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The History of Glasgow by George MacGregor states that the battle of
Bassas apparently occurred close to what is now Glasgow Scotland.
Of Strathclyde kings, he writes "The first mentioned ruler is Cawn
or Caw, who is said to have been driven from his kingdom at the end of
the fifth century by the Picts, and who took refuge in the kindred principality
of Wales. At the commencement of the sixth century, Hoel, Coyle or Huail,
became king; but his reign was no more fortunate than that of his predecessor.
Tradition has it that the great King Arthur, whose exploits have been the
subject of the works of many quasi-historians and minstrels, obliged Hoel
to seek refuge in Anglesey, where he died in 508. Arthur, on the same authority,
established himself firmly in Strathclyde, fixing upon Alclywd as one of
his fortresses. This place, some say, was then called Castrum Arthuri;
while Stirling Castle is affirmed to be his 'round table'. Here he reigned
from 508 till his death in 542." Caw and Hueil are said to have been father
and son, and seem to have been minor kings opposed to Arthur, the Ard Righ
(High King). Arthur is said to have killed both Caw and his sons in battle.
The sons died first, not in Wales, but at Cambuslang, a site associated
with Nennius' sixth battle of his list of Arthur's twelve victories. When
Caw was later defeated he was buried alongside his sons. Another of Caw's
sons was reputedly Gildas whom pointedly does not mention Arthur or the
High Kingship, an office he would detest. Instead, he denounces Constantine
of Damnonia [Strathclyde] as killing royal youths and their guardians on
the site of a church, while wearing the habit of a holy abbot. Cambuslang
held an early church supposedly visited by both St.Cadoc and Gildas.
The Glasgow-Cambuslang area is the only convincing possible identification
for this battle. This place already has Arthurian associations as the burial
place of the great King's Northern British enemy, Caw. Perhaps he was killed
in the battle. Other proposals include the Lothian coast near Bass Rock;
Baschurch in Shropshire, Old Basing and an obscure identification with
the Battle of Cerdicesford, now Charford, both in Hampshire.
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