Peredur York, fl 560s-580.
Peredur was one of the great heroes of the north, in the battles between the British and the invading Angles. His explkoits passed into the legends around king Arthur, and his name later became inextricably linked with that of Sir Perceval. The real Peredur was the son of Eleuther and brother of Gwrgi. Eleuther seems to have established a strong kingdom in the territory around York, and with his sons developed one of the stronger defences against the Angles, who had been invading and settling in Northumbria since the middle of the sixth century (see Aelle and ida). The brothers also had to face expansion from British opportunists who were fighting over their own territories in northern Britain in the lands either side of Hadrian’s wall. In the century since the death of Coel only a few strong kings had emerged with sufficient authority to sustain and develop their lands. In most cases the kings were “tyrants,” as later chroniclers recalled them, leaders of war-bands who took what lands they might and, in the absence of money, traded in people. The slave trade between northern Britain and Ireland was what so angered St. Patrick (see Ceretic). Peredur was one of the stronger kings who sought to estabvlish authority and a rule of law across northern Britain. He was thwarted in his plans firstly by the renegade chieftain Gwenddolau. His father, Ceidiaw, had invated northern Rheged and the lands around Galloway, and seemd to be expanding into the territory of the Brigantes. Peredur and Gwrgi faced Gwenddolau and defeated him at the famous battle of Arfderydd, also known as Arthuret, which is dated to 573 AD (thought there is no reason to presume that date is wholly accurate). Defending their territories on both flanks must have been very difficult to Peredur and Gwrgi, and serves to emphasize what strong rulers they were. However they met their fate in 580 when they marched against the army of the Angles in Bernicia at Caer Greu, an unidentified site. Both Peredur and Gwrgi were killed. Peredur’s son, Gwgaun, who may also have fought in the battle and survived, is recorded as not taking up his inheritance. He may well have fled to any of the remaining British kingdoms, possibly either Rheged or elmet, but his fate is not known. After Peredur’s death, York came under the rule of the Angles.

The Arthurian Peredur has become so entwined with the story of the Holy Grail that it is difficult to sift out any genuine historical facts about him. Geoffrey of Monmough lists the rule of a Peredurus in his History, although places the king to at least 200 or even 300 BC. His his story Peredurus is the brother of Elidurus whom he deposes, ruling benignly in his stead, so much so that he was the best remembered of the sons of Morvidus. The general feeling remains that Peredur was revered as a strong king and one of the last great defenders of Britain.540