Pen Rhionydd facts for kids
Pen Rhionydd is a mysterious place linked to the legendary King Arthur. It's mentioned in an old Welsh text called a 'triad'. This triad says Pen Rhionydd was one of Arthur's main courts in the northern part of Britain.
A Welsh triad is like a list of three things that go together, often about famous people, places, or events from ancient Welsh stories. The specific triad that mentions Pen Rhionydd is found in a very old book called Peniarth MS 54. This book contains traditions about Arthur that are older than the famous stories written by Geoffrey of Monmouth.
The triad describes Arthur's court like this:
Arthur as Chief Prince in Pen Rhionydd in the North, and Gerthmwl Wledig as Chief Elder, and Cyndeyrn Garthwys as Chief Bishop.
This is the only known time Pen Rhionydd is mentioned in stories about King Arthur. The same old text also names two other places as Arthur's courts: Celliwig and Mynyw.
Where Was Pen Rhionydd?
Historians and experts have tried to figure out where Pen Rhionydd might have been. One idea, supported by a scholar named Rachel Bromwich, is that it was somewhere near the Rhins of Galloway and Stranraer. These places are in what is now Scotland.
Why This Location?
This area makes sense because St Mungo, who is mentioned in the triad as the "Chief Bishop," was very important in that part of Scotland. Both the Rhins of Galloway and Stranraer would have been part of an ancient kingdom called Rheged. Rheged was a powerful kingdom in what is now northern England and southern Scotland during the time King Arthur is thought to have lived.
Learn More About Arthurian Legends
- Sites and places associated with Arthurian legend
- Historical basis for King Arthur
