First Branch of the Mabinogi

The First Branch of the Mabinogi refers to the opening chapter of The Mabinogion. While The Mabinogion consists of eleven tales, the first four tales are commonly accepted to form a distinct group; thereby being termed the "Four Branches of the Mabinogion". In the First Branch of the Mabinogion, Pwyll, prince of Dyfed, traded places with the mysterious Arawn of the Celtic Otherworld, Annwfn, so that he could defeat Arawn's rival, Hafgan, in mortal combat. This deed done, they switch back and Pwyll earned the title of Pwyll Pen Annwfn. Following, he came to meet the magical and forceful Rhiannon, who wished to marry him. He was, however, duped into giving her away by Gwawl due to Pwyll's friendly nature. Rhiannon devised a cunning scheme to subdue Gwawl, in which Pwyll, disguised as a beggar, was able to trap Gwawl in a magical sack from Rhiannon. Pwyll and Rhiannon married and eventually had a child, but the child went missing and the women who were supposed to watch him framed Rhiannon as a murderer. Rhiannon was punished by being forced to carry men and women on her back through the streets of Arberth. The boy, however, wound up in the hands of Teyrnon Twrf Liant, lord of Is Coed, who raised him as Gwri Wallt Euryn. Upon realising the boy was Pwyll's son, Teyrnon attended Arberth court and gave him back to the couple, releasing Rhiannon from her torment, and Gwri was renamed as Pryderi, who would go on to become a conqueror and a great hero of Britain.

Pwyll and Arawn
Pwyll was prince of the Welsh kingdom of Dyfed, which held seven cantrefs (administrative region of the kingdom). Rulers of the period usually held court in a variety of locations, rather than holding a single seat, and one of his chief courts was in the town of Arberth (likely Narberth today ) located in the cantref of Penfro. The prince decided to go hunting, a common pastime for nobles of the Medieval Era and often a prelude to heroic adventures, in Glyn Cuch (meaning Cuch "Valley", today known as Afon Cych, which marks the border between Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire). As he followed the sounds of his hunting dogs, he became aware of a rival pack of hunting dogs and followed their baying to a clearing, where he observed this pack bring down a stag and begin to feast upon it. He noted the dogs' unusual appearance; sparkling white coats with red ears (red and white are traditionally associated with the supernatural in Welsh tales ) before he drove them off to allow his own dogs to feast on the stag's carcass.

A stranger clad in grey hunting clothes, with a dapple-grey horse, then approached Pwyll with stilted greeting. There were cultural rules on greeting formulas, those of lower rank would normally speak greeting first to those of higher rank. The stranger revealed that he refused to greet Pwyll not due to any acknowledgement of rank, but from the personal slight that Pwyll had done upon him; the driving off of his dogs, the rightful victors upon the stag. Pwyll offered to make amends and when the stranger revealed himself to be a king, Prince Pwyll instantly offered up the greeting of his lower station. The mysterious man is Arawn (Ara-oon), king of Annwfn. Annwfn is a name for the Celtic Otherworld, which is located variously throughout the British Isles or has access to it from those locations. To make up for his faux pas against this supernatural being, Pwyll readily agreed to Arawn's quest; to slay a rival king of Annwfn by the name of Hafgan. Being an otherwordly lord, there was a trick to slaying Hafgan; he must be struck by a single blow and only one blow. A second blow would restore the king to life. To enact this deed, Arawn came up with the plan for a body-swap. Pwyll would be magically disguised as Arawn so that nobody would be able to tell the difference and Arawn gave permission for Pwyll to sleep with his beautiful wife for the whole year until the match was won. In turn, Arawn would be disguised as Pwyll and rule his kingdom in the human kingdom. Arawn escorted Pwyll to the outskirts of his court in Annwfn and upon entering the court, Pwyll found the place to be lavish and filled with good servants. He was dressed in brocaded, gold silk and was met by the queen, who was as beautiful as Arawn had suggested. They dined and engaged in pleasant conversation, where Pwyll was struck by her grace and delightful discourse. When they retired to bed, however, he turned his back to her and slept. Every day that year he would speak merry with the queen, but at nightfall he would remain silent and immediately sleep.

