Maelgwn: a Cymric Hero and Ruler (Hound Chief)

Synonyms: Maelgwn Gwynedd, Maglocunos
Cym: Hound Chief

Maelgwn, more commonly known as Maelgwn Gwynedd (of Gwynedd) is an historical figure who, like so many other great historical figures, has been brought into the orbit of other legendary figures. Maelgwn (c 480–547) was the son of Cadwwallon Llawhir (Longhand), also known as Maelgwn Hir (The Tall) ruled Gwynedd from circa 520s and emerged as one of the most influential rulers of the 6th century Brython. By native souces he was said to be a great patron of the arts and a skilled lawgiver, though this may be due to Maelgwn's own propaganda. What is certain is that Maelgwn established court at Deganwy (the hill-name Bryn Maelgwn preserves his name there) where he surrounded himself with the best bards and artesans of the Island, all of whom wrote glowingly of their patron's achievements. By the time of his death, Maelgwn had established himself as the preeminent ruler of the region, and his sons Rhun and Brude would inherit control over both Gwynedd and the lands of the Picts in southern Scotland. The Annales Cambriae refer to him as dying from the so-called Y Fad Felen 'yellow plague' of 547 or 549.

It seems, at least from Gildas' descriptions in his De Excidio Britanniae, that early in Maelgwn's career he abandoned his kingdom to become a monk, but renounced this vocation. The loss of such a major figure to British monasticism probably accounts for the vitriolic nature of Gildas' invective when referring to Maelgwn. Indeed, Gildas accuses Maelgwn of murdering both his wife and his nephew before marrying the latter's wife. He also refers disparigingly to Maelgwn's fondness to listening to the praises sung of him by his bards. Though, albeit grudgingly, even Gildas admits to Maelgwn's great generosity.

It seems highly likely that the traditions regardin Maelgwn's patronage of poets is true. Though his survival in the mythology of Ystoria Taliesin probably represents a fanciful linkage betweeen the great bard Taliesin and the great leader. In this tale, Taliesin's foster-father Elffin nwisely boasts to Maelgwn Gwynedd that his own wife is the fairest, his poet is the wisest and his horses the fleetest in the entire island of Prydain. For this insult Maelgwn imprisoned Elffin in a high tower with thick silver chains about his feet (for Elffin was of royal blood). Maelgwn sends his son Rhun to inquire as to the demeanour of Elffin's wife. Taliesin foils Rhun's attempt to seduce and thus despoil the good name of Elffin's wife. He then comes to Maelgwn's court and in competition with the other bards he easily bests them all. When this was done Taliesin bade Elffin wager Maelgwn that he had a horse both better and swifter than any in the king's stables. This Elffin did and the race was set at a place called Morfa Rhiannedd. The course was marked and when the horses and riders were all ready Taliesin came up to Elffin's jockey with twenty-four burnt and blackened holly switches. He bade the jockey place these in his belt and start at the back of the herd. When he passed one of Maelgwn's horses he was to take out a hazel switch and strike the horse he was passing about the withers with it, before dropping the stick to the ground. Then whenever his horse stumbled the jockey was to cast this hat to the ground at that very spot. The jockey did precisely as he was bade and he won the race easily. Then, when the race was done and Elffin had been released Taliesin took Elffin to where the jocked had dropped his cap and when a pit was dug there a large cauldron, filled with gold, was discovered.

Maelgwn is said to be buried in Ynys Seiriol and is said to have died in the Church of Rhos and this event is commemorated in the proverb: Hir hun Faelgwn yn eglwys Rhos (The long sleep of Maelgwn in the church of Rhos). According to the legend Maelwgn went there to sleep but but when someone finally went to awaken him they found him dead. Another tale regarding Maelgwn is intended to explain the name Traeth Maelgwn (Maelgwn's Beach) on the estuary of the river Dyfi. In the tale Maelgwn gathers together all the rulers of the Cymry together to find-out which of them should have supreme authority. He suggested that all the kings should sit on their thrones on the shore as the tide came in. The king who could stay on his throne the longest would be the winner. The other kings were forced from their thrones by the rising tide, but Maelgwn had ordered Maeldaf Hynaf to construct for him a chair of waxed wings so that he alone could remain in place against the incoming tide. Maelgwn is referred to by at least eight of the early poets indicating that the tales ascribed to him were once very extensive and that only a fraction of this entire cropus has survived. A local legend from Gwynedd, recorded in the 1911 issue of the Encyclopedia Britannica describes the first Eisteddfod held by Maelgwn: this was one held on the banks of the Conwy in the 6th century, under the auspices of Maelgwn Gwynedd. On this occasion, Maelgwn, in order to prove the superiority of vocal song (cerdd) over instrumental music (cerdd tant) is said to have offered a reward to such bards and minstrels as should swim over the Conwy. There were several competitors, but on their arrival on the opposite shore the harpers found themselves unable to play owing to the injury their harps had sustained from the water, while the bards were in as good tune as ever.

Maelgwn's name is derived from the reconstructed proto-Celtic elements maglo- (noble,chief) and kūn- (hound). Thus Maelgwn is the 'Hound Chief' a name probably derived from the Brythonic Maglocunos and corresponds to the Latinized form Maglocunus given by Gildas.

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