#kingdom of dyfed

[gawrkin]

Enter Cynyr Ceinfarfog, father of Sir Kay in Welsh Tradition: [Links 1, 2]

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So the closest historical analogue to Sir Antor/Ector rules over a kingdom likely to have Irish roots - the Deisi, no less - hence the potential for Kay to have an Irish heritage.

Arthur can have foster sisters who are Saints (loose as British Christianity as it is)

Little known fact that Cynyr foresaw his son's supernatural abilities beforehand. With the wording in Culhwch and Olwen ("If there is any part of me in your son, maiden..."), the implication is that Cynyr has supernatural abilities too.

It should be noted that Dyfed's neighboring province is Carmethenshire, Merlin's town. The simple mundanity of Merlin crossing the Bristol Channel from Tintagel to his house and then giving baby Arthur to his next-door neighbor and calling it a day XD

It is also noted that Southern Wales in general is the setting of Arthur's Court in a lot of the pre-vulgate material, with Caerleon-on-Usk being his usual capital, and Cardigan his other hangout.

[mgakwentongbayan]

Manawydan, Son of Llŷr

“Manawydan, Son of Llŷr” is another captivating tale from “The Mabinogion,” the collection of Welsh medieval legends. The story follows the adventures and trials of Manawydan, the son of Llŷr, a powerful figure in Welsh mythology. Here’s an abridged version of the story: After the tragic events of “Branwen, Daughter of Llŷr,” Manawydan, the son of Llŷr and brother of Branwen, returned to Britain…

[suzannahnatters]

Some weirdly specific tropes that I absolutely adore but rarely see: Platonic Love Triangle Two attractive people will battle to the death over the right to be friends with you (I wrote this in A Day of Darkness and otherwise have only seen it in the kdrama Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938)

The UnChosen One In the magical fantasy world, everyone has super awesome magical powers, except the protagonist (A Dream of Fire by JR Rasmussen did this SO WELL and it made me SO HAPPY; I also plan to do it myself in an upcoming project, A Lord of Thorns and Teeth)

Dying Baby King Terminally ill teen boy should be asking out his crush and having fun, not killing himself running a country (I wrote this in The Lady of Kingdoms with my squishy darling Baldwin IV, and I've only ever seen it done otherwise in the Trevor Nunn movie My Lady Jane)

Disabled Love Interest Put your romantic male lead in a wheelchair you cowards (Stella Dorthwany's Song and Flame and @rj-anderson's Knife have two of the best disabled love interests I've seen)

Sword in the Bed You've heard of Only One Bed but this is the superior medieval variant: before they bunk down together one of them draws a naked sword and lays it in the bed between them (IIRC, it happens in the Welsh Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed, and apart from that and some other medieval legends and fairytales, I've only seen it in an unfinished work by @rj-anderson auuuugh)

Fake Divorced Exactly what it says on the tin (I've never seen this? but DV I'll be writing it into the 5th Miss Dark book)

Bad Fictional Matriarchy What if the patriarchy was a fantasy matriarchy? It'd still be bad, obviously. I see this so rarely but it is always an opportunity for fantastic, layered social criticism (Greta Gerwig's Barbie movie did it well; I'm struggling to recall the one (1) other fantasy novel I read that did it!)

Sad Wet Puppy X Righteous Female Warrior ETL Enemies-to-lovers, but he's a skinny waterlogged little weirdo and she's the righteous paladin who is going to hound him to his destruction without mercy on the strength of her own heavenly wrath (it's the one thing in common between the kdrama Flower of Evil and the cdrama Till the End of the Moon and both of them sent me absolutely feral, plus I have an untitled project on the backburner that will give me the chance to do my own version of this...)

[nanshe-of-nina]

Women’s History Meme || Mistresses (4/10) ↬ Nest ferch Rhys (c. 1085 – c. 1136)

She was the daughter of one king and the lover of another; the matriarch of a powerful dynasty and the cause of conflict and war. While most of her countrywomen lived out their lives in quiet obscurity, Nest, Princess of Dyfed, became a legend. She lived through one of the most exciting and dynamic periods of Welsh and English history, and was herself an influence upon its events. Her life provides a rare opportunity to explore the role of women in early Wales and the impact upon it of the Norman invaders. She was born into an extraordinary time. Her father, Rhys ap Tewdwr, was king of Deheubarth, the kingdom which extended over south-west Wales, and enjoyed considerable influence throughout all Wales. Yet he had very nearly not become king at all, and throughout his reign he had the strange distinction of being the only king in Wales to hold his kingdom undisturbed by the new neighbours who were occupying England. He had become king in the early years of the Norman Conquest of England, and survived through diplomacy and the policy of William the Conqueror, but on the death of William in 1087, Norman policy changed. The new king of England, William Rufus, needed to secure the loyalty of his aristocracy with land grants and promises of booty. Casting aside the treaty forged by Rhys and his father, he allowed his barons to invade the whole of Wales. Nest, perhaps still a young child, lost her father in battle. Her brother, Gruffudd, fled into exile in Ireland, while Nest fell into the hands of the new lords of south Wales. Up to this point, she must have expected her life to follow the usual pattern for Welsh women of royal blood – marriage to an ally of her father, and a life travelling with her husband’s entourage and bearing his children. The fall of Rhys changed all of this. Her captors, the earl of Shrewsbury and his son, Arnulf, the new earl of Pembroke, probably sent her into their English lands to be raised under their power. It was a journey that would determine the rest of her life. — Princess Nest of Wales: Seductress of the English by Kari Maund

[aneurinallday]

The Four Branches of the Mabinogion

The First Branch: Pwyll and Rhiannon

Prince Pwyll encounters a mysterious maiden, who evades him until he finally calls out to her. Her name is Rhiannon. They marry and have a son, but the newborn vanishes and is presumed dead. Rhiannon is falsely accused of the crime, but Pwyll refuses to accept her guilt. Eventually, they were reunited with their lost child, Pryderi, thus proving Rhiannon's innocence and vindicating Pwyll.

The Second Branch: Bran and Branwen

Brân the Blessed, king of Britain, is visited by a starling. The starling carries a message from his sister Branwen, telling him that her husband, the Irish king Matholwch, is abusive. Brân and his army set sail to Ireland to rescue his sister and have revenge on Matholwch. Brân is slain by a poisoned spear, and Branwen dies from heartbreak.

The Third Branch: Manawydan

Only seven British warriors survive the war with Ireland. Pryderi offers the throne to his friend Manawydan, along with his mother Rhiannon's hand in marriage. Manawydan and Rhiannon are happily married, and along with Pryderi and his wife Cigfa, lift a curse afflicting the kingdom of Dyfed.

The Fourth Branch: Math, son of Mathonwy

In the kingdom of Gwynedd, the lady Arianrhod is ashamed at losing her virginity. She curses her son to never have a name and never bear arms; but her brother, the magician Gwydion, tricks her into giving the boy a name (Lleu) and a weapon.

Angry at being deceived, she places a third curse on the boy: that he can never have a human wife. Gwydion makes Lleu a wife out of flowers, and names her Blodeuwedd, but Blodeuwedd falls for another man instead and tries to murder Lleu. Lleu has revenge on those who betrayed him, and becomes ruler of Gwynedd, since Arianrhod was the niece of King Math.

(originally posted June 17 2024)

[becausegoodheroesdeservekidneys]

What did hywel dda's kids do? (Sorry if this sent twice tumblr keeps thinking im a robot)

Yeah we've all been there

Okay so the issue is Old to Medieval Welsh inheritance laws. Post-Romans, Wales was split into a handful of kingdoms, Saxons having a go in the east (and failing lol, get mountained idiots), and all the engineers who remembered how to make hypocaust central heating were gone. And then along comes Hywel Dda, with a dream and also an army.

He's already king in his own kingdom, right, but his brother dies and leaves him Seisyllwg which he joins with Dyfed to create Deheubarth; he also Gwynedd and Powys from his nephews, this giving him the north. As a final flourish, he forges an alliance with a Saxon king, and thus gets Gwent and Glywysing; meaning, in short, that for the first time in history, the actual country of Wales is formed and united under one ruler. He was, very literally, the first King of Wales.

