely to Arthur from the earliest legends and may have been a historical person.
Censurius	Bishop of Autissodoro (later sainted); He studied under St. Germanus, who was famous for his visits to Britain in the early 5th century to combat Pelagianism. Illtud is said to have studied under Germanus, but the timing is too far apart, so it’s more likely he was the student of a student of Germanus.
Cethtrwm	One of the priests who accompany Arthur to Gaul. Mentioned in Culhwch and Olwen.
Childeric	Son of the founder of the Merovingian Dynasty of Salian Franks, he allied with Aegidius, and later with Aegidius’s son, Syagrius, against the Visigoths. His son, Clovis, chose to attack Syagrius and put an end to the Roman rump state.
Congar	One of the monks at Arthur’s hall, a nephew of Cador. He is later known as St. Congar.
Constantine	Prince of Dumnein, son of Cador. He is historically attested as one of the five “tyrants” excoriated by Gildas.
Cors	A member of Arthur’s household guard. Epithet “Hundred-Claws”, in Culhwch and Olwen.
Cradawc	ap Iaen; a member of Arthur’s household guard. In Culhwch and Olwen, said to be Arthur’s kin from Caer Dathal, through Uthur, suggesting Arthur’s origins may have been somewhat north of what is recorded in later legends.
Cwyllog	Daughter of Caw. Early legends have her marrying Medraut (Modred).
Cyndelic	“Kyuarwyd”; Arthur’s chief scout. In Culhwch and Olwen, Arthur calls him “as good a guide in lands he had never seen as he was in his own country.”
Cynwyl	Leader of Drustan’s First Cavalry Ala. In Culhwch and Olwen, he is listed as one of the survivors of Camlann, said to be “the last who parted from Arthur on Hengroen his horse.”
Cynyr	The father of Cei, he is a minor warlord and close ally of Arthur. In the later Romances, he is known as Sir Ector.
Cunbelin	Son of Dyfnwal Hen, leader of the Alt Clut contingent, later member of Gwynn’s staff.
Dalldav	ap Kimin Côv; a member of Arthur’s household guard, he becomes the leader of the guard. In Culhwch and Olwen he is identified as one of the three peers of Arthur’s court.
Defon	A member of Arthur’s household guard. In Culhwch and Olwen he is identified as “the ninth man that rallied the battle of Camlann.”
Deiniol	A member of Gawain’s turma.
Dochu	One of Gwyar’s elder councilors, father of Teilo.
Drem	One of Arthur’s gatekeepers. In Culhwch and Olwen, he is said to be able to see a gnat flying on the other side of Britain.
Drustan	One of Arthur’s leading young warriors, and leader of one of his three legions. Possibly a historical person, he is known in later legends as Tristan, such as in the tragic story of Tristan and Iseult.
Dyfnwal Hen	Dyfnwal “The Old”; a likely historical person, king of the early realm of Alt Clut and the son of Ceretic (the Coroticus of St. Patrick’s Confessio).
Dywel	ap Erbin; one of Arthur’s councillors. In Culhwch and Olwen, he is listed as the cousin of Cador through Gerren.
Echel	A member of Arthur’s household guard. Epithet “Mighty Thigh”, in Culhwch and Olwen.
Eidyol	ap Ner; a member of Arthur’s household guard.
Eldadus	Bishop of Cair Gloui, later sainted. He was a strong ally of Ambrosius Aurelianus in the war against the Saxons.
Etmic	Son of Caw, junior officer and peer of Gawain.
Eudaf	An older warrior of Gawain’s combrogi, he is a famed veteran of Arthur’s Battle of the Celidon Wood.
Euric	A Visigoth king. He became king after murdering his brother in 466 and ruled until his death in 484.
Fidach	A member of Gawain’s turma, from the Gododdin.
Gallcoyt Govynynat	One of Arthur’s captains who is given command of the infantry during the retreat from Dolens.
Gareth	First appearing in Le Morte d’Arthur as a brother of Gawain, Gareth does not fit into the time frame of characters that I intended to use, but I decided to use his name to evoke an Arthurian atmosphere. Rather than being an actual brother, he is Gawain’s closest friend. He was raised by his mother and uncle, Rhufawn, after his father died.
Garmonion	Son of Dyfnwal Hen, leader of the Alt Clut contingent, later member of Gwynn’s staff.
Gawain	In later legends he is known as Gawain, son of King Lot and Morgause (Morgen), Arthur’s sister. I used a bit of a hybrid approach. The earliest references to Gawain are under the name Gwalchmai ap Gwyar, and I patterned Gawain on those earlier references, where he is considered one of Arthur’s greatest knights, a formidable warrior, educated, courteous, compassionate, loyal, a mentor to young warriors and a defender of the poor and of women.
