Cunobelinus (also written Kynobellinus, Cunobelin) was a historical king of the Catuvellauni tribe of pre-Roman Britain. He also appears in British legend as Cymbeline or Kymbeline (inspiration for William Shakespeare's tragedy, Cymbeline), and in Welsh, Kynvelyn or Cynfelyn.

History

Cunobelinus's name is known from passing mentions by classical historians Suetonius and Dio Cassius, but most of what we know of his life can only be pieced together from numismatic evidence.

He appears to have taken power in or around 9 BC from his father, Tasciovanus, who had conquered the neighbouring Trinovantes. The combined kingdom was ruled from the former Trinovantian capital, Camulodunum (Colchester).

He had three notable sons, Adminius, Togodumnus and Caratacus, and a brother, Epaticcus.

Epaticcus expanded his influence into the territory of the Atrebates in the early 20s AD, taking the Atrebatan capital Calleva (Silchester) by about 25. He continued to expand his territory until his death in about 35, when is nephew Caratacus took over from him and the Atrebates recovered some of their territory.

Adminius had control of Kent by this time, but in 40 he was driven from Britain, probably by his brothers, and sought refuge with the Roman emperor Caligula. Caligula planned an invasion of Britain, but called it off at the last minute.

Cunobelinus died about this time, succeeded by Togodumnus. Caratacus completed the conquest of the Atrebates, and their king, Verica, fled to Rome, providing the new emperor, Claudius, with a pretext for the the conquest of Britain.

Cunobelin's name lives on in England today. The group of villages in Buckinghamshire called the Kimbles are named after him.

Legend

Cymbeline was a legendary king of the Britons as accounted by Geoffrey of Monmouth. He was the son of King Tenvantius

Geoffrey 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. He had two sons, Guiderius, who succeeded him, and Arviragus.