And what he does with that power is amazing. Proper golden era shit. He enacts the Laws of Hywel Dda, a legal system based on compensation and rehabilitation, to tackle crime in place of the "Just hang them" system - it's a justice system that's notable for its incredibly progressive protections and rights for women, in fact, because the rest of Europe was LACKING in that regard. He makes it illegal for someone to be charged for stealing bread, as long as they were 'starving' i.e. had passed through two towns without eating before the theft. He commences progressive healthcare systems. He starts projects to educate the masses. He does many fabulous and wonderful things, and probably gives great head.

And then he dies and, in accordance with Welsh inheritance laws, splits Wales back into three kingdoms to give a piece each to his three sons, and Gwynedd is reclaimed by the nephews, and that's that.

Well. It was nice while it lasted.

[thelearnedsoldiertoo]

Aífe of the Érainn

Fabulous work by @cadhla182 on this commission of my Pendragon OC, Aífe of the Érainn!

For those who don't know, Pendragon is an older game system based around playing knights and nobles in King Arthur's Court(or those of his father, King Uther). Aífe here is a bit of an anomaly; she's an knighted Irishwoman in a court of Britons, she prefers to fight with a bow instead of sword or spear, she's not particularly invested in fair play or honourable combat(she WILL get the pocket sand out if she needs to!), and, perhaps most galling of all, she's a *gasp* former commoner--she came to Britain as a common soldier; part of the Buanna of the Tara Kings, raiding the western coast and lending aid to the Kingdom of Dyfed(ruled by Irish Kings), and her service to the British King began more by coercion than by choice--though a lot can change in the bonds of battle!

I absolutely adore how she came out, Cadhla, and am delighted to have another piece by you! ^-^

[throwawayfornotes]

Episode 1 Notes:

1. Mari Lwyd (Grey Mare) refers to the (South) Welsh tradition during Christmastime wherein a person carrying a horse's skull on a pole visits houses and sings, asking for permission to enter etc. Example of part of a Mari Lwyd song here: museum.wales/collections/folksongs/?id=2. The Mari Lwyd here is horned and not on a pole because dreams are strange like that.

2. 'Yr Arglwyddi Dyfed' = the Lords of Dyfed/the Dyfed Lords. Dyfed can refer to multiple things but here I'm referencing the medieval kingdom as it is in the First Branch of the Mabinogion. Arglwydd, similar to English's lord, can also refer to the Christian god.

3. 'Annw(f)n' is the Welsh Otherworld. It's not technically a parallel world in Welsh folklore but it's not not that if you really try to stretch it. Strange things often happen in the Otherworld. It's referenced fairly frequently in both prose and poetry but if anyone wants to know more, I'll plug my favorite poem, 'Preiddeu Annwn' here (a story about King Arthur journeying to Annwn). Marged Haycock's translation is my favorite (and it has extensive notes) but Sarah Higley's is available online (https://d.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/text/preiddeu-annwn). Also, for fun, listen to Mari Mathias's song Annwn.

[intermittentwit]

Whumpish Ineffa(drab)bles - Part Two: The Arrangement

"AD 1020 - Kingdom of Dyfed

Aziraphale paused to adjust his bearings. Rain-prickled wind rolled briskly across the hills, ruddying his face. Setting an ache in the stump of his absent left hand.

The spear responsible for maiming his corporation was most recently inherited by King Rhain, but Aziraphale's inquiry today proved fruitless. Alas, Rhain's poor daughter was taken by a wyrm, three days since, and the spear was lost in its lair. Not wielded by Rhain, strangely, or his men. Stolen by a kitchen boy, intent on rescue.

About daughter and servant, Rhain seemed largely indifferent.

The holy spear he was anxious to have returned."

Read more on AO3 ...

[jasmineleeplays]

Duke Konan's heir, Tugdual mab Konan de Rennes stole a keg of wine together with his partner in crime Hamon mab Elina Leon, and was caught by the cook Martha. Tugdual watched and kept a lookout for Hamon while abstaining from drinking the wine himself. Tugdual appears to be practising his Temperate trait, but Duke Konan teaches him to take personal responsibility for his actions and thus changed Tugdual's trait to that of Diligent.

Our Court Physician Iehan has trouble reading the atrocious translation of Hippocrates book. Duke Konan offers Iehan his assistance to translate the text, which increased Iehan's Learning by 2 and gave Konan 300 Learning Lifestyle Experience.

With that we unlock the Learning Lifestyle Perk of Embrace Celibacy. Unfortunately, because Duke Konan has the Eager Reveler trait we cannot take the Embrace Celibacy decision. This seems like a bug rather than a feature.

Duke Konan declares war on Prince Owain III ap Maredudd of Deheubarth for the Principality of Deheubarth.

Our new Spymaster, Trggvi uncovered a secret of Duke Guilhem VIII 'the Tyrant' of Aquitaine, that of him murdering his sister Agnes de Poitiers. We gain a Strong Hook through blackmailing Duke Guilhem, and made him pay us 60 gold.

For some reason, we lost our alliance with Earl Eadric 'the Wild' of Shropshire - apparently because AEthelhild Eadricdohtor Aelfricson decided to divorce Duke Konan's bastard half-brother Jafrez mab Alan de Rennes and remarried her soulmate Prince William II.

We unlocked a new Dynasty Legacy for the Prydain Dynasty - Mostly Fair, which giver a Popular Opinion of +5 and a 30% reduction in Hunt and Feast Cost.

Despite a last minute hail-Mary in getting an alliance with the Petty Kingdom of Munster, Prince Owain (now Lord Owain IV ap Maredudd of Dyfed) loses the war and the Principality of Deheubarth to Duke Konan and becomes Duke Konan's latest vassal.

[wordsinhaled]

ok, so like... i am possibly coming down with some sorta cold and also coming off a 1.5 day migraine so i'm not expecting this all to be deeply coherent or entirely comprehensive. actually i wasn't gonna get involved at all and indeed folks might not see what i have to add as relevant so for that i apologize in advance. but um... it's 12:30 in the morning and this is my special interest, why not

so before getting to the show itself i just wanna mention that actually the source material for bbc merlin—the mythos around merlin in arthuriana—is infinitely (and i mean... so infinitely) more fucked up than bbc merlin could ever hope to be power dynamics-wise (and in general content-wise, actually)

merlin as a character is infinitely more fucked up and is inherently a morally grey character in the myths. aside from the fact that arthuriana is inextricable from a moral grey area, merlin in particular is just fucking wild, okay. everything they were doing in the show is tame in comparison to what merlin was running around doing in arthurian myth and literature

like, just as One Single Example, in some of the myths, merlin helps uther pendragon conceive an heir by using magic to disguise uther as ygraine's husband (gorlois. yes, that gorlois) so that he can lie with ygraine. tl;dr arthur is born as the direct result of merlin's magical interference to facilitate the deceit and rape of arthur's mother

according to one source (geoffrey of monmouth) merlin is the son of an incubus demon and a princess of dyfed. in le mort darthur merlin is implied to literally be the offspring of the actual devil. he is pretty much omniscient, being able to know all futures except his own, and he serves as a morally chaotic kingmaker figure whose purpose in the narrative is basically to set major events in albion in motion and clarify as little as possible

in terms of power dynamics, i feel like it's important context that for arthuriana to FUNCTION narratively it inherently has power imbalances. it functions on concealed identities, knowledge kept from various characters, fated destinies, and dramatic irony. like... it isn't arthuriana if it doesn't have those things. we can argue that it's fucked up for arthur not to know that merlin holds his destiny in his hands, and we can argue that it's fucked up that merlin is arthur's servant in the bbc show and arthur treats him poorly. but the reality IS that merlin DOES have, like, actually a ridiculous amount of earth shattering metaphysical power born of nature (or of unnatural causes, depending on the mythos). the destiny of albion DOES rest in merlin's hands and that is a fucked up amount of power to have and that is the entire point

aside from that, the other major point of arthuriana is FLAWS. major major flaws, everybody has 'em! and that is the point, that characters are often defeated by their own flaws, that the entire kingdom is rotten from within, that the round table is doomed by its own flawed character, etc etc. like (and i digress) that's the entire point for example of a story like sir gawain and the green knight (they remix it a fair bit in a few places in the show, but the closest analogue episode in bbcm is 2x08 "the sins of the father") - the round table is morally imperfect and the green knight challenges gawain to prove his worth & by extension the round table's worth but gawain is found fallible just like the rest of them and they adopt the green girdle as their symbol of being Flawed As Fuck forevermore

