The 'Historia Britonum' of Nennius (or Mark) says (King) Arthur fought a series of 12 battles against the Saxons. These 12 battles are actually only 9 battle sites because battles 2-5 were fought at a same site.
A few years ago we made the discovery that the 9 battle sites of Arthur in the HB of Nennius/Mark match the 9 Saxon Shore sites between Great Yarmouth and Portsmouth. The 9 sites all match in names/meanings, natures/geographies/details and numbers/order. Because the 9 sites all match all in numbers and order there seems very little doubt to us that the match could be wrong. In looking at any one of the 9 battle sites matches it is always important to this point (that all 9 sites match all in numbers order) in front.
According to the HB of Nennius/Mark, Arthur's 7th battle but 4th battle-site was in 'Silva Celidonis' / 'Caill Caillidoin' (or 'Cat Coit Celidon' / 'Cait Coit Cledumain'). Celidon is linked with Arthuret in the Welsh Annals, and some scholars also consider the HB battle(site) to be linked with 'Cat Godeu' of the Triads, and/or with the 'Celli' battle(site) of the Pa Gur.
Before we discuss the details of this battle site's match with our Saxon Shore site it is necessary to give this following list of 25 identification details of Celidon Wood from the sources that mention it. These details help us to work out what the true location is.
Name '(Silva) Celidon' (HB)
Second name / called '((Cat) Coit) Celidon' (HB)
Meaning of name Celidon
Is a wood/forest (HB, HRB)
In a triad of settlements (HB, O'Toole)
Number/order 4th of 9 or 7th of 12 (HB)
A battle fought there, & was a victory (HB, LF, HRB)
Arthur & Britons were/fought there (HB, HRB, LF, PG)
Fought against Saxons from Germany / every province (HB, LF)
Fought specifically Kentishmen (HB, Collingwood, Jackson, Evans)
Date before Ida ["547"] (HB)
Is "history" (HB, HRB)
Is in "(the island of) Britain" (HB, HRB)
Written by Nennius who also wrote the Wonders (HB)
Was near Linnuis (HB, HRB, Thompson, Collingwood, Jackson)
In the north-east half of the 9 battle sites (HRB, Brynjulfson).
Guinnion was in Celidon (Irish source).
London on left, Celidon on right (HRB)
Was not far from Arthuret (AC)
Connected with Merlin (AC)
Linked with 'Cad Godeu' of the Triads
Linked with 'Celli' of the 'Pa Gur'
Celidoine associated with Galafort
Tristan & Iseut exile in Celyddon
Culhwch son of Celyddon Wledig.
We found that this Celidon battle site certainly seems to match the
vicinity of Kit's Coty & Coldrum in the Medway area, and the Weald
forest in Kent.
The Caledon Name(s).
Many people adamantly assert that Caledon/Celidon can only have been in Caledonia (Scotland) because this is supposedly the only place having this name. However when one studies the origins and history of the name Caledonia(n) one finds that the name was not necessarily originally and/or always only used for the northern "Caledonia(ns)". We discuss the origins and meaning more below. Aside from the place name, Arthur is specifically said to have fought invading "(West) Saxons" and "specifially Kentishmen", and to have driven them out of the island, and it is simply improbable and unstrategic for Arthur to have been fighting Saxons in the (far) North (west). At the estimated time of Arthur's battles the Saxons are stated to have mainly only been in the south-east quarter of Britain between the Wash and the Solent. There were not any much Saxons in the North except for the Northumbrian Angles of Lothian, and these were after the time of Ida while Arthur's battle are stated to have been before or down to the time of Ida.
