Dyfnwal ab Owain
Dyfnwal ab Owain (died 975) was a tenth-century King of Strathclyde. He was a son of Owain ap Dyfnwal, King of Strathclyde, and seems to have been a member of the royal dynasty of Strathclyde. At some point in the ninth- or tenth century, the Kingdom of Strathclyde expanded substantially southwards. As a result of this extension far beyond the valley of the River Clyde, the realm became known as the Kingdom of Cumbria. By 927, the kingdom seems to have reached as far south as the River Eamont.

Dyfnwal appears to have reigned between the 930s and the 970s. He is first attested in the 940s, when he is recorded associated with the ecclesiast Cathróe on the latter's journey to Continental Europe. At the midpoint of the decade, the Cumbrian kingdom was ravaged by the forces of Edmund, King of the English. Two of Dyfnwal's sons are said to have been blinded by the English, which could indicate that Dyfnwal had broken a pledge to his southern counterpart. One possibility is that he had harboured insular Scandinavian opponents of Edmund. The latter is recorded to have handed over control of the Cumbrian realm to Máel Coluim mac Domnaill, King of Alba. How much authority the Scots enjoyed over the Cumbrian realm is uncertain.

In 971, the reigning Cuilén mac Illuilb, King of Alba was slain by Rhydderch ap Dyfnwal. At some point after this act, Cuilén's eventual successor, Cináed mac Maíl Choluim, King of Alba, is recorded to have penetrated deep into Cumbrian territory, possibly as a retaliatory act. The following year, the reigning Edgar, King of the English held a remarkable assembly at Chester which numerous northern kings seem to have attended. Both Dyfnwal and his son, Máel Coluim, appear to have attended this assembly. The latter is styled King of the Cumbrians in the context of this meeting, which might indicate that Dyfnwal had previously abdicated the throne.

Dyfnwal is recorded to have died in 975 whilst undertaking a pilgrimage to Rome. Quite when he gave up the throne is unknown. One possibility is that Rhydderch had succeeded him before the killing of Cuilén. Another possibility is that the apparent retaliatory raid by Cináed marked the end of Dyfnwal's kingship. It is also possible that he held on to power until 973 or 975. In any event, Máel Coluim appears to have been succeeded by another son of Dyfnwal named Owain, who is recorded to have died in 1015. The later Owain Foel, King of Strathclyde, who is attested in 1018, may well be a grandson of Dyfnwal. Dyfnwal is likely the eponym of Dunmail Raise in England, and possibly Cardonald and Dundonald/Dundonald Castle in Scotland.
Q878854
King of Strathclyde
UNK
Q2316342
Owain ap Dyfnwal, King of Strathclyde
PER
Q225890
Kingdom of Strathclyde
LOC
Q19721
River Clyde
LOC
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Kingdom of Cumbria
LOC
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River Eamont
LOC
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Cathróe
PER
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Continental Europe
LOC
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Edmund, King of the English
PER
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Máel Coluim mac Domnaill, King of Alba
PER
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Cuilén mac Illuilb, King of Alba
PER
Q3613868
Rhydderch ap Dyfnwal
PER
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Cináed mac Maíl Choluim, King of Alba
PER
Q192925
Edgar, King of the English
PER
Q170263
Chester
Concept
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Máel Coluim
PER
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Rome
LOC
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Owain
Concept
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Owain Foel, King of Strathclyde
PER
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eponym
Concept
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Dunmail Raise
LOC
Q5038769
Cardonald
LOC
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Dundonald
LOC
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Dundonald Castle
LOC
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Dyfnwal ab Owain
PER
1015-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1015
DATE
1018-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1018
DATE
position held
child
child
child
child
date of death
floruit