basically the entire reason there IS a knight's code for the round table is because arthur's knights in the myths go around being violent, raping, pillaging, and terrorizing the kingdom until arthur is finally like, okay, actually, you can't act like that? and these narratives of chivalry and honor were also serving as a cultural framework within which actual real-life kings could keep their rowdy knights and mercenaries in check during peacetime between wars so they wouldn't become a menace to society

so like what i'm trying to say is if you're looking for pinnacles of morality and ethics in arthuriana it's gonna be a bit hard to actually find them unless it's narratively manufactured for a cultural agenda of either nationalism or masculinity or identity (see: howard pyle importing arthuriana to the US and imputing christian morals onto the arthurian myths to raise good little christian boys in little groups of Knights that mimicked the Virtues of the Round Table complete with little mock courts and knighting ceremonies, etc.)

so it is 0% surprising that any arthurian adaptation isn't gonna have super negotiated power dynamics. that's part of the narrative?

aside from that. in bbcm specifically. the narrative we are shown alongside merlin maturing into his magic and his kingmaker/agent of destiny role is arthur becoming fit to rule camelot. from my therapist's perspective personally i think it's fair to say arthur has experienced abusive/cruel parenting by uther, and has had an emotionally distant masculinity modeled for him (at the same time, gotta say, this seems commensurate with the cultural norms we're shown in other kingdoms, and there are other kings/princes and their servants we're shown—alined and trickler come to mind—to have OBJECTIVELY extremely abusive dynamics. arthur is canonically shown to undergo a journey of personal growth in which he is to end up breaking the cycle of abuse/intolerance to bring about a more peaceful time/the golden age of albion (with merlin). like that's the whole point?

it's a repeated theme that others around arthur (merlin included, but also gwen, morgana, gaius) believe arthur to be capable of growing into a better man than his father, believe in his capacity to rule with kindness and integrity, and believe he can overcome the things he's been indoctrinated into believing are right in order to be a just, fair, and good ruler who prioritizes the wellbeing of his subjects AND his servants. and like... as a therapist who am i to say that abusers can never break the cycle of abuse and shouldn't be given that opportunity? what would be the right thing? for everyone to give up on arthur and be like, "yeah, you're an irredeemable dick and no one should ever believe you could better yourself"?

and also the reality of their power imbalance is that even though merlin keeps his secret from arthur and from almost every other person around him, i think it sort of is reductive and kinda infantilizing of merlin's character to classify him as completely submissive to arthur just because he is arthur's servant and arthur orders him around/or even enjoys ordering him around. at worst he's bratty about it the entire time? at best, literally, he runs around camelot doing petty magic not a foot from arthur's nose every single day, talking with gaius about his magic in raised voices with the door open, cheating at his chores, etc. it is literally a WONDER he doesn't get himself caught every single day with how frequently and naturally he uses his magic in camelot, despite having to keep it a secret. merlin views his magic as a gift and he doesn't believe he should HAVE to fear using his magic and so he doesn't fear using it, he simply does what he must to avoid being caught. (contrast this with morgana, who actively fears her magic and also isn't offered a nurturing environment in which to learn to harness it. but then, there's also people who think gaius abused merlin rather than offering him a solid and loving father figure presence, so ymmv, i guess???)

dynamic-wise, merlin can practically say whatever he wants to arthur and they do, in many ways, have a more equal relationship than the average master and servant. uther comments on it frequently, says they share a unique bond, is incredulous arthur would sacrifice as much as he does for a servant, is surprised merlin would do as much as he does for arthur, etc. from the very first time they meet it's established that merlin doesn't actually care AT ALL about arthur's status, he talks to him how he likes (and continues to throughout his tenure as arthur's servant). merlin has sway over arthur when others don't (and i don't even mean outsized metaphysical sway, i mean like, arthur will in many cases act as merlin suggests just because he suggests it, or actually value his advice and input, practically unheard of for other servants in camelot's household - the exception maybe being gwen and morgana - and uncommon for what we're shown of other master-servant dynamics in the time period). arthur shows he is willing to die for merlin as much as merlin is willing to die for arthur in like the third episode

