Talhaearn Tad Awen facts for kids

Talhaearn Tad Awen was a famous Welsh poet who lived a long, long time ago, around the middle of the 500s. He's known as one of the very first poets to write and perform in the Welsh language! Other well-known poets like Aneirin and Taliesin, who might have been a bit younger, were also part of this early group. These poets are sometimes called the Cynfeirdd, which means "first poets." While we still have poems from Aneirin and Taliesin, none of Talhaearn's poems have survived to today. It seems his fame faded a lot by the later Middle Ages.

Talhaearn in Old Books

One of the oldest books that mentions Talhaearn is called the Historia Brittonum, written in the 800s. This book talks about him as a very famous poet, alongside Aneirin, Taliesin, and two others named Blwchfardd and Cian.

The book says: "Then Talhaearn Tad Awen was famous for his poetry, and Neirin and Taliessin and Bluchbard and Cian, who is called Gueinth Guaut, were all famous for British poetry at the same time."

The name Tad Awen means "father of poetic inspiration." His first name, Talhaearn, means "Shining-brow." The book suggests these poets lived around the mid-500s. This was when a leader named Eudeyrn fought against the English, and when Maelgwn Gwynedd was king of Gwynedd. Because of his special nickname and how he's listed, some people think Talhaearn might have been seen as the "father" of early Welsh poetry, perhaps even writing before the others.

Mentions in Later Welsh Poems

Talhaearn also appears briefly in some later Welsh writings from the Middle Ages. In a collection of stories called the Welsh Triads, it seems his supporter was the same leader who sadly killed the poet Aneirin.

One story says that a man named Heidyn used to give Talhaearn a lot of rewards, perhaps a hundred cows, every Saturday. This suggests Heidyn was Talhaearn's patron, meaning he supported the poet. It's possible this story hints at a lost tale about a rivalry between Talhaearn and Aneirin.

Talhaearn is also mentioned in a poem called Angar Kyfyndawt, which is found in the Book of Taliesin. In this poem, Taliesin himself speaks and praises Talhaearn. He calls Talhaearn the "greatest of the wise men," showing how much respect Talhaearn had as a poet and thinker.

Here's a part of that poem, talking about Talhaearn:

See also

• John Jones (Talhaiarn)