Manawyddan

Also known as: Manawyddan the son of Llyr / the son of Llyr · Family: Arthur's Court · Role: warrior · First appears: KILHWCH AND OLWEN OR THE TWRCH TRWYTH 9

Manawyddan, the son of Llyr and a warrior of Arthur’s forces, was the brother of Bendigeid Vran. In Branwen the Daughter of Llyr, he stood with his brother’s cause, joined the embassy concerning Matholwch, and was named among those sent after him. After the Island of the Mighty was defeated and Bendigeid Vran was wounded and died, his head was taken to London for burial; at the White Mount, Manawyddan gazed upon the town. Gwern was beloved by him and by all who saw him.

In Manawyddan the Son of Llyr, Manawyddan became close to his cousin Pryderi, and at Narberth he married Rhiannon: “And before the feast was over she became his bride.” He and Rhiannon, Pryderi, and Kicva shared such friendship that they remained together day and night. When a supernatural mist emptied the court at Narberth, Manawyddan and Pryderi travelled through Dyved and England, where saddlers and later cordwainers conspired to kill them after Manawyddan’s work succeeded. He remained faithful to Pryderi and Kicva, paid homage to Caswallawn, and learned the craft of making housings from Llasar Llaesgywydd.

After returning to Narberth, Manawyddan found a wheat croft stripped to bare straw; at midnight, he saw a vast host of mice carrying away the wheat. His enemy Llwyd later explained that his household had been transformed into mice to destroy Manawyddan’s corn.