GWENDDOLEU AP CEIDIO

'Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio', (d.c. 573) was a British king whose realm existed in the western region of Northern Britain in the area around Hadrian's Wall and Carlisle during the British Sub-Roman period.
Genealogies make him a descendant of Coel Hen, who is believed to have ruled most or all of northern post-Roman Britain following the Roman withdrawal from the island. Gwenddoleu was therefore likely either the heir to one of the many successor states of Coel Hen's realm or could have been a usurper who claimed descent from Coel Hen to legitimize his family's claim to the region.
Little is known of his reign, but it ended when, as described in the Annales Cambriae, the sons of Eliffer, Peredur and Gwrgi, the joint kings of York, killed him at the Battle of Arfderydd in 573. This was one of many battles fought between British Kings who led the various fractured successor states that took over Britain following the Roman withdrawal.
Although Gwenddoleu plays no part in Arthurian legend, his court adviser Myrddin formed part of the basis for the Arthurian legends concerning the wizard Merlin. Myrddin is said to have been driven mad with grief following the death of Gwenddoleu and to have fled into the Caledonian forest.

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References

Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens