Twm Siôn Cati facts for kids
Twm Siôn Cati (sometimes spelled Twm Sion Cati) is a famous character from Welsh stories. People often call him the "Welsh Robin Hood" because he was known for being clever and outsmarting others. He lived a long time ago, in the 1500s.
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Who Was Twm Siôn Cati?
Stories about Twm Siôn Cati often say he was born near Tregaron, in Wales, around the year 1530. His mother was Cati Jones from Tregaron. His father was Siôn ap Dafydd. Because his mother's name was Cati, he became known as Twm Siôn Cati.
He was a Protestant at a time when Mary I of England, a Catholic queen, ruled. This meant he faced challenges. To earn money, he became known for his clever tricks and sometimes for stealing. In 1557, he had to leave Wales and went to Geneva to avoid trouble.
When the Protestant Queen Elizabeth I became queen in 1559, Twm was able to get a pardon. This meant he was forgiven for his past actions. He could then return to Wales.
Twm was active in west Wales and even went into England. His stories are all about how he used his wits to outsmart everyone, both good people and other criminals.
The Real Twm Siôn Cati
Many people believe the character of Twm Siôn Cati was based on a real person named Thomas Jones (who lived from about 1530 to 1609). This Thomas Jones was pardoned for some actions in 1559. He also wrote poems and was a steward, which is like a manager. He married a woman from Ystrad-ffin.
It's unlikely that all the amazing tales about Twm Siôn Cati are about just one person. There were many people named Thomas Jones who were known for being clever or for being highwaymen in the Tregaron area.
Stories About Twm
At first, the stories about Twm Siôn Cati were told by people, passed down from one generation to the next. Later, these tales were written down.
One of the first written stories was a pamphlet in English called Tomshone Catty's Tricks in 1763. In 1828, T. J. Llewelyn Prichard published a famous book called The Adventures and Vagaries of Twm Shon Catti, descriptive of Life in Wales. This book was very popular and had many editions.
In Prichard's book, Twm grows up in Tregaron. He works for a farmer and then for a local landowner. He is trusted to take a lot of money to England. On his journey, he meets many robbers. But Twm is always able to outsmart them all.
In this version, Twm falls in love with and marries the Lady of Ystrad-ffin. After this, he becomes a respected magistrate and even the mayor of Brecon.
The writer George Borrow heard many stories about Twm when he walked through Wales in 1854. Borrow thought Prichard's book made Twm seem too honest. Borrow believed Twm was more of a straightforward thief. He said that Twm became a thief to help himself and his mother escape poverty. He quickly became famous for his cleverness in stealing.
Twm's Clever Tricks
Twm Siôn Cati was known for his amazing tricks. Here are some of his most famous tales:
The Farmer's Horse
Once, a farmer was chasing Twm because Twm had stolen his bullock (a young bull). The farmer arrived at Twm's mother's house. He asked if Twm lived there. A beggar answered yes and offered to hold the farmer's horse and whip.
As the farmer went into the house, the beggar jumped onto the horse. It was Twm! He galloped to the farmer's own house. He told the farmer's wife that her husband was in trouble and needed money quickly. Twm said the farmer had sent him to fetch it, and the horse and whip were proof. The farmer's wife believed him and gave Twm the money. Twm then quickly left for London with the money and the horse.
The Pitcher Trick
Another story tells how a poor man asked Twm to steal a pitcher for him. They went to a merchant's shop together. Twm started to complain about the merchant's goods. Secretly, Twm told his friend to take the pitcher he wanted.
Twm then distracted the merchant. He told him there was a hole in one of the pitchers, which the merchant denied. Twm asked the merchant to put his hand in the pitcher to check. The merchant still said there was no hole. Twm then asked, "How could you put your hand inside if there was no hole?" By this time, his friend had already left with the pitcher, and no one noticed!
The Inn Robbery
One time, Twm was staying at an inn. He realized that other people were planning to rob him the next day. He had a lot of money with him. The next morning, he pretended that his money was in his horse's pack-saddle.
When the highwayman caught up to him, Twm dropped the saddle into a pool of water. The highwayman waded into the pool to get it. Twm used this chance to ride off with the highwayman's horse! The horse responded to the highwayman's voice, crying "Stop!" Luckily, Twm shouted a word that made the horse gallop even faster, and he escaped safely.
Marrying the Lady
Another story tells how Twm stopped a rich squire and his daughter on the road. Twm was so taken with the daughter that he gave her back her jewelry. He then tried to win her over, even though her father and she herself were against it at first.
One night, Twm went to her window. He woke her up and held her hand. He refused to let go until she promised to marry him. She didn't want to promise. So Twm drew his dagger and touched her wrist, making a small mark. He said he would not let her go until she agreed to marry him right away. She agreed, and she kept her hand! They were married soon after, despite her father's feelings.
Through this marriage, Twm is said to have become a respected person. He eventually became a justice of the peace, judging others. He held this position until he died at the age of 79.
Remembering Twm Siôn Cati
Twm Siôn Cati is still remembered today in Wales.
Twm Siôn Cati's Cave
Twm Siôn Cati's Cave is on Dinas Hill, near Ystrad-ffin. It's a steep climb to get there, and you have to crawl inside. The cave has been visited for many years, and you can see old carvings inside, like one from 1832. It looks out over where the River Tywi meets the River Pysgotwr.
Celebrations and Awards
In 2009, the town of Tregaron held a year of events to celebrate 400 years since Twm Siôn Cati's death. They had an exhibition, a charity walk from his cave to his birthplace, and launched four new books. Local artists also made souvenir items. A wooden carving of Twm was placed in Tregaron Square.
There is an international Twm Siôn Cati Day every year on May 17th. A special Twm Siôn Cati Community Prize is given each year to a student at Tregaron Primary School who has done a good deed. The school's students also designed a "Twm Town Trail," which hundreds of people walk every year.
Twm on TV
The television series Hawkmoor was broadcast by the BBC in 1978. It starred John Ogwen as Twm. The show presented Twm as a Welsh Robin Hood, a freedom fighter who protected the Welsh people from a cruel sheriff and vicar. A book based on the TV series was also published.
