Celtic Gods: The Cymric Hero, Rhun fab Einion also known as Run mab Einyawn, Run ap Enniawn

Rhun fab Einion
A Cymric Hero, also known as Run mab Einyawn, Run ap Enniawn: Roman, the Radiant

Rhun fab Einion (Run mab Einyawn, Run ap Enniawn) is a Cymric (Welsh) hero of the Old North known from the Welsh Triads and the ancient Welsh genealogies who might be from the house of Gwynedd or could be transplanted between the ancient genealogies of the Old North.



Synonyms: Run mab Einyawn, Run ap Enniawn
Cym:

Rhun fab Einion is a shadowy and rather problematic figure in the Cymric genealogies. Triad 23 of the Trioedd Ynys Prydein names Rhun son of Einion (Einyawn) as one of the 'Three Arrogant Men of the Island of Britain', though the reason for this description is now lost. In his Historia Regium Britanniae Geoffrey of Monmouth notes what seems to be a variant version of the Harleian MSS 3859 Genealogy I (House of Gwynedd) where Run and Ennianus are brothers. A pedigree that is supported by folk tradition which, since the sixteenth century at least records that Rhun and Einion were sons of Maelgwn Gwynedd. Even if these traditons are incorrect, Rhun might still be a scion of the Gwynedd line, being a son of Eniaun Girt, whom Harleian MS Genealogy I names as Maelgwn Gwynedd's grandfather.

Alternate, admittedly late, genealogies place Rhun and Einion as members of the Rheged line, descendants of Coel Hen. Peniarth 127 MS gives the following genealogy Run ap Enniawn ap Mar ap Keneu ap Coel. An alternate genealogy is provided by the Peniarth 75 MS: Run Ryveddvawr ap Enniawn ap Masgwic kloff ap kenaui ap koel godeboc. This would seem to present an alternate lineage to Rhun Ryfeddfawr than his being the son of Urien Rheged. (For a fuller discussion of this see the entry on Rhun Ryfeddfawr.)

Of course, it cannot entirely be discounted that Rhun fab Einion was originally of the lineage of the 'Old North' who, in common with other such figures, was transplanted to Gwynedd. The problem is that both Rhun and Einion were common names during the sixth century, attested by the Cymric lineages and the lineages of the Old North. As a result it is not possible to assign either Rhun or Einion to these genealogies with any degree of certainty.



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