Maelgwn ap Cadwallon (c.480-c.547, reigned from 520s?) (Latin: Maglocunus; English: Malcolm), also known as Maelgwn Gwynedd, Maelgwn Hir ('the Tall') and Maelgwn I, was king of Gwynedd, and a character from Celtic mythology. Events Odoacer defeats an attempt by Julius Nepos to recapture Italy, and has Julius killed; Odoacer also captured Dalmatia. ... Events Ida founds the kingdom of Bernicia at Bamburgh (traditional date). ... Centuries: 5th Century - 6th Century - 7th Century Decades: 470s - 480s - 490s - 500s - 510s - 520s - 530s - 540s - 550s - 560s - 570s Years: 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 Events and Trends Maelgwn Hir ap Cadwallon, perhaps legendary, assumes the throne of Gwynedd in Great Britain (possible date... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Gwynedd was one of the kingdoms or principalities of medieval Wales. ... Celtic mythology is the mythology of Celtic polytheism, the apparent religion of the Iron Age Celts. ...

The historical Maelgwn king of Gwynedd was one of the most prominent rulers of 6th century Britain. He became one of the most famous (or infamous) leaders in Welsh history. He is one of five British kings castigated for their sins by the contemporary Christian writer Gildas (who referred to him as Malgocunus, meaning 'Great Hound') in De Excidio Britanniae. Maelgwn, described as "the island dragon", possibly a reference to his power base on Anglesey, is the most powerful of the five kings "... you the last I write of but the first and greatest in evil, more than many in ability but also in malice, more generous in giving but also more liberal in sin, strong in war but stronger to destroy your soul ...". Gwynedd was one of the kingdoms or principalities of medieval Wales. ... This Buddhist stela from China, Northern Wei period, was built in the early 6th century. ... For an explanation of often confusing terms such as Great Britain, Britain, United Kingdom and England, see British Isles (terminology). ... Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on the life, teachings, and actions of Jesus of Nazareth, known by Christians as Jesus Christ, as recounted in the New Testament. ... Gildas (c. ... Anglesey (Welsh: Ynys Môn, pronounced (IPA), roughly unniss mawn), is an island and county at the northwestern extremity of north Wales. ...

Gildas accuses Maelgwn of having driven his uncle from power by force "while still a youth". He then, says Gildas, repented of his sins and vowed to become a monk, but his repentance did not last and he returned to his previous ways. He is accused of having murdered his wife and his nephew in order to be able to marry his nephew's widow.

He was also said to be a great patron of the arts and a skilled lawgiver, although some attribute this reputation to Maelgwn's own propaganda. He established court at Deganwy, and surrounded himself with an entourage of bards and artisans who wrote glowingly of his achievements. Gildas takes a dim view of this, accusing him of listening to his own praise instead of praising God. By the time of his death, Maelgwn had established himself as the preeminent ruler of the region, and his sons Rhun and Brude would inherit control over both Gwynedd and the lands of the Picts in southern Britain. He is recorded in the Annales Cambriae as dying in the "yellow plague" of 547. U.S. propaganda poster, depicting a Nazi stabbing a Bible. ... Deganwy is a small town in the county borough of Conwy. ... Rhun ap Maelgwn (492-586, reigned from 549) (Latin: Rugenus, English: Run), also known as Rhun Hir (the Tall) was a king of Gwynedd. ... Bridei (or Brude), called MacMaelchon, was king of the Picts from 556 to 586 after the abdication of his cousin, Galam II. He was baptised by St Columba about 564. ... The Pictish Strathpeffer eagle stone, Highland, Scotland. ... Annales Cambriae, or The Annals of Wales, believed to date from 970, is a chronicle of events thought to be significant occurring during the years 447-954. ... Events Ida founds the kingdom of Bernicia at Bamburgh (traditional date). ...

Maelgwn in legend

Elias Gruffydd preserved the following mythological tradition in a manuscript he wrote in the mid-16th century, although some critics believe this story is much older. A manuscript (Latin manu scriptus, written by hand), strictly speaking, is any written document that is put down by hand, in contrast to being printed or reproduced some other way. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ...

King Maelgwn demanded that a distant son of one of his lords, Elphin, praise him and his court. Elphin refused, claiming his bard, Taliesin was a better bard and his wife a prettier woman than anyone the King had in his court. Taliesin knew what was happening, because he was a seer, and told Elphin's wife. Maelgwn's son Rhun went to Elphin's house to seduce his wife and prove Elphin's claims weren't true. Rhun got her drunk. When she passed out, Rhun tried to take her wedding ring off to prove her unfaithfulness; since the ring wouldn't come off, he cut off her finger. When King Maelgwn attempted to show the finger to Elphin, he pointed out that his wife cut her fingernails more often than the owner of the finger, had servants to kneed dough and never had any under her nails, and her ring was loose on her finger, and that one was tight.

Maelgwn demanded Taliesin come to his court to prove the other claim wrong. Taliesin gave twenty minutes for both himself and the King's bards to come up with an epic. The royal bards couldn't do it. When it came Taliesin's time, he caused a massive wind to rattle the castle. Frightened, Maelgwn sent for Elphin. Taliesin's next song caused Elphin's chains to detach. Maelgwn challenged the pair to a horse race. Taleisin arrived the next day with an old, weak horse. As each of the king's horses passed him at the very start of the race, Taliesin touched its rump with a twig of holly. When they had all passed, he dropped his hat to the ground. When the king's horses came back, right before the finish line, they stopped at the holly twigs Taliesin had laid there, and began to dance. Taliesin's old horse strolled back in quite a bit later and won the race.

