The Black Book of Carmarthen (Welsh: Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin) is one of the earliest surviving manuscripts written entirely in Welsh. Written in ca. 1250 it is so called because of its association with the Priory of St. John the Evangelist and Teulyddog at Carmarthen and because the colour of its binding. It is now part of the collection of the National Library of Wales, where it is also known as NLW Peniarth MS 1. Welsh redirects here, and this article describes the Welsh language. ... // April 30 - King Louis IX of France released by his Egyptian captors after paying a ransom of one million dinars and turning over the city of Damietta. ... Carmarthen (Welsh Caerfyrddin - caer fort + Myrddin Moridunum, Merlin (origin disputed)) is the county town of Carmarthenshire, Wales. ... The National Library of Wales (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru in Welsh) is a legal deposit library in Aberystwyth, Wales. ...
The book contains a collection of poetry falling into various categories. There are poems with religious subjects and odes of praise and mourning. But most remarkable are the poems, which have as their themes stories relating to heroes of Dark Age Britain, and especially those connected with the legend of Arthur and Myrddin, also known as Merlin. It spoke of the Battle of Llongborth, which the location can no longer be pinpointed, and verified Arthur's involvement in the battle. A bronze Arthur in plate armour with visor raised and with jousting shield wearing Kastenbrust armour (early 15th century) by Peter Vischer, typical of later anachronistic depictions of Arthur. ... Merlin Ambrosius (Welsh: Myrddin Emrys (Merlin the Wise); also known as Myrddin Wyllt (Merlin the Wild), Merlin Caledonensis (Scottish Merlin), Merlinus, and Merlyn) is the personage best known as the mighty wizard featured in Arthurian legends, starting with Geoffrey of Monmouths Historia Regum Britanniae. ...
Sources
Jarman, A. O. H. (Ed.) (1982), Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin. Caerdydd : Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru. ISBN 0-7083-0629-2.
The BlackBook, which was named after the colour of its binding, includes some of the earliest Welsh literature, and includes references to King Arthur and Myrddin (Merlin).
The book, which is made of 54 pages made from animal skin, was part of a collection bought for £5,500 by the National Library of Wales in 1904 by its founder Sir John Williams.
"The book is so fragile that a special book cradle had to be used to hold it for photographs to be taken," he said.
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