Pryderi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pryderi |
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| Mabinogi character | |
Pryderi's death in single combat. Image by E. Wallcousins.
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| Information | |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Spouse(s) | Cigfa ferch Gwyn Glohoyw |
| Parents | Pwyll (father), Rhiannon (mother) |
| Family | Manawydan (step-father), Hefeydd (maternal grandfather) |
| Welsh mythology character | |
| Found in | Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed, Branwen ferch Llŷr, Manawydan fab Llŷr, Math fab Mathonwy |
| Nationality | British (Demetian) |
Pryderi fab Pwyll is a very important character in Welsh mythology. He is the son of Pwyll and Rhiannon. After his father, Pwyll, passed away, Pryderi became the king of Dyfed.
Pryderi is special because he is the only character who appears in all Four Branches of the Mabinogi. These are four ancient Welsh tales. His role changes in each story, but he is always there.
Contents
Pryderi's Story in Welsh Mythology
Pryderi's Birth and Early Life
Pryderi was born in Arberth. His parents were Pwyll, the Lord of Dyfed, and Rhiannon. On the night he was born, he mysteriously disappeared. Six ladies were supposed to be watching him, but he vanished.
At the same time, Teyrnon, the Lord of Gwent Is Coed, had a problem. Every year, his mare (female horse) gave birth, but her foals (baby horses) always disappeared. Teyrnon decided to watch his stables very carefully. He saw a strange creature with claws trying to take the new foal.
Teyrnon fought the creature and cut off its arm. Outside the stable, he found a baby boy. Teyrnon and his wife decided to raise the boy as their own. They named him Gwri Wallt Euryn, which means Gwri of the Golden Hair. This was because his hair was as yellow as gold.
The child grew up incredibly fast. As he got older, he looked more and more like Pwyll. Eventually, Teyrnon realized that Gwri was actually Pwyll's lost son. The boy was reunited with his true parents, Pwyll and Rhiannon. They renamed him Pryderi.
After this, Pryderi was raised by Pendaran Dyfed. He grew into a handsome and skilled young man. He was excellent at many things and became very accomplished.
After his father Pwyll died, Pryderi became the ruler of Dyfed. He expanded his kingdom by taking over Ystrad Tywi and Ceredigion. He also added the seven regions of Morgannwg to his kingdom. Later, he married Cigfa, the daughter of Gwyn Gohoyw.
Pryderi Joins the War in Ireland
Pryderi joined a big war when Branwen, the sister of Bendigeidfrân, married Matholwch, the king of Ireland. Branwen's brother, Efnisien, insulted Matholwch. This caused a lot of trouble.
Later, Branwen was treated badly in Ireland. She sent a message to her brother Bendigeidfrân using a trained starling bird. Bendigeidfrân, who was a giant, gathered a huge army and went to Ireland. Pryderi went with him.
The British army crossed the sea, but Bendigeidfrân was so big he just walked across. The Irish tried to trick them by hiding armed warriors in bags. Efnisien found them and crushed their heads. During a feast, Efnisien caused more fighting by throwing Branwen's son, Gwern, into a fire.
The Irish used a magical cauldron to bring their dead warriors back to life. Efnisien bravely destroyed the cauldron, but he died doing so. The battle was very violent, and only seven men from the British army survived. Pryderi was one of them.
Bendigeidfrân was badly hurt. He told the survivors to cut off his head and take it back to Britain. The survivors stayed in Harlech, where Bendigeidfrân's head continued to speak and entertain them. They then moved to Gwales, where they lived for eighty years without feeling time pass.
Eventually, one of the men opened a door facing Cornwall. This made all their sadness return. As they were told, they took the now silent head to the Gwynfryn, the "White Hill." This place is thought to be where the Tower of London is today. They buried the head facing France to protect Britain from invasions.
Pryderi's Return to Britain
After returning to Britain, Pryderi invited Manawydan to live with him in Dyfed. Manawydan was Bendigeidfrân's brother and another survivor of the war. Pryderi also arranged for Manawydan to marry his widowed mother, Rhiannon.
Soon after, Pryderi, his wife Cigfa, Manawydan, and Rhiannon went up a magical hill. When they came down, Dyfed had changed. It was now an empty, barren land with no people. Pryderi and Manawydan traveled to England to try to make a living. They tried different jobs, but they were so good that other workers became jealous. They had to leave town after town to avoid trouble.
They eventually returned to Dyfed. One day, Manawydan and Pryderi went hunting. They found a white boar and followed it to a huge, tall fort. Manawydan warned Pryderi not to go inside, but Pryderi did anyway.
Inside the fort, Pryderi was drawn to a beautiful golden bowl. When he touched it, his feet stuck to the floor, his hands stuck to the bowl, and he could not speak. Manawydan waited for him, but Pryderi did not return. Manawydan then told Rhiannon what had happened.
Rhiannon was upset with Manawydan for not staying with Pryderi. She went into the fort herself and suffered the same fate as her son. Then, in a "blanket of mist," Pryderi, Rhiannon, and the fort all disappeared.
Later, Manawydan used his cleverness to free them. It was discovered that an enchanter named Llwyd ap Cil Coed had caused all their suffering. He wanted revenge because Pwyll and Rhiannon had embarrassed his friend Gwawl ap Clud. Once they were freed, the magic spell over Dyfed was lifted.
Pryderi's Final Battle and Death
Some time later, Pryderi received special pigs from his father's old friend, Arawn, the king of Annwn. These pigs were stolen by Gwydion, a powerful magician and warrior from Gwynedd.
Pryderi declared war on Gwynedd. He and his men marched north and fought a battle. Both sides lost many men. Math fab Mathonwy, the king of Gwynedd, won the battle, and Pryderi was forced to retreat. Gwydion chased him, and Pryderi suffered more defeats.
To stop more fighting, it was decided that Gwydion and Pryderi would fight in a single combat. They met at a place called Y Velen Rhyd. Because of his strength, bravery, and magic, Gwydion won. Pryderi was killed in the fight. The men of Dyfed returned home, very sad about their lord's death.
Pryderi in Other Stories
Pryderi is mentioned in other old Welsh texts. The Welsh Triads call him one of the 'Three Powerful Swineherds of the Island of Britain'. This refers to a time he guarded pigs for his foster-father, Pendaran Dyfed.
He is also mentioned in an old poem called Preiddeu Annwfn. This poem talks about a prison and suggests some conflict between Pryderi and another character.
The Stanzas of the Graves mentions where Pryderi was buried. It says his final resting place is "Aber Gwenoli...where the waves beat against the land."
The Book of Taliesin also mentions Pryderi. It connects him with Manawydan fab Llyr and a magical fortress called Caer Sidi.
Many old poets also wrote about Pryderi. The famous poet Dafydd ap Gwilym even called Dyfed Pryderi Dir, which means "The Land of Pryderi."
A character named King Pryderi also appears in The Chronicles of Prydain, a children's fantasy series. This King Pryderi is a powerful ruler who turns against his king. He tries to steal a magical book but is killed by a spell protecting it.
Images for kids
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Pryderi's death in single combat. Image by E. Wallcousins.
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Pryderi and Rhiannon's imprisonment. From Tales of the Enchanted Islands of the Atlantic, Thomas Wentworth Higginson. Image by Albert Herter.