Upon the appointed date, one year later, Pwyll and the noblemen of his adopted court rode out to meet their rival. Upon reaching the ford, a knight declared that this was to be a duel between the two kings themselves and none may intervene. That night, the two met in mounted combat. Upon the first pass, Pwyll made a heavy blow against the shield of Hafgan, which splintered in an instant, allowing the lance to then shatter the king's armour too. The fatal blow was dealt and Hafgan was strewn upon the ground. Through his dying breath, Hafgan attempted to goad Pwyll, whom he believed to be Arawn, into delivering a second blow, but Pwyll was not to be fooled and he left the man to die as Hafgan was carried away by his noblemen. Pwyll turned to his own adopted noblemen and declared that the former vassals of Hafgan must swear allegiance to Arawn and subsume Hafgan's kingdom. Those that resisted would be put to the sword. By the next day, the two kingdoms of Annwfn were united under the disguised Pwyll. With his success, Pwyll returned to Glyn Cuch at the appointed hour and met with the true Arawn. They traded places to return to their own lives.

Upon returning to his own land of Dyfed, Pwyll was gladdened to meet his wife and showered her with affection. She was shocked by the change in him and related that for the past year he had been cold and dismissive of her during the night hours. Pwyll admired that Arawn had shown himself to be a true friend unto him, a mirrror of his own courtesy with Arawn's wife, and revealed unto his wife the truth of his switch with the otherworldly lord. Upon meeting with his lords the next day, he is informed of the generosity and wisdom with which he had ruled the past year and he also revealed to them the truth of his switch. He assured them, however, that he would continue to now rule in the style of his alter-ego. The friendship between Pwyll and Arawn continued to grow over time and Pwyll was given the title-name of "Pwyll Pen Annwfn" (meaning Pwyll "Head" of Annwfn ).

Pwyll and Rhiannon
Following a dinner at the court of Arberth, Pwyll chose to go for a walk and went to the top of Gorsedd Arberth (gorsedd meaning "mound" or "barrow" ). One of the noblemen with him remarked a folk tale that any nobleman that should sit upon the mound would either see something wonderous, or he would be injured. Not fearing injuring, Pwyll sat upon the mound. Soon they spotted a mysterious woman who wore flowing golden garments of brocaded silk who rode a tall, pale-white horse. Though she appeared to move at a slow, steady pace, her person moved quickly down the highway by the mound. Pwyll charged a knight to go after the stranger, but no matter how hard the man ran he could not reach the woman. So he made the attempt again upon horseback, but again he was unable to reach her, despite her and her steed still having the appearance of a slow gait. The next day, the same band of men sat upon the mound but were attended by the fastest mount in the land. The rider made the attempt to reach the woman, who appeared again in much the same manner, but was, again, thwarted. Yet again, the noblemen and Pwyll came to the mound the following day. This time, Pwyll would ride out himself to give chase. He suspected that she was a supernatural spirit with an urgent message for someone on the human plane. No matter how he pursued, she was forever out of reach of him, just as she had been on the previous days. Eventually he called to her, asking her to stop, and she freely acquiesced, commenting that it would have been better for his horse had he made that request sooner. As she drew back her headdress to speak with him, Pwyll found that she was the most attractive woman he had yet encountered in all the land. He asked her her business in these lands and she admitted that he business was with him himself. She was Rhiannon (Rhiannon is closely associated with horses, linking her to the goddess Epona ), daughter of Hyfaidd Hen (Hen meaning "old"). She explained that her father was forcing her into marriage against her will, yet she would agree to marry that man given the rejection of her true love; Pwyll himself. Pwyll readily agreed that he would marry her, so she arranged that he should attend the court of her father, Hyfaidd, in one year, before she would meet Pwyll's rival for her hand. Pwyll refused to talk of Rhiannon to his noblemen, after their parting, until the appointed date. He rode to the court of Hyfaidd with ninety-nine knights and was welcomed to the grand feast that Rhiannon had arranged. However, as the festivities began, an auburn-haired youth wearing brocaded silk entered the hall where the feast was ensuing.

The youth declared that he was there to make a request of Pwyll, who responded freely that he would do whatever the young man asked if it were within his power. Rhiannon quickly chastised Pwyll's unthinking words and remarks how stupid he was for making such a vow, which he was now beholden to as the man pressed his claim to Rhiannon herself. He was Gwawl, son of Clud, who was a powerful man with many followers and Pwyll would now be disgraced should be refuse this boon he had offered so easily. In order to spare Pwyll the humility, Rhiannon told him to agree to the terms but that she would concoct a plan to ensure that Gwawl would never have her.

