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King Arthur’s Pedigree and Family: A Sourcebook
A collection of medieval Welsh, Gaelic, and Latin references to the family of King Arthur.
- Historical Texts and Inscriptions
- Chronicles, Pseudo-Historical and Hagiographic Texts
- Poetic and Prose Texts
- Medieval and Early-Modern Welsh Genealogical Tracts
- Irish and Scottish Material
- Bibliography
- Links
HISTORICAL TEXTS AND INSCRIPTIONS
Gildas, De Excidio Britanniae, early 6th century
[Latin Text][English Translation (Hugh Williams)]
Gildas mentions the tyrant Magnus Maximus withdrawing troops to Gaul, the “proud tyrant “(likely Uortigernus/Guorthigirn) who invited Saxon mercenaries to Britain to fend off the Picts and Scotti (Irish), Ambrosius Aurelianus, “last of the Romans” who lead the Britons to victory against the mutinous Saxons , the Battle of Badon fought in the year of Gildas’s birth (no victor mentioned, but later sources assign this victory to Arthur), and the wicked native kings of Gildas’s era, Aurelius Caninus, Cuneglassus [= Cynlas of Rhos in later Welsh sources], Constantinus of Damnonia [who may be the same man known as Custennin Gorneu (Corneu = “of Cornwall”) in later Welsh sources], Uortiporius/Uerteporius of Demetia [=Guortepir of the Harleian MS 3859 genealogy; Demetia = Dyfed in Wales], and Maglocū [Mailcun/Maelgwn of later Welsh sources].
Notes: In the 12th century, Geoffrey of Monmouth, who used Gildas as a source for his highly fictitious Historia Regum Britanniae, made Ambrosius Aurelius the brother of Uther Pendragon, thus making him the uncle of King Arthur; this is likely an innovation of Geoffrey’s part, as no early Welsh sources make Ambrosius and Arthur relatives.
Castle Dore – Stone Inscription – mid-late 6th century
Link: Inscription data from Celtic Inscribed Stones Project (CISP)
DRUSTANUS HIC IACIT CVNOMORI FILIVS – “Here lies Drustanus son of Cunomorus”
Notes: Cunomorus may or may not be the same man called Cynfawr in later Welsh genealogies. The collocation of the names Drustanus (which may be an early form of the name Drystan/Tristan) with Cunomorus in this inscription has lead to much speculation about potential Arthurian connections, since Cynfawr is often regarded as an ancestor of King Arthur in medieval Welsh genealogies (see below) and Drystan/Tristan was early on drawn in to the Arthurian orbit in poetry and romance. It is possible, however, that the similarity of the names is purely coincidental; the name Cunormorus may mean “Sea Dog” (from Brittonic *Cuno-moros [compare the personal name Cunomorinus found on a Latin inscription from Towcester, in: Britannia, 38, 2007, p. 361], as opposed to “Great Dog”, the literal translation of Cynfawr, from Brittonic *Cuno-māros) and Drustanus may not, in fact, be the correct reading of the name, but rather *Drustauus.
CHRONICLES, PSEUDO-HISTORICAL AND HAGIOGRAPHICAL TEXTS
Historia Brittonum – c. 829 AD
[English Translation (William Gunn)] [Latin Text]
Artur – a general (dux belli/bellorum literally “leader of war/wars”) who fought in co-operation with British kings against the Saxons,
Ut(h)er – Arthur’s father (found only in glosses from two 12th, 13th c. recensions of HB, where the author suggests Ut[h]er is not actually the name of Arthur’s father, but Arthur’s epithet(!); the gloss reads ‘mab uter britannice, filius horribilis Latine; quoniam a pueritia sua crudelis fuit’ [“Mab Uter in British is filius horribilis in Latin, because he was cruel from his childhood”]).
Historia Brittonum: Mirabilia (“Wonders”)
Amir – son of Arthur (by whom he was slain); has miraculous burial mound in Ercing called Licat Amir (Amir is actually the Old Welsh name for the river Gamber in Herefordshire; Licat Amir – Old Welsh for “Eye/Source of the Gamber” – is the name of a spring at the river’s source ).
Caball – Arthur’s hunting dog; he left a footprint in a stone in Buellt when Arthur (who is here called a miles, “warrior” in Latin) hunted the boar Troit.
Annales Cambriae – c. mid-10th cent. AD
[Latin Text] [ENGLISH TRANSLATION]
Arthur fought at Badon, he and Medraut fell at the Battle of Camlann
Notes: Arthurian material may possibly be late addition to the text – there is no indication in early versions if Arthur and Medraut were enemies or allies, no less relatives (as in later sources, such as Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae); late versions of AC add that Medrawt was Arthur’s betrayer and that they fell by each other’s wounds
Genealogia Sancti Winnoci – 11th c. – Breton genealogy of St. Winnoc
[Latin Text]
Riwalus Britanniae Dux filius fuit Derochi, filii Witholi filii Urbieni filii Cathovi, filii Gerentonis. Hic autem Rivalus a transmarinis veniens Britanniis cum multitudine navium totam minorem Britanniam tempore Chlotarii Regis Francorum, qui Chlodovei Regis filius extitit.
Hic Riwalus genuit filium nomine Derochum, Derochus genuit Riatham & Riatha[m] genuit Ionam, Jonas genuit Judwalum & Judwalus genuit Juthaelum, Juthaelus autem genuit sanctum Judicahelum Regem & sanctum Judocum & Winnochum, Eochum, Eumaelum, Docwalum, Gozelum, Largelum, Riwas, Riwaldum, Judgozethum, Helom, Ludon, Quenmaelum. Idem autem Juthaelus genuit filias quarum sunt nomina sancta Curiela, Onnenna, Bredequen, Cleor, Prust.
“Riwal, duke of the Britains, was son of Deroch, son of Withol, son of Urbien, son of Cathou, son of Gerento. This Riwal went across the sea from Britain with many ships all at once to Brittany in the time of Clothar king of the Franks [c. 497-561 AD], who was son of King Clovis.”
“This Riwal sired a son named Deroch; Deroch sired Riatham and Riatham sired Ionas. Ionas sired Iudwal and Iudwal sired Iuthael. Moreover, Iuthael sired saint Iudichael, king and saint Iudoc, and Winnoch, Eoch, Eumael, Docwal, Gozel, Largel, Riwas, Riwald, Iudgo(r)eth, H[a]elon, [I]udon, Cenmael.
Notes: If Catou(i)us and Gerento in this pedigree (which is of dubious origins) are derived from Welsh Cadwy son of Gereint (son of Erbin), then we have here references to cousins of Arthur (See Jesus College MS 20.10 and Vita Cantoci below). Riatham is the Old Breton cognate of the Latinized British name Riothamus, though this Riatham and Riothamus are likely not the same person for chronological reasons.
Gesta Regum Anglorum – William of Malmesbury – c.1125
[English Translation] [Latin Text]
Walwen – nephew of Arthur
“Tunc in prouincia Walarum, quae Ros uocatur, inuentum est sepulchrum Walwen, qui fuit haud degener Arturis ex sorore nepos. Regnauit in ea parte Britanniae quae adhuc Walweitha uocatur: miles uirtute nominatissimus….”
“At that time [1066-87] in the Welsh province known as Ros, was found the sepulchre of Walwen, who was the by no means degenerate nephew of Arthur through his sister. He ruled in that part of Britain which is still called Walweitha [= Galloway, Gall-wyddel in Welsh] and was a warrior most famous for his courage…”
Historia Regum Britannia – Geoffrey of Monmouth – c. 1136 AD
[Latin Text]
Notes: that Aldroen (Old Breton Altroen) son of Salomon was accepted as a 5th century king of Brittany by late medieval and early modern Breton historians (Salomon is stated to have reigned after Grallon [or vice-versa], who succeeded Conan Meriadoc), but sources mentioning him prior to Geoffrey’s HRB are lacking. In later Breton histories he is stated to be the eponymous founder of the Breton town of Châtelaudren, former capital of the province Goello (in the Chronicon Briocense we read “Audroenus rex quartus a Conano fuit; iste fecit castrum Audroeni prope Guingampum”; the town is called called Castellum Audroeni in a charter dating to 1148 concerning the church of Saint Mary of Lanleff and Castrum Audrini in a charter from 1181; the fortress’ foundation dates to the 11th century). In a charter concerning Ploucasnou (OBr Ploicathnou) dating to 1061 and ascribed to Bertha de Blois (daughter of Odo II Count of Blois and wife of Alan III Duke of Brittany) and her son Conan II Duke of Brittany (brother of Hawise Duchess of Brittany, wife of Hoel II Duke of Brittany, who were the parents of Alan IV Fergant Duke of Brittany), mention is made of a witness named Pontius (or Poncius) son of Aldro(e)nus; he is likely the same person as Eudo Pontius, mentioned in the Lanleff charter above in connection with Castellum Audroeni. André-Yves Bourgès suggests that Castellum Audroeni could be named after Eudo Pontius’ father Aldro(e)nus.
Octauius is Geoffrey’s faux-Latinization of Old Welsh/Breton Outam (Outham in the Breton Vita Gurthierni. and Eudaf in Middle Welsh texts).
Brut y Brenhindedd – 13th c. (WELSH TRANSLATION OF GEOFFREY’s HISTORIA REGUM BRITANNIAE)
[Welsh Text]
Arthur son of Eigyr (daughter of Amlawd)] and Uther Pendragon (brother of Emreys wledyc and Constans) son of Custennyn (brother of Aldwur [Aldwr] king of Llydaw) son of Kynuawr [son of unnamed king] [son of unnamed king] son of Kynan Meyryadawc (ally of Roman usurper Maxen) nephew of Eudaf.
Brut Tysilio – c. 1500 (WELSH TRANSLATION OF GEOFFREY’S HISTORIA REGUM BRITANNIAE)
[Welsh Text]
Arthyr son of Eigr (daughter of Amlawd) and Ythr (brother of Emrys and Constant) son of Cystennin [son of unnamed king] [son of unnamed king] [son of unnamed king] son of Cynan Mairiadawc (ally of Maxen, husband of Elen daughter of Eydav) nephew of Eydav.
Notes: The Welsh Brutiau (singular Brut) are translations of Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Brittaniae, with recognizable Welsh names de-Latinized (and, in cases where Geoffrey’s names were unfamiliar to the translator, an approximate Welsh match was chosen).
Vita Goeznouii (also excerpted in 14th c. Breton pseudo-history, Chronicon Briocense) – Breton Latin saint’s life c. 12th c.
[Latin Text]
After Brutus & Corineus ruled Albidia (Albion/Britain), Conanus Meriadocus conquered Armorica, founding Letauia (Brittany); later Uortigernus ruled Britain, followed by Artur.
Notes: For many years the Vita Goeznouii has been regarded by a number of scholars as a work of the early 11th century and a potential source for Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae, but more recent analysis of the history of the text by French scholar Andre-Yves Bourges dates it to after the end of the 12th century. If this is accurate, the text would likely have been influenced by Geoffrey’s Historia, and not the other way around.
Vita Gurthierni – Cartulary of Quemper – 12th c.
