Clotenus

Minor Spiritwell-documentedGeoffrey of Monmouth traditionmedieval pseudo‑historical king‑listsBritainCornwall (in some lists)

Clotenus is a legendary/pseudohistorical king of the Britons attested in Geoffrey of Monmouth's tradition and in later medieval compilations of British king‑lists. He appears as a named ruler in succession lists (dated to 209 BC in Geoffrey's chronology) and occasionally as a regional king (e.g., described as 'king of Cornwall' in one later compilation).

Origin

Clotenus does not have an independent mythic origin or life‑story in the provided sources; he appears as an entry in Geoffrey of Monmouth's constructed chronology of British kings and in subsequent compilations that adopted Geoffrey's sequence. In Geoffrey's framework he is placed in a dated chronology (coming to power in 209 BC) and functions as one node in a chain of rulers created to provide Britain with an ancient continuous lineage. Later compilers and chroniclers preserved his name within lists of successive kings, sometimes assigning him a regional title (for example, a later list names him 'king of Cornwall').

Appearance

No physical description, iconography, clothing, or personal attributes for Clotenus are recorded in the supplied materials. The sources present him solely as a nominal figure in regnal lists and chronologies rather than through narrative portraits or visual depiction.

Abilities

The sources attribute no supernatural powers, magical abilities, or extraordinary feats to Clotenus. His recorded 'abilities' are limited to the political function implicit in king‑list entries: his coming to power at a specified point in Geoffrey's chronology (209 BC) and his role as a dynastic/regional ruler within the pseudo‑historical schema. There are no deeds, policies, or actions preserved in the excerpts beyond his placement in succession sequences and an occasional regional designation.

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C(Cassivellaunu…CClotenus
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Related Entities
Cassivellaunus (tradition)
Lesser

Cassivellaunus (tradition)

Cassivellaunus is a historical mid-1st century BC British military leader attested in Julius Caesar's account of the 54 BC expedition, later adapted in medieval Latin and Welsh literature into a legendary king (Cassibelanus / Caswallawn). He functions in sources both as a documented anti‑Roman commander and as a mytho‑historical ruler used to articulate lineage, sovereignty, and resistance.

Community Record

Sources
  1. [1]
    Clotenus — Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 'Clotenus' entrywiki
  2. [2]
    Wikidata: Q2417433. Wikidata entry for Clotenusother
  3. [3]
    Geoffrey of Monmouth — Kings of Britain (appendix lists). Geoffrey of Monmouth king‑lists (ancienttexts transcript)literary
  4. [4]
    Geoffrey of Monmouth — Kings of Britain (maryjones transcript). Geoffrey of Monmouth king‑lists (maryjones transcript)literary
  5. [5]
    Pseudohistorical Kings of Britain (compiled lists and commentary). Pseudohistorical kings of Britain, compiled lists and commentaryliterary
  6. [6]
    Pseudohistorical Kings of Britain (maryjones). Pseudohistorical kings of Britain (maryjones)literary
  7. [7]
    Compendium of World History - Vol. 1 (chapter on British regnal lists). Compendium of World History, chapter summarizing Geoffrey‑derived listsother
  8. [8]
    Raphael Holinshed, The Historie of England (excerpt). Holinshed, The Historie of England (chronicle excerpt citing Geoffrey‑derived lists)literary
  9. [9]
    Electronic Sawyer — charter snippet (name occurrence). Electronic Sawyer entry including the name in a different contextother
  10. [10]
    Kingdoms of British Celts - Prydein / High Kings of Britain (king lists). Compiled king‑lists referencing Geoffrey traditionother
well-documented