Our location in Kent has names matches for both of the names given in the HB text. For the name 'Silva Celidonis' we note that it is said that the Weald is considered to more or less be the same as the 'Sylvas Caledonias' / 'Caledonia Sylva' of Caesar's invasion in Florus and also in some other pre- (& post-) Nennius sources. Caesar is said to have not gone much further than Wallingford on the Thames. It is known that the Romans didn't reach Caledonia in Scotland until the time of Agricola. Pliny said that about 30 yrs of the Roman invasion the Roman's knowledge of Britain didn't extend beyond the Caledonian forest, but it is uncertain & disputable where this forest was. "The exact location of what the Romans called Caledonia in the early stages of Britannia is uncertain...." "... the name was also used by the Romans, prior to their conquest of the southern and central parts of the island, to refer to the whole island of Great Britain." Several Roman sources including Claudian and Martial seem to use "Caledonian (bears)" for the Britons/British (forests) generally and/or (all) Britain/Britannia. Kent & Caledonia maybe have sort-of anolgous similar shapes/forms/positions: "... according to Tacitus, it bears that figure [an oblong shield or battle axe] on the side of Caledonia, the comparison was extended to the whole island, though the bold promontories at its further extremity give it the shape of a wedge." "Caledonian promontory". "Ptolemy's expression is obscure; but he was evidently led to this supposition by the notion that Caledonia or Scotland trended to the east, as appears from his latitudes and longitudes. This form, therefore, he not unaptly compares to the inverted Z."
"Extremitas Caledoniae" could imply either/both northern extremity &/or south-eastern extremity? Lucan seems to use Caledonian in close connection with Rutupi/Richborough and/or the Southern Britons. ("Rutupi was thought to be a wood".)
To further strengthen the connection it is of importance to find-out what the historical etymological origins and meaning of the name Caledon/Celidon is. The name is variously written Celidon/Calidon/Celidan/Calydon/Celydon/Celyzon/Cilidin / Celyddon / Caillidoin / Cleiduman / Celidoine/Caledoniae / Celidonis/Calidonis/Callidonis / Caledonica. Unfortunately the etymology of the name is uncertain or disputed. However, some of the suggested meanings of the name may support our identification of Celidon with the Weald. "This association with a Silva (literally the flora) reinforces the idea that Caledonia was a forest or forested area named after the Caledonii, or that the people were named after the woods in which they dwelt."
Some scholars suggested that Caledon/Celidon is connected with celli "(... in the) wood(s), grove" (compare Bryn-celli-ddu), called "thistle stalks", cel(ydd) "(a woody) shelter, a sheltered place, a retreat, woody retreat", coledon "hasels", and/or calyddon/calydon "coverts, thickets" (maybe compare gwaret "shelter"?), but other scholars claim this is not possible. The coverts/retreat meaning could possibly have some truth despite critics claims because in connection with the Sylvas Caledonias of Caesar's invasion there is this quote from the ASC: "Then fled the Britons to the fastnesses of the woods". Some sources say the Weald was like a refuge for Britons, and/or (South) Saxons, and outlaws. ("477 ... some in flight they drove into the wood that is called Andred'sley." "... the remains of widespread woods, which were once part of that great forest which for so long held the Saxon invaders at bay--the impenetrable 'weald', for 60 years the bulwark of Britain." - Sir AC Doyle.) Perhaps also compare that the name of the Scots might be linked with ysgodion "shades, coverts", and compare (i)scuit "shield" or (i)scuid "shoulder(s)" of Guinnion [Dover], and Brutus "Green Shield"? Also/alternatively it might be possible that the "thistle stalks" meaning could link with the stakes/pikes that the Britons used to fend off Caesar's forces? The words coille dur "wooded river" are also possibly similar to Caledon/Celidon, and it would fit with our site in the Medway river area?
