Llywarch Hen facts for kids

Llywarch Hen (which means "Llywarch the Old") was a prince and a famous poet who lived a long time ago, around 534 to 608 AD. He was from the Brythonic kingdom of Rheged, which was in the "Old North" of Britain. This area is now parts of southern Scotland and northern England.

Llywarch Hen is considered one of the four greatest poets of early Welsh poetry, along with Taliesin, Aneirin, and Myrddin. We don't know for sure if he wrote all the poems linked to his name. Most of what we know about him comes from old poems that might not be completely true.

His Amazing Life

Llywarch Hen was the son of Elidurus, who was a leader in a place called Argoed, part of the Rheged region. Old family records say he was related to Coel Hen (King Cole) and was a cousin to King Urien Rheged. Some people think Llywarch might have been a king himself, ruling the southern part of Rheged while Urien ruled the north.

When he was young, Llywarch is said to have fought bravely alongside Gereint at the Battle of Llongborth. After this battle, he joined King Urien's court. There, he lived a good life, dressed well, enjoyed feasts, and had many sons. Poems mention 24 sons, but some stories say he had as many as 39 sons, plus a few daughters.

Sadly, the kingdom faced tough times. Urien's son, Owain, was killed at the Battle of Catraeth. Almost all the British warriors died in that battle, including all of Llywarch's sons. With his friends and family gone, he was advised to go to the court of Cynddylan in the Kingdom of Powys. But when Cynddylan was also killed in battle, Llywarch was left alone and very poor. He had nothing but milk from one cow to survive.

Legend says he lived in a small hut by himself, playing his harp and creating his poems. A kind monk is said to have helped him, and Llywarch lived out his final days peacefully. Near where he lived, there's a mound called Pabell Llywarch (Llywarch's Tent) and a ditch called Clawdd Llywarch Hen (Llywarch Hen's Dyke).

Records suggest he was born around 534 AD and died around 608 AD. This would mean he was about 80 years old when he passed away, which fits his nickname, "Llywarch the Old." However, some stories claim he lived even longer, to be 105 or even 150 years old!

His Family's Legacy

Many years later, around 825 AD, a new king named Merfyn Frych became ruler of Gwynedd. He started a new royal family line. Instead of claiming to be related to older kings, he said he was a direct descendant of Llywarch Hen. This shows how important Llywarch was, even centuries after his death.

His Poems

Llywarch Hen's life was the subject of a long story, or saga, that is now mostly lost. But the poems from it, called Canu Llywarch Hen, still exist. These poems are written as if Llywarch himself is speaking. They were likely composed later, perhaps between 800 and 900 AD, and were probably sung and passed down by word of mouth before being written down. Other poems, like Canu Heledd (about the fall of the kings of Pengwern) and Geraint son of Erbin (about the Battle of Llongborth), are also connected to Llywarch.

Some of the poems linked to him include:

• Let the Cock's Comb Be Red
• Usual is the Wind
• The Calends of Winter
• Entangling is the Snare
• Bright are the Ash Tops
• Sitting High Upon a Hill
• I Was Formerly Fair of Limb
• The Death of Urien
• Maenwyn, When I Was Your Age
• Geraint son of Erbin