![]() |
||
|
|
Budic II, King of Brittany (Born c.AD 460) (Welsh: Buddig; Latin: Budicius; English: Budick) Not to be confused with his uncle
and namesake, Budic was called by his title, Emyr Llydaw (Emperor
of Brittany) by the Welsh. He apparently married the sister of High-King
Arthur of Britain. The lady is usually assumed to have been Anna,
but there are indications that Elaine (Elen)
was his true wife. He is thus, probably, the original of King Nentres (a
corrupt form of Emyr) who was mistakenly given the realm of Anna's
husband, Garlot (Caer-Lot). He may also be connected with the literary
King Ban of Benwick (sometimes Brittany). It was probably during his cousin's
usurpation of the Breton throne that Budic fled to Britain, along with his
father and the Breton fleet. They took
refuge at the court of King Aircol Lawhir
of Dyfed, where
another cousin, Amon Ddu was an
important official. Here, Budic met and married his second wife, Anowed,
the sister of St. Teilo. The two settled in Britain and lived there for many years
during which time Anowed gave birth to two sons. During her third
pregnancy though, messengers arrived announcing that the Breton King
(probably the childless Rivod) was dead and that his people desired Budic
to be their King. So he returned in triumph to a kingdom that became known
as Cornouaille Budic in his honour. It was during Budic's reign that, an
old legend says, Breton armies first became invincible on horseback.
During a visit of St. Teilo to Brittany, Budic, his brother-in-law,
persuaded the saint to rid his lands of a terrible dragon that was
terrorising the countryside. With much prayer, Teilo was able to subdue
the beast and he tied it to a rock in the sea. Afraid that it would return
without Teilo's protection, Budic created his brother-in-law the Bishop of
Dol. Teilo entered the city upon a divine white steed given him by an
angel. This, he later presented to the King with the promise that his
cavalry would always be victorious in battle. Budic may have ruled jointly
with his son, Hoel I Mawr (the Great)
in his later years. He eventually died in 545, having left his grandson
and heir, Tewdwr, in the care of King Macliau of the Vannetais.
|
|
| © Nash Ford Publishing 2001. All Rights Reserved. | ||