Constantine (Cornish: Costentyn; Welsh: Custennin) was an early 6th century king of Dumnonia in south-western Britain, sometimes identified with a saint of the same name.
All that is known for certain about Constantine comes from the writings of Gildas, who calls him "the unclean whelp of the lioness of Dumnonia"[1].[citation needed] Dumnonia is assumed to be a reference to the south-west, rather than a similarly named kingdom which may have emerged in what is now Scotland. Gildas rebukes Constantine for having "put away" his wife in order to commit numerous adulteries. Furthermore, after swearing to make peace with his enemies, he disguised himself as an abbot, entered the church where two youths had sought sanctuary and murdered them on the steps of the altar. Sir Constantine, also called Constantine III of Britain, King Arthur's successor, may be based on this king. He first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's 12th century pseudo-history Historia Regum Britanniae, where he murders the sons of Mordred in a similar fashion.
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References
- Doble, Gilbert H. (1962) The Saints of Cornwall. Part 2: Saints of the Lizard District; pp. 15-24 Saint Constantine. Truro: Dean & Chapter
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