Caradoc, 'King' of Dumnonia
(Born c.AD 275)
(Welsh: Caradog; Latin: Caratacus; English: Caractacus)

Caradoc, if he existed at all, would not have been a king, but might have held some powerful office within the Roman administration of the mid-4th century. He apparently held sway over the Celtic Dumnonii tribe who lived in what is now Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, so perhaps he was a decurion in the main population centre in the region, at Isca Dumnoniorum (modern Exeter).

The 12th century author, Geoffrey of Monmouth, tells us that Caradoc was the trusted advisor of the supposed British 'High-King' (perhaps the Praeses of Britannia Prima) named Octavius the Old (alias Eudaf Hen). He thus became embroiled in many of the political intrigues of the period. It was Caradoc who persuaded Octavius to marry his only daughter to the then Senator, Magnus Maximus (known as Macsen Wledig by the Celtic peoples) and leave him the British High-Kingdom. Though, apparently none of his children survived him, his family is traditionally associated with the Caratacus Stone on Winsford Hill in Somerset. It reads 'Carataci nepus' or '(--------) the descendant of Caradoc'.