[Latin Text]
Gurthiern son of Bonus and Dinoi (=Thenoi, derived from Life of Saint Kentigern) daughter of Lidinin king of Britain (=Lewdwn Lwydawc of Welsh genealogies, Leudonus of the Life of Saint Kentigern, Loth of Lodonesia in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae];
Bonus son of Glou son of A[m]bros son of Dos son of Iacob son of Genethauc son of Iugdual (*Iudgual) son of Beli, brother of Kenan (kings of Laeticia [=Letauia]), son of Outham Senis (=Eudaf Hen of Welsh tradition) son of Anna (mother of Beli; cousin of the Virgin Mary[!!]) son of Maximiani son of Constantius son of Constantinus son of Helena
Notes: An entirely fictitious pedigree cobbled together from various Welsh sources. Geoffrey of Monmouth implies – and several Welsh genealogies assert – that Arthur was a descendant of Eudaf Hen through his son Cynan, who appear in this dubious Breton pedigree as Outham Senis (= Senex, a translation of Welsh Hen “Old, Inveterate, Elder”) and Kenan. The spelling of the name Outham indicates that it was picked up from an Old Welsh source. The insertion of Dinoi daughter od Lidinin as mother of Gurthiern indicates that the saint has been confused with Cyndeyrn (St. Kentigern), son of Denw daughter of Leuddun Llwyddog.
Vita Carantoci – Latin saint’s life – 12th-13th c.
[English Translation] [Latin Text]
Arthur and Cato (=Cadw(y)) were kings in Dindraithou [in Cornwall; cf. Cormac mac Cuilennáin’s Dinn Tradui]
Vita Illtuti – anonymous Latin saint’s life – 12th-13th century?
[English Translation] [Latin Text]
Illtutus is son of the warrior prince Bicanus of Letauia and Rieingulid daughter of Anblaud (=Amlawdd); Illtutus is cousin (consobrinus; maternal male cousin) of king Arthurus.
POETIC AND PROSE TEXTS
Since the date of composition for many of these texts cannot be precisely determined, and is still a matter of debate among scholars, many of the dates given here are for manuscripts in which they are to be found (which at least gives us a rough terminus ad quem).
Dialogue of Arthur and the Eagle (Ymddiddan Arthur a’r Eryr) – Jesus College MS 3 – no earlier than c. 1150
[Welsh Text]
[also has parallels info in Triads]
Arthur’s nephew is Eliwlat son of Madawc son of Uthyr
Mi a wum (Ymddiddan Gwyddno Garanhir a Gwyn ap Nudd) – Black Book of Carmarthen – MS dates to c. 1250
[Welsh Text]
Llacheu, son of Arthur (Arthur is here described as “uthir yg kerteu” – “pre-eminent/marvellous in songs”; perhaps a poetic allusion to Uthyr as Arthur’s father?)
Pa Gur – Black Book of Carmarthen – MS dates to c. 1250 – poem is c. 10th or 11th c.
[Welsh Text]
One of Arthur’s men, Mabon m. Mydron, is listed as a servant [guas] of Uthir Pen Dragon.
Notes: It is not stated in the poem that Arthur is the son of Uthyr.
Marwnat Vthyr Ben – Book of Taliesin – DATE UNCERTAIN – early 14th c. MS
[Welsh Text]
Arthur implied to be son of Uthyr
Kadeir Teyrnon – Book of Taliesin – DATE UNCERTAIN – early 14th c. MS
[Welsh Text]
It is possible that the subject of the poem, the Teyrnon (“great lord”), who is said to be “of the lineage of Aladur” (o echen Aladur), may be Arthur (who is mentioned in one section of the poem).
The identity of Aladur is a mystery, though he may be commemorated in the Welsh place names Coedladur and Nant-Ladur. It has been proposed that Aladur might be a Welsh survival of the Brittonic god Alator(ius), who was identified with Mars. It may be significant that the Welsh Brutiau substitute the name Aldwr for Geoffrey’s unfamiliar Breton name Aldroenus (uncle of Uther Pendragon)
*Marwnad Madawc – Book of Taliesin (66) – DATE UNCERTAIN – early 14th c. MS
[Welsh Text]
Reference to Madawc son of Uthyr (and thus brother to Arthur).
