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Gereint
A Cymric Arthurian Hero, also known as Geraint, Gerontius
Gereint (Geraint, Gerontius) is a Cymric (Welsh) Arthurian hero known from the Mabinogi romance of Gereint fab Erbin. In the oldest sources he is portrayed as a great hero, the equivalent of Arthur himself and seems to originate in Devon. |
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Cym: ?Leader of Men
Gereint mab Erbin is best known as the eponymous hero of the romance Gereint vab Erbin (sometimes also known as Gereint ac Enid) contained in the Llyfr Coch Rhydderch which is a Cymric re-telling of Chrétien de Troyes Erec et Enide. However, an earlier version of Gereint appears in older Cymric material and it seems that the author of Gereint fab Erbin used the character of an already well-known hero in his tale.
The earliest reference to Gereint occurs in the elagaic poem Gereint fil(ius) Erbin contained within the Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin. In this Eulogy, Gereint is portrayed as a great hero, the equivalent of Arthur. He is said to have died at Llongborth [ship-prot], (probably Longport in Somerset). Gereint's men are described as the 'brave men of Diwneint' (Diwneint being Dumnonia or Devon).
The name Gereint is derived from the Brythonic *Gerontios and a Greek inscription in Asia Minor that reads ΓΕΡΟΝΤΙΟΥ ΜΑΡΕΟΥ (GERONTIOU MAREOU) suggests that it to be a widespread Celtic name that was spread to Asia Minor by the Galatians. The name Gereint may itself be derived from Cornish name, Gerent itself derived form of the original Gerontios. The name may be derived from the proto-Celtic *gerrjo- (Cattle Driver) and may be a term applied to a battle leader, ie one who leads or 'drives' men.
There is little doubt that Gereint is a hero from the south-west of Britain and the Jesus Genealogy XI places Gereint mab Erbin as a descendant of the Dumnonian line. A descendant, moreover, of the Plant Llŷr. Thought this is a fanciful lineage, it does fit in with the genealogies of other heroes of the fifth and sixth centuries, such as Arthur as being descended from the ancient race of giants through the lineage of Llŷr.
A Gereint is also mentioned in Aneurun's Y Gododdin as Gereint from the south, who was a member of Mynyddog's army and was present at the battle of Catraeth. Gereint also figures in the Mabinogi of Culhwch ac Olwen; though he figures simply as one of Arthur's host.
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