Elidyr Llydanwyn, King of South Rheged
(Born c.AD 485)
(Welsh: Elidyr; Latin: Elidurus; English: Elider)

Rheged is generally understood to have been centred on Cumberland and Westmorland but is also believed to have once stretched southwards to cover Lancashire and perhaps even Cheshire, as the town of Rochdale in this area derives its name from an original Rheged-dale. Elidyr was a Rhegedian prince who has a line of descent recorded in ancient Welsh pedigrees. It seems likely that these people represent a line of kings ruling a portion of Rheged away from that of the elder branch of the family, who are known to have had their powerbase in the northern part of the kingdom. Elidyr is therefore proposed as the first independent King of South Rheged, inherited in the early 6th century from his father, King Meichion Gul of Greater Rheged. The kingdom would have been divided in the usual Celtic manner, with his elder brother, Cynfarch Oer, taking on North Rheged in parallel. South Rheged may perhaps have been centred on the old Roman towns of Ribchester and/or Lancaster. It is sometimes suggested that the kingdom was called Argoed because poems attributed to Elidyr's son say, "the men of Argoed have ever supported me". The name may survive at Argoed near Mold, although it is not an uncommon Welsh place-name, meaning Under the Wood. Little is known about Elidyr, although his epithet shows that he was Stout and Handsome. He was succeeded by his son, Llywarch Hen. Elidyr should not be confused with his contemporary and namesake, Prince Elidyr Mwynfawr of Strathclyde.