Culhwch ac Olwen – Llyfyr Gwyn o Rhydderch (White Book of Rhydderch, 1325 AD) & Llyfyr Coch Hergest (Red Book of Hergest, 1375-1425 AD) – story may date to early 12th c.
[Welsh Text [Llyfr Coch Hergest)]
Arthur, husband of Gwenhwyfar (sister to Gwenhwyfach), father of Gwydre, uncle of Gwlachmei + Gwalhauet sons of Gwyar; cousin to Goreu m. Custennin (via dau. of Anlawd wledic), cousin to Culhwch m. Cilydd (via Goleudydd dau. of Anlawd)
Arthur’s mother’s brothers are Gweir Gwrhyd Enwir, Gweir Gwyn Paladyr, Gweir Dathar Wenidawc, Gweir m. Kadellin Tal Aryant, Llygatrud Emys and Gwrbothu Hen.
Arthur’s brother “on his mother’s side” is Gormant m. Ricca the Chief-ruler of Cornwall (Pennhynef Kernyw) [allusion to story that Igerna/Eigyr was married to a duke of Cornwall (dux Cornubiae/yarll Kernyw {in the Brutiau}) prior to Uthyr? But Geoffrey names the duke Gorlois].
Arthur’s in-laws (via his mistress/other wife[?] Eleirch merch Iaen, as per the Hanesyn Hen pedigree listed below) are Sulyen, Bratwen, Moren, Siawn and Caradawc m. Iaen.
Breudwyt Ronabwy – Llyfyr Coch Hergest – 13th-14th c.
[Welsh Text]
Arthur, father of Llacheu.
Gereint uab Erbin – Llyfyr Coch Hergest – 13th c. – 14th c. MS
[Welsh Text]
Arthur father of Amhar [=Amir of the Historia Brittonum]. Erbin uncle to Arthur, Gereint cousin to Arthur.
Notes: Gereint uab Erbin is an adaptation of Chretien de Troyes’ 12th century French Arthurian romance Erec et Enide.
BREUDWYT MACSEN WLEDIG – LLYFYR COCH HERGEST – 13TH C. – 14TH C. MS
[WELSH TEXT]
Kynan brother of Adeon and Elen Luydawc, all children of Eudaf Hen son of Karadawc. Elen marries the Roman emperor Macsen (Wledig), who awards her brother Kynan with land in Gaul that is to become Brittany [Llydaw].
Notes: not directly Arthurian, but Kynan is made the direct ancestor of Arthur by Geoffrey of Monmouth (see Historia Regum Britanniae above).
Trioedd Ynys Prydein / Triads of Britain – Peniarth MS 54 / Hengwrt 536
[Welsh text and English translation]
One of Three primary illusions of the Island of Prydain. – the illusion of Uthyr Pendragon (“Hut Uthyr Bendragon”)
Notes: no mention of any relationship to Arthur.
TRIOEDD YNYS PRYDEIN / TRIADS OF BRITAIN – Peniarth MS 126
Three Elen’s who went from Ynys Prydain: Elen ferch Coel, Elen ferch Eudaf, and Elen sister of Arthur, who is said to have gone with Arthur when he went to fight Frollo, and she did not return.
Notes: see: Bartrum, Peter, Welsh Classical Dictionary, Nat’l Library of Wales, 1993, p. 234; the reference to Frollo shows the influence of Geoffrey of Monmouth.
Trioedd Ynys Prydein – Hergest Triads – Llyfyr Coch Hergest – 13th c. – 14th c.
[English Translation] [Welsh text]
One of the “Three great enchantments of the Isle of Britain” – the Enchantment of Uthyr Pendragon which he taught to Menw son of Teirgwaedd (“hut Uthur Penndragon. a dysgawd y Venw uab Teirgwaed“)
No mention of any relationship to Arthur; in Culhwch ac Olwen we are told that Menw has the ability to turn people invisible
Llyfyr Coch Hergest – Trioedd Ynys Prydein / Hergest Triad – 13th c. – 14th c.