like... we're gonna say someone's inexcusable and sadistic because he (who starts out a noble with a silver spoon in his mouth) feel entitled to give his servant curt orders and saddle him with chores? by ALL means, arthur has MANY, MANY things he could go to YEARS of therapy to work through about his burden of duty, the balance of his power vs his relative powerlessness, his complicated grief over the mother he never knew, his need to live up to the expectations of his father and the lack of love and affirmation in his life, his pent up anger at himself and at others. like. ABSOLUTELY??? absolutely. but arthur is also actively struggling with and yet still engaging with the difficult and ongoing process of bettering himself for those he cares about (gwen, the people of camelot, AND yes, merlin also). and like, arthur's whole entire ARC is about bringing a camelot to fruition in which a former servant can be the love of his life and a queen, so there's also that

on the subject of consent... i'm gonna argue that there's absolutely nothing preventing merlin from rejecting arthur and getting the heck out of camelot. nothing is ever preventing him from doing that because he DOES have enough power and agency to sustain himself and to protect himself and to make it on his own. in fact when his destiny is revealed to him he rejects it initially! he literally spends several episodes being like "hey, dragon, fuck that arthur guy, you must be kidding me if you think i'm spending my time with that piece of crap." but he ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES in their entwined destiny because he comes to learn arthur is worth believing in and actively believes in him, often more than arthur believes in himself, like many of the people around arthur

gaius says to merlin once: "It was real, but it was just one reality. The future is as yet unshaped. It is we that shape it. It is you, Merlin. The decisions you make. The actions you take. Remember that." like. merlin is literally reminded again and again that he has agency even among his own destiny. and like... yes, there's the part where arthur doesn't know about his own destiny, but considering merlin would rather DIE HIMSELF than let harm come to arthur as part of their shared destiny, it actively benefits arthur to be entwined with merlin in this way whether he knows it or not. obviously, we value informed consent, but (going back to an earlier point)... arthuriana frequently operates like that or aspects of the genre would in many cases kinda. fall apart i think?

anyway this is all i can make my brain rustle up right now

in any case it's really important to safeguard multiple interpretations of media and characters so i genuinely hope this gets taken in the good faith it was meant! i value you and your insight and your friendship deeply and thought i'd offer my humble 2 cents but i'm more goodhearted-medievalist-passing-through than Discourse Person... so i'm vaguely nervous to be posting this, as well ._. <3

when arthur says "did you just give me an order... feels good does it?" so you're admitting ordering merlin around turns you on 🤔✍️

[maypoleman1]

22nd February

Jemima Nicholas’ Victory

Welsh Women in National Costume. Sources: Public Domain/Wikipedia/HubPages website

On this day in 1797, the last recorded military invasion of Britain took place during the French Revolutionary Wars between France and the European monarchies. The republican government in Paris hatched a two-pronged invasion plan of the United Kingdom, aiming to land troops in the north east of England and south Wales to foment revolution amongst the British poor. Unfortunately these forces were of very poor quality - most of the soldiers were criminals and convicts drafted into the army to replace professional troops busy defending France’s borders from Austria and Prussia. They were placed under the command of an Irish-American named William Tate, who successfully landed his 1400 men at Fishguard (Abergwaun) in Dyfed. Although quickly taking over the town from the inept local militia, the discipline of Tate’s soldiers soon broke and instead of rallying the local peasantry to the cause of anti-aristocratic revolution, they set about looting local farms, getting themselves inebriated, and hassling the local women.

It was this latter escapade that provoked an irate female response. Allegedly a local farmer’s wife named Jemima Nicholas, rounded up a group of similarly infuriated women who went in force to confront the invaders at the Fishguard farm at which they had based themselves. Spotting the women descending on them armed with pitchforks and clad in their traditional red dresses and conical black hats, the drunk Frenchmen supposedly mistook the attackers for British redcoats and panicked: many surrendered to the women while others fled to the beach where they met a small army of real redcoats led by Lord Cawdor and surrendered there also.

The truth was a little less far fetched but no less ignominious for the French. Jemima and her vigilante band did indeed capture a group of twelve wandering French soldiers and locked them in a church before going in search of more prisoners to add to their collection. Meanwhile Tate’s remaining men fought a shortlived battle with Cawdor’s soldiers on the Fishguard beach before giving up. It is, however, Jemima’s exploits that have passed into legend.

Late February is lambing time. To see the first lamb of the spring is good luck if it is looking at you; if it is looking away, the rest of the year will bring you bad luck.

