Kilhwch

Family: Arthur's Court · Role: youth · First appears: KILHWCH AND OLWEN OR THE TWRCH TRWYTH 1

Kilhwch was the son of Kilydd and Goleuddydd, and the grandson of Prince Kelyddon. Though young, he was of gentle lineage and cousin to Arthur. When he learned of Olwen, he fell in love with her before ever seeing her, and was told that he could have no wife until he obtained her, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr.

In the third chapter, Kilhwch revealed his identity—“I am Kilhwch, the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince Kelyddon”—and asked Arthur to obtain Olwen for him as his boon. At Yspaddaden Penkawr’s court, he wounded him through the eye with a poisoned dart, then sought a fair pledge while pursuing Olwen’s hand. Yspaddaden imposed numerous impossible tasks, promising his daughter only when Kilhwch had completed them all; Kilhwch answered that Arthur would obtain the required marvels and threatened that he would gain Olwen while her father would lose his life.

At the end, Kilhwch and Goreu took possession of Yspaddaden Penkawr’s castle and treasures. That night, Olwen became Kilhwch’s bride and remained his wife for life.