There is no historical record of Cynan's early years as king, but his reign ended in a combination of natural disasters and military reverses. In 810, there was a bovine plague that killed many cattle throughout Wales. The next year
Deganwy, the ancient wooden court of
Maelgwn Gwynedd, was struck by lightning. A destructive war between Cynan and Hywel raged on Anglesey between 812 and 816, ultimately ending with Cynan's defeat and banishment. Cynan and Hywel are said to be brothers in historical works such as
John Edward Lloyd's
History of Wales, although Lloyd does not cite its source. The
Annals of Wales mention the pair only by name, without any title, relation, or
patronym. (In comparison, it takes care to point out the brotherly nature of
Elisedd's slaughter of
Gruffydd ap Cyngen in
Powys around the same time.) The
genealogies from Jesus College MS 20 deny Cynan and Hywel were brothers at all, instead making Hywel the son of
Caradog ap Meirion and a distant cousin of Cynan Dindaethwy son of Rhodri Molwynog. The
Harleian genealogies agree with this. Cynan died within a year of his exile according to the
Annals of Wales and the
Irish Annals. s After Cynan's death, there was a
battle at his former court at
Llanfaes on Anglesey noted by the chronicles, but the combatants are not identified. Cynan's daughter
Esyllt became the mother of
Merfyn Frych ap Gwriad, the first King of Gwynedd (c. 825 – c. 844) known not to have descended from the male line of
Cunedda and father of
Rhodri Mawr. == See also ==