Rhonabwy: a Cymric Arthurian Hero (Corpse Lance)

Synonyms:
Cym: Corpse Lance

Rhonabwy is the eponymous hero/foil of the Mabinogion of the Breuddwyd Rhonabwy (The Dream of Rhonabwy). He is a hero in that he is the chief character in the tale. But he is also the foil of the tale which compares the great figures of the past with 'the little men' of Rhonabwy's day (Rhonabwy being the exemplar of the diminished status of such men). For a full translaton of the tale see this page.

In one respects the tale could be counted amongst the eariest of the political satires. For it contrasts the political situation of Rhonabwy's day (Madog fab Maredudd rules Powys in all its extent but is challenged by his brother, Iorwoerth, who is driven out. But Iorowerth threatens to return and Madog posts men all around his kingdom to prevent this. Rhonabwy being one of these men.) with that of the heroic days of Arthur. Along with his companions, Cynnwrig Brychgoch from Mawddwy and Cadwgawn the Large a man of Moelfre in Cynlleith came to the house of Heilyn Goch, which is the dirtiest and worst-appointed place any of them have seen. There they have a poor meal and seek to sleep on a flea-ridden platform. Rhonabwy wakes in the night and makes his way to the yellow skin of a yearling calf, believing he will sleep better there. As soon as sleep came to his eyes he received a vision that he and his companions were walking across Maes Argyngroeg, and from their general direction and the appearance of the countryside it seemed as if he was approaching Rhyd-y-Groes on the Hafren. There he meets a quire, newly shaven and with blond curling hair, mounted on a chestnut steed. The squire introduces himself as Iddawg Corddd Prydain (The Agitator of Britain). They see many great forces arrive and then Iddawg takes Rhonabwy on the back of his horse and they ride to a great encampment which turns out to be the encampment of Arthur.

A sheet is brought out and placed on the ground. Upon tihs is placed a throne and a gaming table. A Gwyddbwyll board is prepared and Arthur begins to play against Owein fab Urien. They play game after game and at the concluson of the game a new page emerges from a tent to tell first Arthur that Owein's flight of ravens is attacking his men, and then they come to tell Owein that Arthur's men are killing his ravens. This continues until, angered, Arthur takes the golden men from the board and crushes them to dust. At this Owein commands the fighting to cease and the two forces unite. Whereupon an emissary of four and twenty knights from Oswy Longknife arrives and Arthur enters into council (here his main advisors are listed). Cadyrieith mab Seidi is sent to parlay and a truce is established. Then Cei rises and bids all loyal men ride with Arthur to Cornwall whereupon the camp is struck and there is a mighty tumult as the men mount their steeds and set-out for Cornwall. At this point Rhonabwy awakes to find that he had been asleep for a full three days and three nights.

Rhonabwy is used here as the naïve traveller who can ask the obvious questons of Iddawg, the questions that we, the readers, also want to ask. He is also the foil of the piece, showing how the Cymry have diminished into petty squabbles since the days of greatness of their Brythonic ancestors. Rhonabwy's name can be derived from the Cymric components rhon (lance) and abwy (carrion or corpse). Thus Rhonabwy is the 'Corpse-lance'.

Navigation