Cadafael ap Cynfeddw (reigned 634–c. 655), also known as Cadafael Cadomedd ('Battle-Shirker'), was a king of Gwynedd. Events The Arabs invade Palestine. ... Events November 15 - Northumbrian king Oswiu defeats the pagan Mercian king Penda in the Battle of Winwaed Empress Saimei ascends to the throne of Japan. ... Gwynedd was one of the kingdoms or principalities of medieval Wales. ...

Little is known about Cadafael's life until after the defeat and death of Cadwallon ap Cadfan at the Battle of Heavenfield in 634. Cadfael seized power in Gwynedd at the expense of Cadwallon's son Cadwaladr, who was still a child. Cadafael was apparently not of royal blood, as he is described in the Welsh Triads as one of the Three Peasant Kings of the Isle of Britain. Cadwallon ap Cadfan (c. ... The Battle of Heavenfield was fought in 633 or 634 between a Northumbrian army under Oswald of Bernicia and a Welsh army under Cadwallon ap Cadfan of Gwynedd. ... Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon ( 633–682, reigned from 655) (Latin: Catuvelladurus; English: Cadwallader), also known as Cadwaladr Fendigaid (the Blessed) was a king of Gwynedd. ... The Welsh Triads (Welsh, Trioedd Ynys Prydein) is used to describe any of the related Medieval collection of groupings of three that preserve a major portion of Welsh folklore and Welsh literature. ...

He was an ally of the Mercians under Penda and fought alongside them against the Northumbrians. He participated in Penda's great invasion of Northumbria in 655. Penda's army was defeated by Oswy near the river Winwaed. Cadfael and his army had marched for home the previous night and missed the battle. It is uncertain whether Cadafael was intentionally avoiding battle or was unaware that Oswy's forces were near, however the episode earned him the scornful nickname "Cadomedd" or "Battle-shirker". Mercia, sometimes spelled Mierce, was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon heptarchy, in what is now England, in the region of the Midlands, with its heart in the valley of the River Trent and its tributary streams. ... Stained glass window from the cloister of Worcester Cathedral showing the death of Penda of Mercia. ... Section from Shepherds map of the British Isles about 802 AD showing the kingdom of Northumbria Northumbria is primarily the name of an Anglian kingdom which was formed in Great Britain at the beginning of the 7th century, and of the much smaller earldom which succeeded the kingdom. ... Events November 15 - Northumbrian king Oswiu defeats the pagan Mercian king Penda in the Battle of Winwaed Empress Saimei ascends to the throne of Japan. ... The Battle of the Winwaed was fought on November 15, 655 between King Penda of Mercia and Oswiu of Bernicia, ending in the Mercians defeat and Pendas death. ...

Cadafael probably did not rule for long afterwards, although his fate is unknown. At some point during the next few years, he was replaced as king, and possibly killed, by Cadwaladr.

Cadwallon ap Cadfan (c. ... Gwynedd was one of the kingdoms or principalities of medieval Wales. ... Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon ( 633–682, reigned from 655) (Latin: Catuvelladurus; English: Cadwallader), also known as Cadwaladr Fendigaid (the Blessed) was a king of Gwynedd. ...