Gladus	The wife of Gwalhafed, mother of Tarran, Anna, and Torri.
Gliguis	King of the region that would become known as Glywysing, from a later version of his name, Glywys. Centred on his capital at Cair Teim, the kingdoms of this area seem to have had fluid borders early on, probably due to warfare.
Glyf	Veteran soldier of Cadubrega, and Gawain’s friend.
Greidawl	Leader of Cei’s First Cavalry Ala. Known as Greidawl Galldonyd in Culhwch and Olwen, he is listed as one of Arthur’s advisors.
Gobrwy	Cei’s chief of staff; one of Arthur’s advisors from Culhwch and Olwen.
Got	Member of Gawain’s cavalry troop.
Guin Godybrion	Bedwyr’s chief of staff. In Culhwch and Olwen, he is said to be a sage and a warrior.
Gundgomar	Burgundian lord of the town and vale of Avalon. In one of the earliest of the Romances, Erec and Enide by Chrétien de Troyes, the lord of Avalon is Guinguemar, a love of Morgen. I have adapted his name to something closer to Burgundian names of the time for this story.
Gwadyn	A member of Arthur’s household guard. In Culhwch and Olwen, he has the ability to emit flames from the soles of his feet, possibly an allusion to his running speed.
Gwalhafed	Brother of Gawain, he appears only as a mention in Culhwch and Olwen, as Gwalhafed ap Gwyar. For this story, he might be vaguely equated with Gaheris, a brother of Gawain, who first appears in Le Morte d’Arthur.
Gwenhwyfar	Known in later times as Guinevere, she is the wife of Arthur. Early legends suggest she might have been his second, or even third, wife. As “Lancelot” was a much later character from the Romances, the early legends do not involve a war and Arthur’s death resulting from her infidelity with the fictional knight.
Gwenwyn	Arthur’s fleet captain. In the early legends, he is recorded as one of the “Three Seafarers of the Island of Britain” with the longer name. Gwenwynwyn.
Gwevyl	Son of Gwestad, he is a member of Arthur’s household guard. In Culhwch and Olwen, Gwevyl is said to be able to let his lower lip drop below his waist and turn up the other like a cap upon his head. Hyperbole was common in heroic poetry.
Gwittart	Son of Oedd, an Irish chieftain, he is a member of Arthur’s household guard. In Culhwch and Olwen, Oedd is described as King of Ireland. Fostering of young warriors in the warbands of other warlords was common in this era. A famous warlord, like Arthur, would draw warriors from far away.
Gwrdinal	ap Ebrei; a member of Arthur’s household guard
Gwrhyr	Arthur’s chief interpreter. In Culhwch and Olwen it is said that, to him, all tongues were known.
Gwyar	Gawain’s father. Gwyar means “Bloodshed” or “Gore”. Some believe it is a matronymic, which was sometimes used in Briton. I believe that is due to attempts to reconcile later legends making Gawain and Arthur related. I interpret the name as belonging to a warrior, which seems more appropriate. As other legends suggest that Gawain’s mother was named Anna, I have chosen that name for Gwyar’s deceased wife. His father, Gartnait, was in line for the throne of the Gododdin before dying under suspicious circumstances.
Gwyddawg	ap Menestyr; he is the leader of Cei’s personal guard. In Culhwch and Olwen, it is said he slew Cei, and was slain by Arthur, together with his brothers, to revenge Cei. This early reference to Cei’s death does not explain how or why Cei was killed by a member of Arthur’s own court. This story assumes the passage of time causes some details to be lost, and it is remembered vaguely that Arthur killed Gwyddawg.
Gwydion	A member of Gawain’s turma.
Gwythyr	A veteran member of Arthur’s household guard.
Gwynn	ap Ermid; leader of Arthur’s third legion after Drustan was mortally wounded at Namnetis. In Culhwch and Olwen he is listed as the cousin of Cador through Gerren.
Hasdi	A trader from Arados (Arwad, Syria), part of his character’s role is to demonstrate how, for a time in the Arthurian era, trade links were re-established with the Eastern Roman Empire, and to provide historical background to the narrative.
Henwyneb	Leader of Arthur’s personal guard. In Culhwch and Olwen he is called “Old Face” and is identified as a companion of Arthur.
Hirerwm	A member of Arthur’s household guard. In Culhwch and Olwen, he and his brother are distinguished by their ravenous appetites.
Hoel	ap Budig; King of Comberos following his father’s death. Arthur’s close friend and ally. He is a major character in most early references and was likely a historical person.
Hunabwy	ap Gwryon; a member of Arthur’s household guard.
Hyfaidd Unllen	“One-Cloak”; he is leader of Cei’s Second Cavalry Ala. In Culhwch and Olwen, he is listed as one of Arthur’s advisors.
