Drudwas: a Cymric Arthurian hero (Fierce Silence)

Celtic Gods: The Cymric Hero, Drudwas (Fierce Silence)

Drudwas

The Cymric Arthurian Hero, also known as Drutwas: Fierce/Proud/Brave Silence

Drudwas (Drutwas) is a Cymric Arthurian hero known from the Mabinogi of Culhwch ac Olwen where he is a minor figure in Arthur's retinue. In later folklore he sets a trap to destroy Arthur, but is foiled by his own sister and is destroyed by his own trap.

Synonyms: Dryon
Cym: Host

Drudwas ap Driffin is a minor figure in Arthur's retinue in the Mabinogi of Culhwch ac Olwen. He only figures in this tale as Drutwas mab Tryffin. Were this the only reference then all that could be said is that Drudwas comes from the Middle Cymric words *drud for brave/proud/fierce and *gwas silence. Thus Drudwas is the 'proud silence'.

However, Drudwas is referred to in a seventeenth century MSS (though the language within the manuscript seems more archaic than the manuscript itself), Mostyn 146 which illuminates Drudwas' relationship with Arthur: Drudwas, son of Driffin the king of Denmark was gifted by his wife with three griffins (ederyn llwch gwin) and these would perform whatsoever their master demanded of them. A field of battle was appointed between Arthur and Drudwas and no-one was to come to this area but the two of them. Dridwas sent his griffins ahead of him, bidding them to slay the first person to arrive on the battledield. However, as Arthur was making his way hence he was accosted by Drudwas' sister, his mistress (whom, according to Culhwch ac Olwen can be taken to be Erdudwyl merch Driffin) who hindered him from going onto the field. In the end Drudwas himself made his way to the battlefield, supposing that Arthur had already been slain by the griffins according to his request. But he, himself, was the first on the filed and griffins snatched him up and began to rend him limb from limb. In the firmament of the sky the griffins finally realized whom they had captured in their talons and descended, wailing, to the earth for they had slain their master. The song they sang that day was taken by Llywarch Hen and immortalized:

Drudwas ap Tryffin trwm i ddiwyrnawd
Rhac trallawd a gorddin
Adwyth oedd ar gyffredin
Adar ai lladdawyd llwch gwin
Llywarch hen ai kant.

Drudwas, son off Driffin, heavy his day
By tribulation and mischance
It was unfortunate to all
The griffins slew him
Llywarch the Old sang this.

Drudwas is also mentioned is a single fragmentary and damaged triad from the geneaolgies where he is desgribed as belonging to one of the three berach (fine lineages) of the island of Britain and his lineage is given as Drudwas ap Driffin Farfog ap Groannog Glew Ddigar (Small-of-stature, valiant and love-less).

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