WI: Cadwallon survives

[Berserker]

I was reading something about a King of Gwynned who managed to conquer Northumbria. he ruled for two years intul he was killed in battle by King Oswald of Bernicia. he lived around 625 until his death in battle

what iff Cadwallon was victorious. could a Briton ruler of Northumbria. how would it affect the Saxons??

(small link included)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadwallon_ap_Cadfan

 

[Alex Richards]

Succession would split between his sons according to Welsh principles, and I suspect very strongly that the only reason we only know about one son is because there was only one major title to inherit (the other sons would probably have got private lands/money instead).

It's probably going to delay matters at most. Northumbria's just too far from the main Welsh power base, Mercia is interested in pushing them out, and Rheged's not got the strength to make the difference. Perhaps some later revolts by the Britons, or an earlier Saxon assault in Rheged, but it's not going to mean a particularly long lived Brythonic Northumbria.