Iden	A member of Gwyar’s council, his oldest friend and mentor. Father of Keir.
Ider	A member of Gawain’s turma.
Illtud	Line leader in Gawain’s turma, he is known historically as St. Illtud. Also known as “Illtud the Knight” for having been a soldier under Arthur, he later became a monk and an abbot and re-founded the famed divinity school known as Cor Tewdws, considered to be Britain’s earliest centre of learning. His wife is Trynihid.
Ionafal	Magistrate of Cair Durnac.
Keir	Son of Iden; member of Gawain’s cavalry troop.
Kilcoed	Member of Gawain’s turma.
Llawnrodded	A veteran member of Arthur’s household guard.
Llary	ap Casnar Wledic. He is leader of Bedwyr’s First Cavalry Ala. In Culhwch and Olwen, he is listed as one of Arthur’s advisors.
Lloch	Scout and guide assigned to Gawain’s troop for the operations around Pictavis.
Llwyd	A member of Gawain’s turma.
Llysgadrudd	A member of Arthur’s household guard, nearly as tall as Arthur. Epithet “RedEyed Stallion”, in Culhwch and Olwen.
Lot	Son of Edor, King of Lothian, the father of Modred in early references, as I have chosen to depict him in this story. There are a number of other early references to Lot that also have become part of this story, such as the murder of his daughter, Taneu.
Mabon	Son of Eliman; a member of Gawain’s cavalry troop.
Maccus	ap Lleu; gate guard at Cadubrega.
Maglocunus	Prince of Gwynedd, son of Cadwallon. He is historically attested as one of the five “tyrants” excoriated by Gildas. Later known as Maelgwn Gwynedd.
Marc	Client-king of Cador, his realm was the southernmost portion of Dumnein, later known as Cornwall. He is remembered in legend as the cuckolded uncle of Tristan in Tristan and Iseult.
Meliau	ap Deroc; elder prince of Domnoni, one of the two Briton kingdoms emerging in Letavia at this time. He came under the protection of Aergol when his father’s realm was usurped upon Deroc’s death.
Meirchion Gul	King of Rheged, great-grandson of Roman Britain’s last Dux Britanniarum, Coel Hen (possibly the origin of the fabled “Old King Cole”).
Melwas	A sub-king of Dumnein, his stronghold is at Ynys Witrin. He holds a peculiar place in Arthurian legend explored more later.
Menw	ap Tairgwaedd; he is one of Arthur’s chief councilors and intelligence officers. In Culhwch and Olwen, he is said to be a warrior as well as a magician or shapeshifter.
Modred	Better known from the Romances as Mordred, the incestuous son of Arthur and instigator of the downfall of “Camelot”, I have chosen to use an earlier version of the name, which derives from the oldest example, Medraut. Medraut is a likely historical person (though there is no evidence of his being related to Arthur) as he is mentioned in the 10th century Annales Cambriae in a passage stating, “The strife of Camlann, in which Arthur and Medraut fell.” There is no mention of who killed whom, or why, or on which side either might have been. In my depiction, I adopt some early mentions of Modred that suggest he had a number of positive attributes, including valour and geniality.
Moren	ap Iaen; a member of Arthur’s household guard. In Culhwch and Olwen, said to be Arthur’s kin from Caer Dathal, through Uthur, suggesting Arthur’s origins may have been somewhat north of what is recorded in later legends.
Morcant	Arthur’s chief physician; known as Morgan Tud in later legend.
Morgen	Highly educated, she is Arthur’s half-sister and leader of a community of women at the springs of Avalon. In the Romances, she becomes known as Morgan le Fay, eventually taking on morally ambivalent, if not evil, characterisations. Her earliest mention, in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Life of Merlin, describes her as the chief of nine magical women who use their powers for good. Residing on the Isle of Apple Trees (Avalon), Arthur is taken there to be healed of his wounds following the battle of Camlann.
Myrddin	Known as Merlin from Geoffrey of Monmouth and later, he is a vague legendary figure of confused identity and origin. He is variously thought to have been a seer, a druid or a sorcerer. He was originally associated with Vortigern, though later authors made him an advisor to Arthur and Arthur’s father, Uther. My depiction fills a certain role that could have been anyone, but fits for Myrddin, and I leave it to the reader to determine what that is.
Nerth	ap Kedarn; a member of Arthur’s household guard.
Nonus	Wine merchant at Pictavis. He may be more than he appears.
Odoacer	An enigmatic warlord from an eastern Germanic tribe, he seems to have been a mercenary and raider early in his career, later becoming a leader of Roman foederati. In 476 he led a revolt and deposed the last Roman Western Emperor, Romulus Augustulus, becoming “King of Italy”. This is generally considered the end of the Western Roman Empire.
