Dunmail was the son of Owain who was one of the strongest Cumbrian kings whose reign probably started in about 920.
Owain was descended from the old Caesarian line of the kings of Strathclyde who by this time had lost power and influence due to attacks from Anglian invaders. Owain was keen to fight back and together with his uncle, King Constantine II of the Scots, plotted with the Vikings of Galloway and the Isles against the English king Athelstan, to whom they had previously sworn allegiance as King of all England. This led to a fierce battle on Burnswark, a flat topped mountain, near Ecclefechan in Galloway at which the English were victorious.
It is not known what happened to Owain after the battle but his son, Dunmail, seemingly did not learn from this experience and continued to wage war against the Vikings of Galloway and the Isles.
King Dunmail
King Edmund, the Saxon king who succeeded Athelstan on the English throne, sent an army to fight Dunmail and his men. Legend has it that the battle took place at Dunmail Raise.
Many believed that the crown of King Dunmail of Cumberland was charmed and gave its wearer succession to his kingdom. Thus Edmund of England coveted the crown and was determined that his army should capture it. However, when Dunmail could see that the battle was being lost, he gave his crown to his stalwarts crying, “My crown, bear it away; never let the Saxon flaunt it”. His trusted men evaded the English and fled to Grisdale Tarn where they thrust the crown to its depths “til Dunmail come again to lead us”.
At the end of the battle in which Dunmail died, Edmund, true to the barbarity of the times, put out the eyes of Dunmail’s two sons and gave the country to Malcolm, King of Scotland on condition that he maintain peace in the northern part of England.
Tasting Notes
A rich dark traditional best bitter at 4.2% Abv with the full flavour from cask dry hopped Northdown hops balancing the complex maltiness.