Page "Duke of Cornwall" Paragraph 2

In some folkloric histories of the British Isles, the first leader of Cornwall is Corineus, a Trojan warrior and ally of Brutus of Troy, the original settler of the British Isles.

From this earliest period through the Arthurian period, the Duke of Cornwall is semi-autonomous if not independent from the Hi-King or ruler of Britain, while also serving as his closest ally and, at times, as his protector.

According to legend, Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall under King Uther Pendragon, rebelled against the latter's rule when the king became obsessed with Gorlois ' wife Igraine.

Uther killed Gorlois and took Igraine: the result of their union was the future King Arthur.

According to history, during the Dark Ages there existed an independent Kingdom of Cornwall but by c. 900 AD this had become an English dependency with its final native rulers using the title Earl of Cornwall.