Tegau Eurfron facts for kids

Tegau Eurfron was a famous queen from ancient Celtic times. She was married to King Caradoc Vreichvras. His kingdom might have been in Wales or France. People remembered her for her special cloak, her loyalty, and her adventures at sea.

Stories About Tegau

Writers from the Middle Ages often wrote about Tegau. They especially liked to talk about her magical cloak. This cloak was one of the famous Thirteen Treasures of Britain. She was also known for being very loyal to her husband.

Early Mentions of Tegau

Tegau is mentioned in old French stories called Livre de Carados (The Book of Caradoc) and Le Manteau Mal Taillé (The Badly Tailored Mantle). These stories were written around the end of the 1100s.

Her name 'Tegau' first appeared in the 1300s. Poets like Goronwy Ddu ap Tudur and Dafydd ap Gwilym wrote about her. Later, in the 1400s, another poet named Guto'r Glyn compared a lady he knew to Tegau. He said Tegau's cloak was very long, reaching the floor.

These poets used Tegau as a symbol of loyalty and honesty to one's partner. The name 'Eurfron' was added to her name in 1576.

Tegau's Amazing Legend

Stories about Tegau became popular across Britain and even in France.

• One story explains how she got the name 'Eurfron'. This tale first appeared in Livre de Carados.
• Another famous story is about her magical cloak. This cloak could tell if a person was honest or not. This tale is found in Le Manteau Mal Taillé. It also appears in an old English poem called The Boy and the Mantle.

The Magical Mantle

This story links Tegau to Guinevere, who was King Arthur's wife. In one version, Guinevere and other ladies at King Arthur's court tried on the cloak. But it didn't fit them at all! It looked torn and messy on them.

When Tegau tried on the cloak, the same thing happened at first. It looked ugly on her. But then, she turned and kissed Caradoc, who she loved very much (this was before they were married). Right after that, the cloak fit her perfectly! It showed she was honest and true.