[English Translation] [Welsh text]
“When a Host went to Llychlyn. An army (of assistance) went with Yrp of the Hosts to Llychlyn. And that man came here in the time of Cadyal of the Blows(?) to ask for a levy from this Island. And nobody came with him but Mathuthavar his servant. This is what he asked from the ten-and-twenty Chief Fortresses that there are in this Island: that twice as many men as went with him to each of them should come away with him (from it). And to the first Fortress there came only himself and his servant. (And that proved grievous to the men of this Island.) And they granted it to him. And that was the most complete levy that ever departed from this Island. And with those men he conquered the way he went. Those men remained in the two islands close to the Greek sea: namely, Clas and Avena.”
“And the second (army) went with Elen of the Hosts and Maxen Wledig to Llychlyn: and they never returned to this Island.”
“And the third (army) went with Caswallawn son of Beli, and Gwennwynwyn and Gwanar, sons of Lliaw son of Nwyfre, and Arianrhod daughter of Beli their mother. And (it was) from Erch and Heledd that those men came. And they went with Caswallawn their uncle in pursuit of the men of Caesar from this Island. The place where those men are is in Gascony. The number that went with each of (those armies) was twenty-one thousand men. And those were the Three Silver Hosts of the Island of Britain.”
Three Dishonoured Men who were in the Island of Britain:
“One of them: Afarwy son of Lludd son of Beli. He first summoned Julius Caesar and the men of Rome to this Island, and he caused the payment of three thousand pounds in money as tribute from this Island every year, because of a quarrel with Caswallawn his uncle.”
“And the second is Gwrtheyrn [Vortigern] the Thin, who first gave land to the Saxons in this Island, and was the first to enter into an alliance with them. He caused the death of Custennin the Younger, son of Custennin the Blessed, by his treachery, and exiled the two brothers Emrys Wledig and Uthur Penndragon [“Uthur Pendradon”] from this Island to Armorica, and deceitfully took the crown and the kingdom into his own possession. And in the end Uthur and Emrys burned Gwrtheyrn in Castell Gwerthrynyawn beside the Wye, in a single conflagration to avenge their brother.”
“The third and worst was Medrawd, when Arthur left with him the government of the Island of Britain, at the same time when he himself went across the sea to oppose Lles [Lucius], emperor of Rome, who had dispatched messengers to Arthur in Caerleon to demand (payment of) tribute to him and to the men of Rome, from this Island, in the measure that it had been paid (from the time of) Caswallawn son of Beli until the time of Custennin the Blessed, Arthur’s grandfather. This is the answer that Arthur gave to the emperor’s messengers: that the men of Rome had no greater claim to tribute from the men of this Island, than the men of the Island of Britain had from them. For Bran son of Dyfnwal and Custennin son of Elen had been emperors in Rome, and they were two men of this Island. And they Arthur mustered the most select warriors of his kingdom (and led them) across the sea against the emperor. And they met beyond the mountain of Mynneu [the Alps], and an untold number was slain on each side that day. And in the end Arthur encountered the emperor, and Arthur slew him. And Arthur’s best men were slain there. When Medrawd heard that Arthur’s host was dispersed, he turned against Arthur, and the Saxons and the Picts and the Scots united with him to hold this Island against Arthur. And when Arthur heard that, he turned back with all that had survived of his army, and succeeded by violence in landing on this Island in opposition to Medrawd. And then there took place the Battle of Camlan between Arthur and Medrawd, and was himself wounded to death. And from that (wound) he died, and was buried in a hall on the Island of Afallach.”
Arthur and Caledfwlch – Llanstephan MS 201 – late 14th c./early 15th c.
[ENGLISH TEXT] [Welsh Text]
Arthur is son of Uthyr Bendragon and Eigyr [who was married to Gwrleis, by whom she had the daughters Dioneta and Gwyar, the latter being the mother of Gwalchmei and Medrawt by Llew m. Cynfarch]
Notes: Welsh translation of Old French Arthurian romance displaying influence of Geoffrey of Monmouth via the Welsh Brut translations.
