Merchiaun Gul (the Lean) Rheged, fl 510s-540s
Merchiaun appears in the old genealogies of the Men of the North as the son of Gurgust and brother of Eleuther. He may well be the same as the elder Morcant of the Votadini, although they are shown as cousins. We may imagine that there was considerable territorial conflict between the descendants of Coel as old tribal rivalries erupted. Merchiaun seems to have carved out for himself a kingdom in southern Cumbria, south of carlisle, including what is now the Lake District and parts of Lancashire. This would have brought him into conflict with Pabo and his on Dunaut. Merchiaun’s kingdom became one of the most powerful of the North, particularly under Merchiaun’s grandson Urien. He was succeeded by his son Elidyr.540