Taliesin

Taliesin is a name that appeared frequently in Welsh myths and legends as a master bard. Yet Taliesin could also possibly be a historical figure who lived in the sixth century AD, as mentioned by Nennius, a 9th century historian. Here, you will find the mythical Taliesin as well some notes about the historical Taliesin.

According to Hanes Taliesin (Tale of Taliesin), an additional tale in the Mabinogion, Taliesin was a reincarnation of Gwyon Bach (or Gwion Bach), a servant of the goddess Ceridwen. Gwyon Bach had accidentally tasted three drops from the cauldron of Inspiration, which was meant for Ceridwen's son. Fearing punishment from the goddess, he fled, transforming himself into various animal forms. But when Gwyon Bach transformed himself into a grain, Ceridwen turned herself into a hen and swallowed Gwyon Bach (grain). Ceridwen became pregnant and gave birth to Taliesin.

Instead of killing the baby, Ceridwen threw the infant into the sea. The child was rescued by Elffin (Elphin), who became Taliesin's foster father. At thirteen, Taliesin won renown as a bard par excellence when he rescued his foster-parents from Maelgwn Gwynedd, king of Wales. He did this by challenging Maelgwn's court bards with his skills in poetry, wisdom and foreknowledge.

You will find the full legend of Taliesin in the Mabinogion.

• Taliesin the Hero

• The Real Taliesin?

Taliesin the Hero

Taliesin appeared in other Welsh poems in the Mabinogion. In the tale of Branwen, Taliesin was one of seven survivors, including Manawyddan and Pryderi, in the war against Ireland. They took the head of Bran the Blessed to a castle at Gwales, where they lived for eighty years.

In another tale called Culhwch and Olwen, Taliesin was listed as one of the companions of Arthur who helped Culhwch in his quest. There are no other descriptions of Taliesin's participation in the story.

In the tale of the Dream of Rhonabwy, Taliesin had a son named Afaon (Avaon) who appeared twice in the Rhonabwy's dream.

Taliesin also sailed in a ship called Prydwen with Arthur and Arthur's companions (including Pryderi), in a tale called Preiddiau Annwfn (Spoils of Annwfn). Once again, Taliesin was one of seven survivors who tried to steal a magic cauldron in Caer Siddi, an Annwfn or Otherworld.

Taliesin was sometimes confused with Myrddin or Merddin (the Welsh spelling of Merlin). However, Myrddin was a purely fictional character who was said to have gone mad after the battle of Arfderydd. Though sometimes writers distinguished them as two separate persons, when the two appeared in a dialogue. Merlin may have been a successor of Taliesin, who was also skilled in prophecy.

According to Geoffrey of Monmouth's Vita Merlini (c. 1150), Merlin recovered from his madness and lived in a large house with 70 doors and windows, built by his sister Ganieda. Taliesin was also said to have joined Merlin. They debated over issues and prophecies that were to come. Before arriving, Taliesin had brought the dying Arthur, after the battle of Camlann, to the isle of Avalon for nine sisters to heal the king.

See Merlin, The Wild Man of the Woods.

The Real Taliesin?

According to Nennius, a Welsh historian of the 8th century who wrote the Historia Brittonum, Taliesin was one of five great Welsh bards known as the cynfeirdd (oldest Welsh poets) during the sixth century. The other poets were Talhaiarn Cataguen, Aneirin (Neirin), Bluchbard and Cian (Guenith Guaut). No other details were given. Taliesin was considered to be the bard of bards. Nothing is really known about the real Taliesin.

The Book of Taliesin was supposed to contain a collection of poems composed by Taliesin. However, those poems that survived were preserved in a manuscript written in the 13th century, seven hundred years after Taliesin. Of the sixty poems found in this manuscript, no more than twelve can be said to be genuine, but even these were dated no earlier than the 9th century.

Among these genuine poems, there is a poem or eulogy of Urien, king of the ancient Welsh territory of Rheged (Lowland Scotland), who mourned over the loss of his son, Owain (Yvain), who had fallen in the battle against the Germanic Angles.

Urien and Owain would later reappear in the Arthurian legends as Urien of Moray (Scotland) or Urien of Gorre, and his son Owein was known by his French and English name: Yvain or Ywain. Yvain was a first cousin of Gawain and became one of Arthur's prominent knights of the Round Table. (If we are talking about the historical Arthur and Urien, then according to the Welsh Annals Urien had lived a generation or two after Arthur's time. However, the Arthurian legend made the two kings contemporaries and related by marriage.)

Taliesin was believed to be a contemporary of Urien Rhegd and Owain. In some works, there was a version about the life of Taliesin which was different from his miraculous birth to Ceridwen.

Taliesin was the son of Saint Henwg of Caerlleon (Caerleon) upon Usk. Taliesin served Urien Rhegd as chief bard in Aberllychwr, and became the tutor of Elffin, a son of Urien Rhegd.

One day, pirates from Ireland captured Taliesin. Taliesin escaped in a skin coracle. Gwyddno Garanhir rescued Taliesin when his coracle got stuck on Gwyddno's weir. Gwyddno, who also had a son named Elffin, asked the bard to be his son's tutor.

Gwyddno Garanhir was lord of Lowland Cantred, and his territory became swamped by the sea. Taliesin left Gwyddno and served as Arthur's chief bard, but retired to his estate when Arthur died.

There were other similar accounts to this, with slightly different variations about his life.

Whether Taliesin actually existed, he played a role in some of the Welsh literature as the most divine bard.