Yspaddaden Penkawr

Family: Yspaddaden's household · Role: father of Olwen · First appears: KILHWCH AND OLWEN OR THE TWRCH TRWYTH 1

Yspaddaden Penkawr is the father of Olwen and the brother of Custennin, whom he oppressed because of his possessions. In chapter 3, Kilhwch asked Arthur to obtain Olwen as his boon: “I crave of thee then, that thou obtain for me Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr”. By chapter 4, Kilhwch had come to ask for her hand, while Yspaddaden asked that his brows be raised so he could see his prospective son-in-law.

At his palace in chapter 5, Yspaddaden was attacked with poisoned darts by Bedwyr, Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, and Kilhwch, who wounded him through the knee, chest, and eye. He then required Kilhwch to give a pledge of fair treatment and set numerous tasks before granting Olwen, including preparing wild land in a single day and obtaining items and assistance connected with Amaethon, Govannon, Gwlwlyd, Nynniaw, Peibaw, Llwyr, Gwyddneu Garanhir, Gwlgawd Gododin, Teirtu, Diwrnach Wyddel, Yskithyrwyn Benbaedd, Odgar the son of Aedd, Gado, and Gwyddolwyn Gorr.

In chapter 10, Kilhwch and his allies took possession of Yspaddaden’s castle and treasures. Kaw shaved his beard, skin, and flesh to the bone, and Goreu killed him, cut off his head, and placed it on a stake on the citadel: “Then Goreu the son of Custennin, seized him by the hair of his head, and dragged him after him to the keep, and cut off his head, and placed it on a stake on the citadel.”