Explorations in Arthurian History

A Literature Review

Part 1: Tales of Wales

It starts with poems. It starts with the Welsh, in the town of Carmarthen, reputed birthplace of Merlin. A firmer mention of Arthur can be found in a surviving manuscript, the Black Book of Carmarthen, which gives us tantalizing possibilities but only one historical clue: the Battle of Llongborth, the location of which can no longer be pinpointed. Arthur is mentioned by name as having been there. Other mentions of a man called Arthur within the poems of the Black Book include a tale of his trying to gain entrance to the castle guarded by Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr. He is also mentioned in the "Stanzas of the Graves," another poem included in the Black Book. The poem mentions his grave but says that its location is not known. This concept would grow into the notion that Arthur was--and is--the Once and Future King, who will come again to lead his people to victory over their oppressors.

A fleeting reference to Arthur's greatness is contained in Y Gododdin, a poem by Aneirin extolling the braveness of the Gododdin, a tribe who migrated from Scotland to Wales, in a stand against the Angles at Catterick. To wit, the poet signs the praises of 80 warriors, one of whom he says fought bravely and did many brave deeds, "even though he was no Arthur." To discover more of Arthur in the Welsh tradition, we turn to the bard.

The Book of Taliesin, containing poems written by and about the famous bard, provides some oblique references and one direct reference: The Spoils of Annwn, which tells of Arthur's traveling to the land of Annwn (the "fort of glass") to secure a magical cauldron and a magical sword.

Mythical tales featuring Arthur abound. Two others are the "Dream of Rhonabwy" and "Culhwch and Olwen," both included in a late 14th-century work called the Red Book of Hergest.

The former tale tells of a warrior named Rhonabwy, who is hired by Madog ap Naredudd, the King of Powys. On his journey, Rhonabwy has a dream, which is a detailed vision of Arthur's camp on the eve of a great battle. The tale names this battle Badon and also introduces us to Cei and Bedwyr, who would become Kay and Bedivere. The second tale tells of the love of Culhwch for Olwen, daughter of the giant Svbaddaden, who charges his daughter's suitor with a series of 40 seemingly impossible tasks to perform in order to be proved worthy of Olwen's hand (or, more importantly, the giant's approval). Culhwch's father suggests a visit to Arthur, who inexplicably leads the quest. Twelve of these tasks are described, including the capture of a giant boar, the rescue of the god-king Mabon, and a quick trip to Ireland to secure a magical cauldron. Sound familiar? How about this: "Culhwch and Olwen" also makes mention of two Arthurian companions named Bedwyr and Cei.

Lest we get the idea that all Welsh literary pictures painted of Arthur were favorable, let's take a brief look at the Life of St. Cadoc, written by Lifris of Llancarfan. This 11th-century tome portrays Arthur as prone to debauchery and pettiness. Two other early sources, the Life of St. Carannog and the Life of St. Padarn, teach Arthur a lesson in religion: In both stories, Arthur serves as an obstacle to the intended action and is forced to admit the power of God. Finally we come to the Life of St. Gildas, whose De Excidio Britannium makes no mention of Arthur but does mention Badon Hill. The Life of St. Gildas was written by the Llancarfan monk Caradoc about 1130; it portrays Arthur as "king of the whole of Britain" and introduces the abduction of Guinevere by King Melwas and the rescue by Arthur. In this version, though, it is mediation by Gildas and other monks from Glastonbury that secures Guinevere's release. The abduction of the queen would become a familiar theme.

Speaking of familiarity, The Mabinogion and its four branches contain 11 tales from the Red Book of Hergest (including the "Dream of Rhonabwy" and "Culhwch and Olwen") and a story of Taliesin. These three are of particular interest as evidenced above. The Mabinogion also contains a tale of Peredur, which seems to have been the basis for later tales of Perceval. Other fun characters in these tales are Pwyll, Rhiannon, Branwen, and Math.

The number three has a particular significance in Welsh literature, as evidenced by the Triads, which contain several references to Arthur, including the Three Chieftains of Arthur's Court, The Three Counseling Knights, and the Three Knights of Battle. Arthur is also portrayed unsympathetically in such Triads as the Three Red Ravagers and the Three Powerful Swineherds. One Triad of note is the Three Futile Battles, which names as one of these Camlann.

Also naming Camlann is the Annales Cambriae (Annals of Wales), which says the Battle of Camlann was fought in 539, 21 years after the Battle of Badon Hill. It is from the Annales that we get the phrase "where Arthur and Medraut perished." The Annales also makes mention of a battle called Arfderydd in 575, after which "Myrddin went mad." This battle and subsequent madness of Myrddin are also mentioned in the Black Book of Carmarthen.

As it began, so it ends--with Merlin. Now, on to Geoffrey of Monmouth, the greatest Merlin biographer of the Middle Ages. Click here to continue.

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