Pwyll facts for kids
Pwyll Pen Annwn is a famous character from Welsh mythology and old Welsh stories. He was the lord of Dyfed. Pwyll was married to Rhiannon and was the father of the hero Pryderi. His name means "wisdom." Pwyll is the main character in Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed, which is the first part of the Four Branches of the Mabinogi. He also shows up for a short time in the old tale Culhwch ac Olwen, as part of Arthur's court.
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Pwyll's Adventures in the Otherworld
Pwyll was hunting in Glyn Cuch one day. He got separated from his friends. He found a group of special hounds eating a deer. Pwyll chased these hounds away. He then let his own dogs eat the deer.
This made Arawn, the lord of the otherworldly kingdom of Annwn, very angry. To make up for it, Pwyll agreed to switch places with Arawn. Pwyll would look like Arawn and rule Annwn for a year and a day.
During this time, Pwyll had to fight Hafgan, Arawn's enemy. Pwyll won the fight with one blow. This made Arawn the ruler of all Annwn. After the year, Pwyll and Arawn met again. They changed back to their normal selves. They became great friends because Pwyll was respectful to Arawn's wife. Because of his good rule in Annwn, Pwyll earned a new title. He was called Pwyll Pen Annwfn, which means "Pwyll, head of Annwn."
Pwyll Meets Rhiannon
Some time later, Pwyll and his noblemen were on a hill called Gorsedd Arberth. They saw a beautiful woman riding a white horse. She was dressed in gold silk. Pwyll sent his best horsemen to catch her. But she always stayed ahead, even though her horse walked slowly.
After three days, Pwyll himself rode after her. When he couldn't catch her, he called out. Only then did Rhiannon stop. She told him her name. She said she wanted to marry him instead of her fiancé, Gwawl ap Clud. She asked him to come to her kingdom in a year. Then they would get married.
The Tricky Wedding Plan
A year later, Pwyll arrived for the wedding. But he made a foolish promise. He accidentally promised Rhiannon to Gwawl. This happened when Gwawl came to the court. He asked Pwyll for a favor. Pwyll, being noble and a bit quick to promise, said he would give Gwawl whatever he asked. Gwawl then asked for Rhiannon. Pwyll had to agree because of his promise.
Another wedding was planned for Gwawl and Rhiannon a year later. Rhiannon came up with a clever plan. Pwyll dressed as a beggar and went to Gwawl's wedding party. He asked Gwawl for a bag full of food. Gwawl agreed. But Pwyll tricked Gwawl into getting inside the bag. Pwyll and his men then beat Gwawl. Gwawl finally gave up. Pwyll agreed to spare his life. This way, Pwyll won Rhiannon back.
The Mystery of Pryderi
The people of the land worried that Pwyll had no heir. They suggested he take another wife. But before that could happen, Rhiannon gave birth to a baby boy. On the night he was born, the baby disappeared. Six ladies-in-waiting were supposed to be watching him.
Scared of punishment, the ladies put dog's blood on a sleeping Rhiannon. They claimed she had killed her child. News spread, and the nobles wanted Pwyll to divorce Rhiannon. But Pwyll knew she could have children. So, he had her punished by the courts instead. Rhiannon accepted her punishment. She had to sit outside the city gates for seven years. She had to tell everyone her story. She also had to offer to carry guests into the city on her back.
Pryderi's Return
At the same time, Teyrnon, a lord from another area, had a problem. His mare had a foal every year, but it disappeared the night it was born. To solve this, he brought the mare into his house. He watched it all night. As soon as the colt was born, a large claw came through the window. It grabbed the colt. Teyrnon cut off the arm and saved the colt. He then heard a roar outside. He found a baby boy.
Teyrnon and his wife raised the boy as their own. They named him Gwri Wallt Euryn. This means "Gwri of the Golden hair." The child grew very fast. As he got older, he looked more and more like Pwyll. Teyrnon realized who the boy really was. The boy was finally reunited with Pwyll and Rhiannon. He was renamed Pryderi, which means "anxiety" or "care."
The story ends with Pwyll's death. Pryderi then became the new king.
Pwyll's Influence on Stories
The tales of Pwyll greatly shaped stories in England, Ireland, and Wales. Old Celtic stories were often told by speaking, not writing. This helped Welsh stories spread. Parts of Pwyll's story can be seen in an old Irish tale called Fled Bricrend. This Irish tale then influenced other famous writers.
Some common ideas in these stories include:
- Contests between two noblemen to win a lady.
- Special tasks or "errands" that involve a request.
- Battles where fighters promise to return to the same place in a year.
- Clever tricks where people make similar plans.
- Chains of events where magic and supernatural things happen often.
