A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Cartandis
CARTANDIS,
This is but a variation of the name Cartismandua, and the history of the queen to whom it was applied "forms a striking episode in the life of Maximus the Roman, who ruled in Britain in the fourth century. She was the" wife of Eugenius, the first King of Scots, a princess of the blood royal of Wales, and is cited as an instance of connubial affection."
Thus, says Mrs. Hall, in her interesting work on "the Queens before the Conquest," to which we are much indebted.
Eugenius having been slain in a battle fought against Maximus, who had invaded Scotland, his remains were consigned to the earth under another form of religion than that of his sorrowing widow, who, distressed with apprehension for the repose of his soul, remained constantly on the spot of his burial, occupying herself with prayers and devotions in behalf of his departed spirit. While she and some other noble ladies, like herself bereaved and distressed, were thus performing what they considered to be a pious duty, they were rudely interrupted by the Picts, who insisted on their obeying the edict of banishment from that part of the kingdom, promulgated by Maximus against the Scotch; accompanying their demands with insult and violence. Cartandis having complained to the conqueror of this usage, he out of compassion for grief and misfortunes, determined to protect her, and punish her molesters, and did so, notwithstanding that it nearly caused a breach with his Pictish allies, who insisted that she should be sent out of the country. She was suffered to remain to choose her own residence, and a maintenance was assigned to her commensurate with her royal birth and dignity.