Eógan I of Strathclyde
Encyclopedia
Owen I, Ywain I or Eógan I (Latin: Eugenius; Modern Gaelic
Eòghann; Mod. Welsh
: Owain) was ruler of the Kingdom of Strathclyde
for some period in the early tenth century.
Symeon of Durham
recorded that Owen, whom he calls "Ouuen, king of the Cumbrians", was defeated by king Æþelstan of England
in 934, along with his allies King Olaf III Guthfrithson
of Dublin and Constantine II of Scotland
(Constantín mac Áeda), his overlord. The latter date puts the start of Owen's reign sometime before, perhaps a long time before, this year. It is possible, as MacQuarrie and others suggest, that Owen was the son of King Dyfnwal II of Strathclyde, thereby making him the nephew of Constantine, but this suggestion now carries some controversy. Many historians believe that Owen was present and died at the Battle of Brunanburh
in 937, and indeed Symeon of Durham does mention the presence of the "Cumbrians" at the battle.
The 14th century historian John Fordun wrote that during the reign of Constantine, the Scottish kings turned Strathclyde into an appanage kingdom whereby the designated heir or tanist would rule as a sub-king before becoming in his turn King of Alba upon the death of the designating king. Indeed, Fordun claims that Constantine II gave Owen his kingdom on this basis. If Owen was the designated heir of Constantine II, as some historians believe, he did not survive to outlive the Scottish king.
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
Eòghann; Mod. Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
: Owain) was ruler of the Kingdom of Strathclyde
Kingdom of Strathclyde
Strathclyde , originally Brythonic Ystrad Clud, was one of the early medieval kingdoms of the celtic people called the Britons in the Hen Ogledd, the Brythonic-speaking parts of what is now southern Scotland and northern England. The kingdom developed during the post-Roman period...
for some period in the early tenth century.
Symeon of Durham
Symeon of Durham
Symeon of Durham was an English chronicler and a monk of Durham Priory. When William of Saint-Calais returned from his Norman exile in 1091, Symeon was probably in his company...
recorded that Owen, whom he calls "Ouuen, king of the Cumbrians", was defeated by king Æþelstan of England
Athelstan of England
Athelstan , called the Glorious, was the King of England from 924 or 925 to 939. He was the son of King Edward the Elder, grandson of Alfred the Great and nephew of Æthelflæd of Mercia...
in 934, along with his allies King Olaf III Guthfrithson
Olaf III Guthfrithson
Amlaíb mac Gofraid , a member of the Norse-Gael Uí Ímair dynasty, was King of Dublin from 934 to 941...
of Dublin and Constantine II of Scotland
Constantine II of Scotland
Constantine, son of Áed was an early King of Scotland, known then by the Gaelic name Alba. The Kingdom of Alba, a name which first appears in Constantine's lifetime, was in northern Great Britain...
(Constantín mac Áeda), his overlord. The latter date puts the start of Owen's reign sometime before, perhaps a long time before, this year. It is possible, as MacQuarrie and others suggest, that Owen was the son of King Dyfnwal II of Strathclyde, thereby making him the nephew of Constantine, but this suggestion now carries some controversy. Many historians believe that Owen was present and died at the Battle of Brunanburh
Battle of Brunanburh
The Battle of Brunanburh was an English victory in 937 by the army of Æthelstan, King of England, and his brother Edmund over the combined armies of Olaf III Guthfrithson, the Norse-Gael King of Dublin, Constantine II, King of Scots, and Owen I, King of Strathclyde...
in 937, and indeed Symeon of Durham does mention the presence of the "Cumbrians" at the battle.
The 14th century historian John Fordun wrote that during the reign of Constantine, the Scottish kings turned Strathclyde into an appanage kingdom whereby the designated heir or tanist would rule as a sub-king before becoming in his turn King of Alba upon the death of the designating king. Indeed, Fordun claims that Constantine II gave Owen his kingdom on this basis. If Owen was the designated heir of Constantine II, as some historians believe, he did not survive to outlive the Scottish king.