Owain mab Urien facts for kids

Owain mab Urien was a brave prince from a long time ago. He lived around the year 595. His father, Urien, was the king of a place called Rheged. Owain fought alongside his father against invaders known as the Angles. These Angles were trying to take over their land. Over many years, stories about the real Owain became part of the famous King Arthur legends. In these tales, he is often called Ywain, Yvain, Ewain, or Uwain. He is a main character in popular stories like Yvain, the Knight of the Lion and Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain.

The Real Owain

Most of what we know about the historical Owain comes from the poems of Taliesin. Taliesin was a famous poet who worked for Owain's father, King Urien.

One poem says Owain won a big fight called the Battle of Alclud Ford. Another poem, Gweith Argoed Llwyfain, tells about Owain's role in the Battle of Argoed Llwyfain. This battle was between the people of Rheged and the Angles from Bernicia. The Anglian leader was called "Fflamddwyn," which means "Firestealer." He might have been King Theodric.

Fflamddwyn demanded that Owain's people give him hostages. But Owain bravely refused. He shouted words that inspired his people to fight instead of giving in.

Taliesin also wrote a sad poem called Marwnad Owain when Owain died. In this poem, it says Owain killed Fflamddwyn:

When Owain slew Fflamddwyn it was no more to him than to sleep

The wide host of Lloegr [England] sleeps with the light in their eyes

And those that did not flee were braver than was needed

Owain punished them harshly like a pack of wolves chasing sheep

When his father was killed, Owain became king of Rheged. But other British leaders quickly attacked him. Gwallawc attacked Owain's brother, Elffin. Owain and another brother, Pasgen, fought against Dunaut.

Owain himself was killed in a battle against Morcant Bulc. Morcant was an old enemy of Owain's father. Owain's death meant that Rheged was no longer a strong kingdom.

Some people believe Owain is buried at St. Andrew's churchyard in Penrith. However, it's possible the grave belongs to a later king named Owen Cesarius.

Stories say Owain was the father of St. Kentigern Garthwys. His mother was Denw, who might be the daughter of Lot of Lothian.

Owain in Legends

Over many centuries, the true history of Owain became mixed with exciting stories. He became a famous character in the King Arthur legends. These tales spread across Europe.

Two main stories are about his adventures: Chrétien's Yvain, the Knight of the Lion and the Welsh story Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain. He also appears in The Dream of Rhonabwy and briefly in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae.

In these legends, Owain is shown as a very skilled knight. He is often called Sir Owayne fytz-Vryene. He is a close friend of Gawain, another famous knight.

In The Dream of Rhonabwy, Owain plays chess with King Arthur. Meanwhile, the Saxons are getting ready for battle.

The stories Yvain, the Knight of the Lion and Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain are very similar. Owain hears about a magical fountain in a forest. This fountain can create a storm. He goes to find it and meets a strong knight guarding it. Owain defeats this knight and marries his wife, Laudine.

However, Owain forgets his duties as a husband because he is busy with knightly adventures. Because of this, he loses his wife's love. With the help of a lion he saves from a snake, Owain goes on many more adventures. Eventually, he is reunited with his lady.

In most Arthurian stories, Owain is the son of Urien and King Arthur's nephew. Later stories often say his mother is Morgan le Fay, who was Arthur's half-sister. He also has a half-brother named Owain the Bastard. The Welsh stories say he has a twin sister named Morvydd. As Arthur's nephew, he is a cousin to Gawain and his family.

See also

• List of characters named Ywain in Arthurian legend