Caledon is considered by orthodox scholars to perhaps be connected with the word kal-/kaled/caled/caledo/caletv "hard" (as also suggested for Excalibur), *caletonus "great hardy one(s)", combined with qpedo "foot" to give a meaning of "possessing hard feet, alluring to stand fastness or endurance". (Other words that Caledon might possibly be connected with are callidus "clever, cunning, canny", or calidum "hot, fiery"?) Some have suggested that the "hard" meaning might relate to "rocky land" (and the remnant northern Caledonian Forest is also said to be in steep rocky places), and this could possibly connect with the Downs and cliffs of Kent, or with the Medway megaliths? Compare the "hoary rock in the wood", the "Saxon rock". Alternatively, perhaps even the hard meaning could connect with the iron of the Weald of East Sussex? "Irish records preserve the notion that the Battle of Guindoin was within the Caledonian Forest". The "Caledonian wood" is the Weald, and Guinnion/Guindoin is Dover/Dubris. The proposed "stand fastness" and "rock(y)" meanings of Celidon might have a connection with Dun Chailleann "fort of the Caledonii" which may match Dover as the site of fort Guinnion of the HB and fort Eidyn of the PaGur. In addition the mountain Sidh Chailleann / Schiehallion "fairy hill of the Caledonians" also seemingly may match Dover as the site of Guinnion and "Snowdon/Isneldone/Sinadon" and "Arthur's Seat / Ard-na-said". Perhaps the name Clydno Eidyn is related to Caledon?
It is said that the suggested "hard" etymology of 'Caledonian' has some uncertainty linguistically. There might be a possibility that the name Caledon (of Caesar's invasion) might be a corruption of Cassivellaun(us) / Cadwallon / Chalons/Catalaunian/Catalaunum/Catu-vellaunian and the Cassii, and/or his capital Camulodunum? The name Caledon is also similar to Chalcedon, and it is interesting coincidence that white chalcedony could match white Dover and the Downs (Guinnion & "Snowdon").
Other possibile cadidates in the south-east might be the Celtae, or the Galedin "Belgae"? Tacitus said Caledonians may have had German origins, which could point to the south-east?
The first word 'silva' of the HB battle site is also found in other names for the Weald of 'Anderida Silva' / 'Sylva Anderida' & 'Sylva Eeaglis'. It should also be noted that the various forests of England were once more connected with each other than they have been since later medieval times, and the Weald was likely connected with other forests to the west and the north such as Calleva/Silchester (name from celli "wood"), Selwood which was called Silva magna / Coit mawr. (The Weald itself is thought to have once extended from Kent through Sussex to Hampshire.)
In the HB and the HRB the kings of the Romans and/or (kings of) the Britons are called Silvan. Brutus son of Sylvius, "of the race of Silvanus"; "he was called Silvius [Posthumus] because he was born in a wood". This also seems to point to the London, Weald and Downs area. Possibly also the Silures of South Wales might also confirm our southern location?
The HRB of Geoffrey of Monmouth also says that London is on the left and Caledon wood is on the right. This seems to fit with our location, especially since in Welsh &/or Latin there is chwith/left/north, sinistralis/aquilonaris/north, deheu/right/south, dextralis/meridionalis.
For the second name 'Cat Coit Celidon' this is only in an extra last few words in some versions and it might only be a scribal gloss and not be original. However if we assume that the extra words have a genuine connection with the original info then it is noted that our location also has a good seeming match for this second name too. 'Cat Coit (Celidon)' of the HB means "battle wood (Celidon)", and incidentally 'Cat Godeu' of the Triads has similar meaning of "army of trees", and both these seem to match our site 'Kit's Coty (House)' which is said to be from "The Kit element has been interpreted as Categern or Battle and Coty as Wood, Coits or Stones and Small Cottage" and/or from keiton "(tomb in the) forest". Chatham's etymology is also connected with coit "wood/forest".
The Celidon part of the name might be connected with Coldrum in the same area. (Perhaps compare Culdremne 561? The Culdees might possibly be connected with Celidon?) Kit's Coty House and Coldrum are linked with each other by a continuous line of stones according to local tradition, and also linked by Pilgrim's Way.
Some scholars do connect Cad Goddeu with Tacitus and the Roman invasion (ref 'Celestial Elf').
[My old notes are abit uncertain on this but there may also be a Caldicot/Caledon/Caldigecot/Cold Isle Cottage/Cil-y-coed "retreat of the wood" not too far away (in Kent)? And/or a Calehiu? There is also a Colton at Dover.]