There is an old story about one of Maelgwn's many partners, that reminds us of his incessant jealousy, though a similar version is also told of King Rhydderch (I) Hael the Generous of Strathclyde's queen. Upon his first marriage, Maelgwn had presented the beautiful Princess Nesta of the Southern Pennines with the traditional gold ring worn by all Queens of Gwynedd. Soon afterwards, however, the new queen lost the ring while bathing in a pool on the River Elwy. Afraid of what her husband would say, she visited the Bishop of Llanelwy (St.Asaphs), St.Asaph, to ask for his help. The saint invited the Royal couple to dinner that evening, where he explained to Maelgwn what had become of the Queen's ring. Maelgwn was furious and immediately accused Nesta of giving the ring away to an impoverished lover. St. Asaph managed to calm the situation enough for them to sit down to eat, and they all prayed to God that the ring might be found. Fresh fish, caught in the River Elwy, was served first and when the sceptical King cut into his dish, there was the ring inside! (1)

The 1911 Britannica has this tale to tell of him: In Celtic mythology, Elphin (in Welsh, Elfyn) was a son of Lord Gwyddno Garanhir of Gwynedd. ... For the studio established by Frank Lloyd Wright, see Taliesin (studio) Taliesin or Taliessin (c. ... In Welsh mythology, Prince Rhun was a son of Maelgwn. ... Species Ilex ambigua- Sand Holly Ilex amelanchier- Swamp Holly Ilex aquifolium- European Holly Ilex bioritsensis Ilex buergeri Ilex canariensis- Small-leaved Holly Ilex cassine- Dahoon Holly Ilex centrochinensis Ilex ciliospinosa Ilex colchica Ilex collina Ilex corallina Ilex coriacea Ilex cornuta- Chinese Holly Ilex crenata- Japanese Holly Ilex cyrtura Ilex decidua... Strathclyde (Welsh: Ystrad Clud) was one of the kingdoms of ancient Scotland in the post-Roman period. ... Typical Pennine scenery. ... The River Elwy (Afon Elwy in Welsh) is a river in north Wales and is a tributary of the River Clwyd. ... St. ... Asaph (God has gathered), is the name of five men from the Old Testament. ... (Redirected from 1911 Britannica) The Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica (1911) in many ways represents the sum of knowledge at the beginning of the 20th century. ...

The first Eisteddfod of which any account seems to have descended to us was one held on the banks of the Conway in the 6th century, under the auspices of Maelgwn Gwynedd, prince of North Wales. Maelgwn on this occasion, in order to prove the superiority of vocal song over instrumental music, is recorded to have offered a reward to such bards and minstrels as should swim over the Conway. There were several competitors, but on their arrival on the opposite shore the harpers found themselves unable to play owing to the injury their harps had sustained from the water, while the bards were in as good tune as ever.

Another legend concering Maelgwn is that he challenged the other kings of Wales to a contest to decide who would be overall ruler. He suggested that all the kings should sit on their thrones on the shore as the tide came in. The king who could stay on his throne the longest would be the winner. The other kings were forced from their thrones by the rising tide, but Maelgwn had ordered the construction of a throne which would float and therefore won the contest by a trick. An eisteddfod (from the Welsh verb-noun eistedd, sit; the plural is eisteddfodau) is a typically Welsh festival of literature, music and performance. ... Conway can refer to any of the following: // People David Conway Deborah Conway Derek Conway Elias Nelson Conway Gerry Conway Henry Seymour Conway Henry Wharton Conway James Conway James Sevier Conway Jill Ker Conway Jimmy Conway John Conway, mathematician Jon Conway Lynn Conway Moncure Daniel Conway Rob Conway Sean Conway... This Buddhist stela from China, Northern Wei period, was built in the early 6th century. ... Approximate extent of North Wales North Wales (known in some archaic texts as Northgalis) is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales, bordered to the south by Mid Wales. ... A minstrel was a bard who played songs to tell stories about other places or about historical events of the Middle Ages. ... Harper is an old English surname that originally belonged to a person who played the harp or who made harps. ...

Fiction

Maelgwn "the Dragon of the Isle" was a main character in the two trilogies (The Ancient Future trilogy and The Celestial Triad) written by Australian author Traci Harding. In the books, Maelgwn is portrayed as a fair, kind and loving man, whose childhood tutor was Taliesin. His father Caswallon was imprisoned by his uncle Cadfer, who then raped his mother Sorcha Lawhir (she killed herself rather than live with the consequences of the rape). Maelgwn killed his uncle eventually, and gave the throne back to his father. Traci Harding is an Australian novelist. ... For the studio established by Frank Lloyd Wright, see Taliesin (studio) Taliesin or Taliessin (c. ...

Cadwallon ap Einion (460-534; reigned from 500), also known as Cadwallon Lawhir (Long Hand), was a king of Gwynedd. ... Gwynedd was one of the kingdoms or principalities of medieval Wales. ... Rhun ap Maelgwn (492-586, reigned from 549) (Latin: Rugenus, English: Run), also known as Rhun Hir (the Tall) was a king of Gwynedd. ...

References

1) http://www.gbnf.com/genealog4/wheeler/html/notes.HTM