She explained her plan to Pwyll as she gave him a small bag. She would agree to sleep with Gwawl in one year, after a feast similar to the one she had given Pwyll. Pwyll himself, along with his ninety-nine knights, was to arrive and hide within the wood. During the festivities, Pwyll was to come down to the feast wearing rags and carrying the small bag she gave him and ask the lord to fill it with as much food as he could. The bag, she explained, was a magical, bottomless bag that would never be full. Pwyll should make the claim to Gwawl that his sack would only be full should a high nobleman step into the sack to stomp down the food. He should then pull the bag over Gwawl's head and trap him within the bottomless sack. Using a loud hunting horn, he was to then summon his retinue to descend upon Gwawl's own followers. With this plan in mind, Pwyll agreed to give Rhiannon to Gwawl and Rhiannon requested that Gwawl attend their wedding feast in one year's time. That year passed and when Pwyll, with his men, arrived in the wood, he could see the feast had begun. He went down, dressed in the rags befitting a beggar, and made the request for food as instructed by Rhiannon. Gwawl, not recognising his foe, agreed to put food into the sack, but it never became full. When Pwyll explained that a nobleman must push the food down with his own feet into the sack for it to become full, Rhiannon trilled with adoration for Gwawl to perform the act ane he readily agreed. Soon as Gwawl had his feet into the bag, Pwyll yanked it over his head and blew upon his horn to call his forces against the unsuspecting revellers. He removed his ragged garments to reveal himself as prince of Dyfed. The soldiers were rounded up and as each of Pwyll's knights passed by the sack containing Gwawl, they struck it and asked what was inside. The other knights mockingly replied that it was a badger. This is apparently a "game" played by boys at the time, to beat someone inside a sack and proclaim it was a badger and is supposedly the origins of said game. From within the sack, Gwawl begged that this was an unworthy demise of him and Rhiannon's father, Hyfaidd Hen, affirmed it was not a goodly death. Pwyll asked for further advice of Rhiannon, who once again displayed her intelligence, and made that Gwawl must avow that no vengeance be claimed for this act and that Gwawl must supply all suppliants and musicians on Pwyll's behalf. Gwawl quickly agreed and Pwyll released him from the sack. Guarntors were drawn up for both parties and Gwawl requested that he be allowed to leave and bathe his wounds, leaving his own noblemen to act in his stead for the suppliants and musicians. Pwyll agreed and the hall was rearranged to now accommodate Pwyll and his own entourage instead. With this success, the two lovers went to bed together. The next day, the suppliants and musicians were attended without refusal as per Rhiannon's request, and the next day the two set forth for the court of Arberth.

The Crime of Rhiannon
The couple ruled for three years, but on the third year noblemen became worried that they had not yet produced an heir. They arranged to meet Pwyll at Preseli in Dyfed (possibly related to Preseli Hills). They asked that Pwyll consider having a new wife as Rhiannon seemed to be incapable, however Pwyll asked that they give the couple one more year and then he would consider this request. Within that year, Rhiannon fortunately gave birth to a son. Six women were assigned as nurses for the boy, but one night the six of them fell asleep and when they awoke, the boy had disappeared. Fearing retribution, the women decide to lay the blame on Rhiannon, advocating that she killed the child, by smearing deer blood upon Rhiannon in her sleep (this would mark Rhiannon as the "Culminated Wife" motif ). When Rhiannon awoke and asked for the child, the women declared that Rhiannon should know and that they were bruised and battered from trying to fend off the cruel and murderous Rhiannon herself. Rhiannon, ever the intelligent mind, instantly saw through this ploy and declared pity upon these women that they were so fearful for having lost the child that they would blame her. But no coaxing altered the stance of these women and when Pwyll Pen Annwfn arose, he was petitioned by the noblemen to divorce Rhiannon for the crime. Pwyll, however, refused to divorce her, declaring that he had no cause to do so unless she had no child and that, to his knowledge, she had had a child by him. However, he permitted that she could be punished if she had done wrong. Unable to argue her case against the six women, Rhiannon accepted her punishment. She was to sit upon a mounting block and tell her story of murder to those who did not know of her crime and offer to carry any man or woman upon her back to the court. Fortunately, few accepted to be carried by her, so she sat upon her block day-after-day.