[travelbinge]

By Sion Esmond

Tenby, Dyfed, Wales

[english-history-trip]

Prior to the new research, only one final resting place of an indigenous British monarch from that era [the 5th-6th centuries] was known, along with half a dozen other potentially royal graves.

But now, at least 20 probable royal burial complexes (each containing up to five graves) have been tentatively identified – with a further 11 potentially royal burial complexes under consideration.

(An excavated 'enclosed grave', a possible royal burial, at Plas Gogerddan, Wales; Ken Murphy/Dyfed Archaeological Trust)

The new discoveries are in Wales, Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. The newly published research suggests that they are royal final resting places because they have very unusual designs that are quite different and clearly much more high status than the thousands of other dark age British graves. Indeed some key examples are associated with high status probably royal Celtic locations – and have similarities with Irish royal tombs.

Although the names of the monarchs buried in these graves are, on the whole, not yet known, they appear to have been kings, sub-kings or other royals associated with the British kingdoms of Gwynedd (northwest Wales), Dyfed (southwest Wales), Powys (central east Wales), Brycheiniog (modern Breckonshire) and Dumnonia (now southwest England).

[grandmawitch]

The Goddess Rhiannon ✨

“Rhiannon rings like a bell through the night And wouldn't you love to love her?”

--Rhiannon, Stevie Nicks

In The Mabinogion—a collection of Welsh tales compiled around the 12th century from earlier oral traditions—Pwyll, Lord of the Welsh kingdom of Dyfed, encountered Rhiannon as a beautiful woman slowly and regally riding a white mare.  He tried urged his steed after her but no matter how fast he rode, he could never catch up to her though she never increased her pace.  Finally, he called out to her and she stopped and let him catch up.  When he asked why he couldn’t reach her before she told him he had not asked.  She introduced herself as Rhiannon and stated her intention to marry him.

They were wed and she came to live with Pwyll at his court.  For years she bore him no children and the locals began urging him to take a new wife but he refused.  After three years Rhiannon gave birth to a son but three days later on May Eve, the servants that were charged with watching over the newborn fell asleep.  They awoke to find the baby missing and panicked, to avoid blame they killed a puppy and smeared the blood around Rhiannon’s mouth as she slept to make it appear as though she had not only killed her child but had also eaten him.  

Rhiannon was found guilty of infanticide and as punishment Pwyll ordered her to wait at his gate and tell everyone who arrived her story then carry them to court on her back like a horse.

Meanwhile, at the house of Teyrnon, Lord of the kingdom of Gwent, strange things were happening.  Every May Eve, his beautiful mare gave birth only for the foal to have vanished by the next morning.  Teyrnon decided to solve the mystery by keeping watch all night—just as the mare gave birth, a horrible clawed hand reached through the window to grab the foal.  Using his broadsword, Teyrnon hacked off the hand and ran outside to find that nothing was there despite having heard screams.  When he returned to the stable, he found a beautiful baby boy on the threshold.

Teyrnon and his wife adopted the boy who quickly began showing signs of supernatural abilities and an affinity for horses.  He also began resembling Pwyll.  Teyrnon realized that his mysterious child was Pwyll’s son, not dead at all.  He returned the child to court and reunited him with his parents.  Rhiannon was exonerated and returned to the palace and her place as queen.  She named her son Pryderi (‘worry’ or ‘care’ in Welsh).  

✨ Rhiannon’s association with horses has led her to be associated with Epona, a Celtic horse goddess.

✨ She has also become a popular neo-pagan goddess of love invoked for beauty, domestic happiness, and of course true love.  She may be petitioned to protect against disaster and humiliation.

Favored People:  The wrongfully accused

Sacred Animal:  Horse, bird (Rhiannon has three singing birds who can wake the dead and lull the living into a magical slumber)

[aneurinallday]

The Four Branches of the Mabinogi

The Third Branch: Manawydan

Only seven British warriors survive the war with Ireland. Pryderi offers the throne to his friend Manawydan, along with his mother Rhiannon's hand in marriage. Manawydan and Rhiannon are happily married, and along with Pryderi and his wife Cigfa, lift a curse afflicting the kingdom of Dyfed.

First Branch, Second Branch, Fourth Branch