Hanesyn Hen pedigree
Plant Iaen: 1. Dirmig Corneu 2. Gwyn goluthon 3. Siaun 4. Kyradawg 5. Ievannwy 6. Llychlyn 7. Eleirch verch Iaen mam Kyduan ap Arthur
“The children of Iaen: 1. Dirmig of Cornouia 2. Gwyn goluthon (*godybrion/*gotyfron) 3. Sion 4. Kyradog 5. Ievannwy 6. Llychlyn 7. Eleirch daughter of Iaen was the mother of Kyduan son of Arthur.”
Y Seint Greal – Welsh translation of the French grail romance Perlesvaus – late 14th-early 15th c.
[English Translation] [Welsh Text]
Uthur Benndragon is Arthur’s father
Gwalchmei is Arthur’s nephew
Marwnad Duran – Mostyn MS 131 – 15th c.
Duran son of Arthur?
Sandde gyr y vran
odd i ar wyneb dvran
kv anwyl i magodd i vam
Arthvr
“Sandde [Bryd Angel] drive the crow
off the face of Duran
Dearly and belovedly his mother raised him.
Arthur [sang it]”
MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN WELSH GENEALOGICAL TRACTS
Names in brackets indicate alternate spellings in other manuscripts.
- Mostyn MS 117, 5
- Mostyn MS 117, 6
- Bonedd y Saint, 76
- Bonedd y Saint, 76
- Bonedd yr Arwyr, 27
- Bonedd yr Arwyr, 30a [Ach Arthur]
- Bonedd yr Arwyr, 30b [Ach Arthur]
- Bonedd yr Arwyr, 31 [Ach Arthur]
Bonedd y Saint, sect. 85
Efadier a Gwrial plant Llawvrodedd varchoc o Archvedd verch Arthur i mam
“Efadier and Gwrial, children of Llawfrodedd the knight and Archfedd daughter of Arthur, their mother”.
list of British kings – Jesus College MS 20 – 14th c.
Coel. Llyr. Constans. gwreic y Constans hwnnw oed Elen verch Coel. Constantinus. Constans vanach. Gwrtheyrn. Gwertheuyr vendigeit. Emrys wledic. Vthur pendreic. Arthur. Constantinus. Aurelius. Juor Maelgwn gwyned. Caterius. Catuan. Catwallawn. Catwaladyr vendigeit.
Coel; Llyr; Constans (the wife of this Constans was Elen daughter of Coel); Constantinus; Constans the monk; Gwrtheyrn; Gwethefyr the blessed; Prince Emrys, Uther Chief of Warriors; Arthur; Constantinus; Aurelius; Ifor; Maelgwn of Gwynedd; Caterius; Cadfan; Cadwallawn; Cadwaladr the blessed.
Notes: derived from Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae.
Late Pedigree (Bartrum, PP 58) :
King March of Cornwall ap Meirchion ap Custennin ap Cynfarch (sic) ap Tudwal
Late Pedigree – Peniarth MS 181 – mid-16th c.
Aldwr brenin Llydaw (“king of Brittany”) ap Kynfor ap Tudwal…
IRISH AND SCOTTISH MATERIAL
Acallam na Senórach – MS Laud 610, MS Rawlinson B487, Book of Lismore (15th c.:); MS A IV, Killiney (16th c.) – Irish Fenian tale composed in 12th c.
[English Translation] [Irish Text]
Artur is the son of Beine Brit (king of Britain)
Notes: Benne Brit “son of the king of Britain” is mentioned elsewhere in Irish literature – he is found in the tale of the Battle of Crinna and the 9th c. tale of Cath Maige Mucramma (where he is a British ally of the hero MacCon); it is not certain if the Artur mentioned in the AnS is the Arthur.
