Gweith Gwen Ystrat facts for kids

Gweith Gwen Ystrat (which means The Battle of Gwen Ystrad) is an old heroic poem from Wales. It's found in a very old book called the Book of Taliesin. This poem is part of a collection known as Canu Taliesin, which are poems believed to be written by a famous 6th-century poet named Taliesin. He was a poet for a prince named Urien from a place called Rheged.

What is Gweith Gwen Ystrat?

This poem tells the story of a big battle from the point of view of someone who was there. It celebrates a victory led by Urien, who was a prince of Rheged. He guided his group of warriors to defend their land against many invaders. The battle happened at a place called Llech Gwen in Gwen Ystrad, which means "Gwen Valley." The fighting was long and tough, starting at dawn near a river crossing. We don't know exactly where Gwen Ystrad was located.

Who Were the Fighters?

The poem says Urien's warriors were the "men of Catraeth". This place is often thought to be Catterick in North Yorkshire, England. The enemies are called the "men of Britain" (gwyr Prydein). Some experts, like Sir John Morris-Jones and John T. Koch, think this might be a mistake and should actually say "men of Pictland" (Prydyn).

Sir Ifor Williams supported the idea that the enemies might have been Picts. He pointed out that the poem describes the enemies as horsemen, mentioning the "manes of their horses." This description would fit the Picts, who were known for fighting on horseback. It would not fit the Saxons, who usually fought on foot. However, not everyone agrees with this idea.

Different Ideas About the Poem

Historian John T. Koch believes Gweith Gwen Ystrat gives us important clues about another famous battle from the 6th century, the Battle of Catraeth. This battle is described in a poem called Y Gododdin, where the Gododdin people suffered a terrible defeat.

Koch suggests that both poems might be about the same event. He thinks Gweith Gwen Ystrat shows the battle from the winners' side, while Y Gododdin shows it from the losers' side. He believes the battle was between Urien's family (the Coeling) and the Gododdin. He also thinks the Picts helped the Gododdin, based on the idea that "men of Britain" should be "men of Pictland."

However, other experts disagree with Koch's ideas. Graham Isaac, for example, thinks Gweith Gwen Ystrat was written much later, possibly in the 11th century or even after that. He also points out that the Gododdin people are not actually mentioned in the poem. The idea that Picts were involved depends on changing a word in the poem that already makes sense.

Catraeth's men set out at daybreak

Round a battle-winning lord, cattle-raiser.

Urien he, renowned chieftain,

Constrains rulers and cuts them down,

Eager for war, true leader of Christendom.

Prydain's men, they came in war-bands:

Gwen Ystrad your base, battle-honer.

Neither field nor forest shielded,

Land's protector, your foe when he came.

Like waves roaring harsh over land

I saw savage men in war-bands.

And after morning's fray, torn flesh.

I saw hordes of invaders dead;

Joyous, wrathful, the shout one heard.

Defending Gwen Ystrad one saw

A thin rampart and lone weary men.

At the ford I saw men stained with blood

Down arms before a grey-haired lord.

They wish peace, for they found the way barred,

Hands crossed, on the strand, cheeks pallid.

Their lords marvel at Idon's lavish wine;

Waves wash the tails of their horses.

I saw pillaging men disheartened,

And blood spattered on garments,

And quick groupings, ranks closed, for battle.

Battle's cloak, he'd no mind to flee,

Rheged's lord, I marvel, when challenged.

I saw splendid men around Urien

When he fought his foes at Llech Wen.

Routing does in fury delights him.

Carry, warriors, shields at the ready;

Battle's the lot of those who serve Urien.

And until I die, old,

By death's strict demand,

I shall not be joyful

Unless I praise Urien.