Teyrnon Twrf Liant
The kingdom of Gwent, in south-east Wales, was split into two cantrefs (diplomatic regions within a kingdom). One to the north, named Uch Coed, and one to the south, named Is Coed. Is Coed was governed by Teyrnon Twrf Liant and in his household was a handsome mare that birthed a new foal every May eve, but that foal would disappear every year. Teyrnon brought the horse indoors and, while armed, awaited the birth of the foal. When the young horse is born, Teyrnon began to investigate its health when a terrible noise alerted him. A moment later and a terrible clawed hand came through the window and grabbed the animal. Teyrnon used his sword to severe the arm and save the animal. Teyrnon chased the screaming beast away from the house, but upon realising he left the door open he returned. At the door he discovered a baby swaddled in brocaded silk, with a head of golden hair. Teyrnon took up the baby and brought it to his wife in bed. After relaying the tale of events, she made the request that they not only adopt the child, but tell everyone that the child is hers and she is his natural mother, to which Teyrnon agreed. The baby was then given a naming-ceremony (the original author used the phrase "baptised in the way it was done at the time", thus acknowledging that the time period did not have baptism ) and named Gwri Wallt Euryn (meaning Gwri of "Golden Hair" ). Gwri grew up far faster than his years, being akin to a three-year-old when he was one, and a six-year-old when he was two (This marks the "wonder child" motif that is common in literature, making the boy a would-be hero of great calibre. Some are paired to an animal at birth, as in this case ). Teyrnon's wife asked of the foal that had been born the same night that Gwri appeared and requested that the steed be broken in and gifted to Gwri, to which Teyrnon agreed.

However, news reached Teyrnon of Dyfed, with the unfortunate Rhiannon being cruelly punished for the crime of slaying her own son. Once, in the past, Teyrnon had been vassal to Pwyll Pen Annwfn and knew his appearance well. Upon connecting his adopted child to the lost child of Pwyll, he could remark upon the strong resemblance of Gwri to Pwyll and was wretched with guilt of raising another man's son. He spoke to his wife in private on the subject, who agreed the boy must be returned. She was certain they would receive thanks for releasing Rhiannon from her undue punishment, thanks for saving and raising the boy and that Gwri, when older, would view them as his foster-parents. The next day, Teyrnon and the boy rode for the court at Arberth. When they entered the town, they found Rhiannon upon her mounting-block where she confessed her crime of murder and offered to carry any man upon her back to their destination. Both Teyrnon, Gwri and the Teyrnon's aides refused and they resumed their journey to meet with Pwyll, who had just returned from a circuit of Dyfed. At dinner, which was attended by Pwyll, Rhiannon, Teyrnon and Gwri, the lord of Is Coed retold the events of the creature, the foal and his finding and raising the boy, which culminated in him declaring Gwri to be the child of Rhiannon. Rhiannon, hopeful, admitted that she would be relieved of great anxiety should this be her son, to which Pendaran Dyfed deemed she had just awarded her son the perfect name - Pryderi (meaning anxiety ). Pendaran asked what Teyrnon had dubbed the boy, and after hearing the answer of Gwri Wallt Euryn, he deemed Pryderi a better name and Pwyll agreed that the boy's mother's first words on the subject should be an honourable name. Teyrnon admitted that his wife was grieving for the loss of the boy and Pwyll declared that he would ensure Teyrnon and his wife were well-compensated for their time rearing Pryderi. He decided that Pendaran Dyfed should foster the boy now, but that Teyrnon would always be a foster-father to Pryderi. Teyrnon and his knights returned to their own lands and Pryderi was raised by Pendaran for many years until the death of Pwyll Pen Annwfn, at which time Pryderi came to rule the seven cantrefs of Dyfed.

During his time as lord of Dyfed, Pryderi went on to conquer the three cantrefs of Ystrad Tywi and the four cantrefs of Ceredigion, to bring them together as the seven cantrefs of Seisyllwch. Pryderi then sought a wife and took Cigfa, daughter of Gwyn Gohoyw, son of Gloyw Walltlydan, son of Casnar Wledig.

And so ends this branch of the Mabinogion.