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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padarn_BeisruddA Roman Governor - Paternus of the Red Robe
Padarn Beisrudd ap Tegid literally translates as
Paternus of the Scarlet Robe, son of Tegid. His father may have borne the Roman name of Tacitus. Padarn is believed to have been born in the early 4th century in the Old North of
Roman Britain. According to
Old Welsh tradition, his grandson,
Cunedda certainly came from Manaw
Gododdin, the modern
Clackmannanshire region of
Scotland.
One traditional interpretation identifies Padarn as a
Roman official of reasonably high rank who had been placed in command of
Votadini troops stationed in
Clackmannanshire in the 380s or earlier by the Emperor
Magnus Maximus. Alternatively, he may have been a frontier chieftain in the same region who was granted Roman military rank, a practice attested elsewhere along the empire's borders at the time.
His command in modern Scotland likely lasted till his death and was then assumed by his son
Edern. Edern was the father of
Cunedda, founder of the
Kingdom of Gwynedd.
The coat of Padarn Redcoat is one of the
Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain.
The Life of Saint
Padarn contains a story about how
King Arthur tried to steal his tunic, which suggests a link or borrowing of a legend connected with Padarn Redcaot.