Lorgaireacht an tSoidhigh Naomhtha (Early Modern Irish translation of the Arthurian romance Quest of the Holy Grail) – 15th c.
Cing Artur m. Ibhar
“King Arthur son of Ibhar”
Note: Ibhar is a Gaelicization of Uther.
Scottish Campbell family genealogies
Leabhar Geinealach / Book of Genealogies – Dubhaltach mac Fhirbhisigh – c. 1650
Killbride version NLS MS 72 – c. 1530-1558
NLS MS 72 – c. 1467
Dubhne
Dubne
Dubne
Feradogh
Feradog
Merbe
Smerge
Smerbi
Artur
Artur
Artur
Iubar
Iobhar
Ambros
Lidir
Considin
Bernard
Amgcel
Muiris
Toisid
Magoth
Conmoc
Coiel
Considin
Catogan
Artur
Cadimor
Larnalin
Catogan
Tosid
Bende
Artur lamdearg
Mebrec
Benbriot
Grifin
Artur
Briotan
Allardad
Fergus Leterg
Artur
Lamdod
Fionlug
Artur og
Firmara
Artur mor
Banebriot
Briotus
Briotan
Fergus leth-derg
Nemed
Eachtra an Mhadra Mhaoil/Eachtra Mhacaoimh-an-Iolair (Tale of the Crop-eared Dog, Tale of the Eagle Boy) – two 18th century Irish Arthurian tales
Artur m. Iubar m. Ambros m. Constantin
“Arthur son of Uther son of Ambrosius son of Constantinus”
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
- Bartrum, Peter, Early Welsh Genealogical Tracts, University of Wales, 1966.
- Bartrum, Peter A Welsh Classical Dictionary, National Library of Wales, 1993.
- Bourgès, A-Y. “La cour ducale de Bretagne et la légende arthurienne au bas Moyen Âge : Prolégomènes à une édition critique des fragments du Livre des faits d’Arthur”, in “A travers les îles celtiques. Mélanges à la mémoire de Gwenaël Le Duc” ( Britannia monastica n° 12), 2008, pp. 79-119. Online here.
- Britannia, Volume 38, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 2007, p. 361.
- Bromwich, Rachel, Trioedd Ynys Prydein: The Welsh Triads. University of Wales, 1978.
- Bromwich. Rachel and Evans, D. Simon, Culhwch and Olwen: An Edition and Study of the Oldest Arthurian Tale, University of Wales, 1992
- Coe, John and Young, Simon, The Celtic Sources for the Arthurian Legend, Llanerch, 1995.
- Dooley, Ann, “Arthur of the Irish: A Viable Concept?” Arthurian Literature 21, 2004, pp. 9-28.
- Edwards, W. “The Settlement of Brittany”, Cymmrodor, Volume 11, 1892, pp. 90-91.
- Falconer, Sheila (ed. and trans.), Lorgaireacht an tSoidhigh Naomhtha: an Early Modern Irish translation of the Quest of the Holy Grail, DIAS, 1953 (repr. 1998)
- Gillies, William, “The ‘British’ genealogy of the Campbells”. In Celtica 23, 1999, pp. 82–95.
- Haycock, Marged, Legendary Poems from the Book of of Taliesin, CMCS, 2007
- Macalister, R. A. Stewart (ed. and trans),. Eachtra an Mhadra Mhaoil/Eachtra Mhacaoimh-an-Iolair (The Story of the Crop-Eared Dog/The Story of Eagle-Boy): Two Irish Arthurian Romances, . London: David Nutt, for The Irish Texts Society, 1908.
- Wright, Neil (trans.) and Reeve, Michael (Latin text ed.), Geoffrey of Monmouth’s The History of the Kings of Britain, Boydell, 2007.
- www.maryjones.us – The Celtic Literature Collective
LINKS
Bibliography of Gaelic Arthurian Literature by Linda Gowans
Article © 2012 Christopher Gwinn – last updated September 10, 2016