Kit's Coty is traditionally supposed to be named from Catigern and the latter name is similar to Kentigern which is similar to Kynedyr Wyllt which is almost the same as Kyledyr Wyllt which is somewhat similar to Caledon and Weald? The 3 names of 'Merlin Silvestris' & 'Merlinus Caledonensis/Celidonius' & 'Merlin Wylt' also possibly link the names (Silva) Celidonis & Weald?
"Merlin met Kentigern near a wood". Kentigern is maybe similar to either/both Kent and/or Categirn (Kit's Coty)? Kentigern and Dubricius are linked together in the Welsh Annals entry immediately before the city of the legion entry.
The Brunanburh poem maybe uses the word "weald" for the northern Caledonian forest? (The battle of Brunanburh seems to have probably been somewhere between Stanwix/Carlisle and Tarn Wadling?)
Although some people dislike lists it seems important to give a list of candidate matches for our Celidon battle site (matching Kit's Coty / Coldrum / Weald in Kent) in many traditional Arthurian-related sources. Some of these sources sites we suggest are the same sites in different sources, but some sites that are in different places may only be analogous later memory.namesakes. (So we are not saying for example that Dumbarton is literally the same place as Dover, but rather than the traditional name etc of Dumbarton is a later memory copy of the earlier Dover site.) The Scilly and Michael's Mount and Dinas Emrys one excellently prove our contention that the later Britons of the West and North certainly had remnant memory copies of earlier Arthurian sites in the south-east. (Note that the rock and wood seemingly match Dover/Guinnion and Weald.) It is important to note that we discovered that the 9 battle sites set in the HB seem to match with some other sets of sites in other Arthurian sources such as the 9 battles of the PaGur, the 11 Consuls, the 12 Monasteries, Gwallawg's battles, etc, with the numbers and orders generally corresponding between the lists.
'Silva Celidonis' / 'Cat Coit Celidon' (4th/7th of 9/12, HB)
"Caledon right, London left" (HRB)
"Guinnion was in Celidon wood" (Irish records)
'Coed Celyddon' (Tristan & Iseut)
Celyddon Wledig (Culhwch & Olwen)
Celidoine (Galafort)
Dun Chailleann "fort of the Caledonii"
Mt Sidh Chailleann / Schiehallion "fairy hill of the Caledonians"
'sylva caledonia' / 'caledonian sylva' of Caesar's invasion (Florus, Tacitus, Lucan, Martial, Pliny)
Arthuret & Caledon woods 563 (AC)
'Merlin Wylt' / 'Merlin Caledonensis' / 'Merlin Silvestris'
Culdees (Fife)?
Kyledyr Gwyllt (Culhwch & Olwen)
"Lailoken/Merlin was meet by Kentigern/Mungo near a wood".
'Cad Goddeu' (1st of 3, Triads)
Colguan (5th of 12 Monasteries)?
"Celli/Kelli lost, Cuelli found" (3rd of 9, PG)
Bryn-celli-ddu (Angelsey)?
Guinevere at Celliwig "forest grove" (KA's lost court, "Cornwall", Triads)
Anaraut of Salisbury (3rd of 11 Consuls, HRB)?
Carausius (4th of 9 Emperors list in the HB)?
'wood Beit' & hunter Mabon (Gwallawg's battles, Taliesin)
"a vast/lofty wood-clad/insulated rock" (Dinas Emrys)
"hoary rock in the wood" (Scilly/Lyonesse)
"the grey/hoar rock in the woodland" (St Michael's Mt)
"enclosed in a thick wood" (St Michael's Mt)
"Fine hunting grounds of Arestal" & 'Saxon Rock' (Vulgate cycle)?
"se nemus & castle of Stirling" (seals, Sibbald 1707? Will of Worcs?)
"the green woodland" (Fethanleag / Wigracester, 583/584/586)?
silve Bradon / forest of Bradon / Braydon wood (Swindon)?
'Sylva Eegalis' (Weald, Somner)
'Anderida Silva' (Weald)
Andredesleag
Kit's Coty house & Coldrum (3rd/4th of 9, actual historical/modern site)?