Owain	ap Einion; King of Rhos. Details on British kingdoms at this time are sparse, but Rhos seems to have existed at this time in the area from around Chester to Rhos-on-Sea. It may have been a sub-kingdom of Gwynedd or may have resulted from a division of lands after the death of Einion, following the Celtic custom of lands being divided between all of a deceased ruler’s sons, rather than the eldest son receiving all of the land.
Padern	A member of Gawain’s turma, brother of Pedr, from Anderida.
Paulus	Comes commanding Syagrius’s army. Attested historically as being killed at Andecava.
Pedr	Member of Gawain’s turma, brother of Padern, from Anderida.
Peredur	ap Efrawg; known as Percival, the original achiever of the Holy Grail in the Romances. I am using the earlier name and loosely basing the character on the earlier legends, which have him as a very young, inexperienced warrior who is befriended by Gawain and who develops into a great knight.
Piran	Gawain’s tutor and friend. Piran started as a way for me to tie in one of the few historical documents of the era, the letter from St. Patrick to the soldiers of Ceretic (Coroticus in Latin), to describe events and norms of the time. Much later, I was surprised to find the character fits remarkably into another legend that will appear in the second book.
Presuda	An older veteran of Dyfnwal’s warband, a captain of the Alt Clut contingent and later member of Cei’s staff.
Pwyll	A member of Gawain’s cavalry troop.
Remigius	Lord of Blesum.
Rhian	Gawain’s wise and loving wife. References to Gawain’s wife in later legends are all from French sources in the “Romance” genre, so I have avoided those.
Rhun	Leader of Bedwyr’s Second Cavalry ala. In Culhwch and Olwen, he is listed as a member of Arthur’s court.
Ricimer	Magister Militum of the Western Roman Empire from 457 until his death in 472, he effectively ruled the remaining territory of the Western Roman Empire through a series of puppet emperors.
Riwal	ap Deroc; younger prince of Domnoni, one of the two Briton kingdoms emerging in Letavia at this time. He came under the protection of Aergol when his father’s realm was usurped upon his death.
Rhyddfedd	ap Catigern; King of Paguis. Called “Frych” (freckled). Following the death of his brother and former king, Cadell, he ruled as regent until Cadell’s son, Cyngen, was old enough to ascend to the throne. His grandfather, Vortigern, was the previous High King of the Consilium, vilified for inviting the Saxons to Britain and beginning the influx of Germanic tribes that pushed the Britons to the periphery of their island.
Sandef	A member of Arthur’s household guard, known as “Angel Body”. In Culhwch and Olwen it was said that, because of his beauty, no one attacked him at the Battle of Camlann, believing he was a ministering angel.
Siawn	ap Iaen; a member of Arthur’s household guard. In Culhwch and Olwen, he was said to be Arthur’s kin from Caer Dathal, through Uthur, suggesting Arthur’s origins may have been somewhat north of what is recorded in later legends.
Sidonius	Sidonius Apollinaris was an aristocratic politician, poet, diplomat and bishop who was deeply involved in Roman affairs of the era. His writings, including a letter to Riothamus, are considered some of the most important documents surviving from the era.
Sol	A member of Arthur’s household guard. In Culhwch and Olwen, he is said to be able to stand all day on one foot.
Sulyen	ap Iaen; a member of Arthur’s household guard. In Culhwch and Olwen, he is said to be Arthur’s kin from Caer Dathal, through Uthur, suggesting Arthur’s origins may have been somewhat north of what is recorded in later legends.
Syagrius	Son of Aegidius; he ruled the Roman rump state in northern Gaul that would later be called the Kingdom of Soissons (Suessionum) until his defeat by Clovis I in 486.
Tegyr	Arthur’s standard-bearer. In Culhwch and Olwen, he is listed as Arthur’s cup-bearer.
Teilo	Son of Dochu; member of Gawain’s cavalry troop.
Tohodyfn	A ironsmith at Cadubrega.
Trysin	Arthur’s chief bard.
Uchtryd	A member of Arthur’s household guard. Epithet “Cross-Beard”, in Culhwch and Olwen.
Usai	King of Ceredigion.
Vortigern	First High-King of the Consilium, he is notorious for having invited the Saxons to Britain to defend against raiders from Pictland and bungling dealings with them thereafter. The name is Brittonic for “Overlord”, and while it is unclear if this was his name or a title, for the purposes of this book, it is being used as a title that became his name, in the same manner as Rigotamos/Riothamus and Genghis Khan.
Ygerna	Mother of Arthur, later known as Igraine.
Ynyr	A member of Gawain’s turma.
Ynyr	King of Guent; he married Madrun, the daughter of Vortimer, the son of Vortigern, who had led an early resistance against the Saxons.

Thanks for stopping by, and as always, I’d love to hear from you with questions or comments.