Cunobelin
Cunobelin, also known as Cymbeline (Welsh: Kynvelyn, Latin: Cunobelinus), was a legendary king of the Britons as accounted by Geoffrey of Monmouth and was king of the Catuvellauni tribe of Celts according to Roman records. He was the son of King Tenvantius and he ruled Britain in a time when Rome controlled Britain politically. William Shakespeare's tragedy, Cymbeline, is based on his life.
Monmouth writes in his Historia Regum Britanniae that Cymbeline was a powerful warrior raised in the courts of Emperor Augustus and his country was equipped with Roman weapons. It continues further stating that Cymbeline was very friendly with the Roman court and all tributes to Rome were paid out of respect, not out of requirement.
Adverse to Monmouth's writings, other accounts state that under the leadership of Cunobelin and his son, Caratacus, the Catuvellauni became involved in many conflicts with local tribes. He was a powerful enemy of Rome and gave financial assistance to the druids of Anglesey, who at the time were a strong anti-Roman force. He also gave refuge to warriors from Romanised Gaul. It was due to the legendary strength of Cunobelin that the Emperor Caligula of Rome called off his planned invasion in 40AD.
In the same year, Cunobelin engineered the ouster of the pro-Roman king of the Atrebates, Verica. Verica fled to Rome, where he appealed to the Emperor Claudius for assistance. This appeal was a key factor in the decision of Claudius to invade Britain, and the invasion took place in 43AD, shortly after Cunobelin's death. These reports differ for unknown reasons.
Cymbeline reigned for as little as ten years or as long as 32. He is said to have handed his septre to his son, Togodumnus, although he had two other known sons: Caratacus and Arvirargus.
Cunobelin's name lives on in England today. The group of villages in Buckinghamshire called the Kimbles are named after him.
