Rhun mab Maelgwn: a Cymric Hero, also known as Run

Synonyms: Run
Cym:

Rhun is the son of Maelgwn Gwynedd, as confirmed by the Harleian Genealogy I. Apart from this reference, the historical Rhun is known from two triads of the Trioedd Ynys Prydein. Tria 3 names Rhun as one of the 'Three Fair Princes of the Island of Britain'. In Triad 17 he is named as one of the 'Three Fettered Men of the Island of Britain' who was fettered because of his great stature as no horse could be obtained that was suited to him. As a result he had to place fetters of gold around the smalls of his legs and across the cruppers of the horse and placed two golden plates beneath his knees.

The most well-known tales regarding Rhun involve his succession after his father, Maelgwn's death. A dispute seems to have occurred between Rhun and his brother-in law, Elidir Mwynfawr which is noted in the Chirk Codex version of the Cyfraith Hywel Dda (The Laws of Hywel Dda) and is referred to in Traid 44. The tale comes to us via several sources, one of the most notable being Robert Vaughan's notes to Trioedd Ynys Prydein (which itself is derived from the Peniarth 38 manuscirpt wihich, in turn, is based on the lineages in the poem from the Llyfr Coch Hergest poem Cyfoesi Myrddin a Gwenddydd ei Chwaer. After Maelgwn's death, Elidir is said to have staked his claim for the crown of Gwynedd, based on his marriage to Eurgain, Maelgwn's daughter. (Robert Vaughan's notes Rhun might have been illegitemate and this was the rason for Elidir's invasion. However, this can only be a later gloss as, in Cymric law, illegitimacy was never a bar on inheritance.) According to the tales, Elidir amassses his forces and brings them down from the north by sea, leaving Penllech in the north and landing at Penllech, Môn. They crossed to Aber Mefydd in Arfon and there Rhun met them in battle and Elidir was slain. The relevant passage in the Chirk Codex, recounting the aftermath of the battle is:

Eman e llas elidir muhenuaur gur or kockled, ac guedi y lad e doeht guir e koclet ema oy dial. Sef guir a doedant en tehuisocyon vdhunt: Clidno Eydin a Nud Hael va Senillt a Mordaf Hael vab Seruari, a Retherc Hael vab Tudual Tutclit, ac e lloskasant Aruin en rachor dial. Ac odhena e lluydhaus Ru uab Maelcun a guir Guinet kanthau, ac e doethant hid eglan guerit en e kocled ac ena e buant en hir, en amresson pui a hely en e blaen druy auon Guerit, ac ena ed elleghus run kenat hid e Ghuynet e huybod puy byeufey e blaen. Rey a deuet panyu Maeldaf henaf, pendeuic Penart ai barnus e guir Aruon. yoruert uab Madauc druy aurdurdaud e keuarhuidyt ay kadarnaha panyhu ydno hen y guir e pist pendhu ac ena ethaethant guir Aruon en e blaen ae e buant da eno. Ac e kant Delyessin: Kikleu odures eu llaueneu, Can Run en rudhur bedineu, Guir Aruon rudyon eu redyeu.

At this place, Elidir Mwynfawr, a man of the north, was slain. And after his slaying, the men of the north came here to avenge him. And the men who came as their leaders were: Clydno Eiddin, Nudd Hael son of Senyllt, Mordaf Hael son of Serwa(n) and Rhydderch Hael son of Tudwal Tudglyd; and they came to Arfon. And as Elidir was slain at Aber Meuhedus in Arfon they torched Arfon as further revenge. And then Rhun son of Maelgwn and the host of Gwynedd with him, rose up in arms and they came to the banks of the Gwerydd in the north and there they were for a long time as they debated who should lead them through the river Gwerydd. Rhun dispatched a messenger to Gwynedd to determine who was entitled to lead. Some say that Maeldaf the Elder, leader of Penardd adjudged this for the men of Arfon: Iorwerth son of Madog, on the authority of the tale, affirmed to the men of the black-tipped shafts [ie the men of Arfon] that it was Idno Hen. Thereupon the men of Arfon went to the fore and they were good there. And Taliesin sang: 'I heard the clash of their spears, with Rhun the rush of armies, the men of Arfon of the Red Spears'.

The Achau'r Mamau (Lineage of the Mothers) give Rhun's mother as Gwalldwen (white-hair), daughter of Afallach. These documents also name Rhun's wife as Perwyr the daughter of Rhun Rhyfeddfawr (who is the same as Rhun fab Maelgwn).

Rhun also appears as a character in the Ystoria Taliesin where he is painted in a very unpleasant light. According to the tale Elffin son of Gwyddno Garanhir was the unluckiest man in the realm until he rescues a baby from a weir. The child is named Taliesin and fostered by Elffin. From that day forwards Elffin's luck changes and he prospers in all he does. However, many years later, emboldened by his changed fortunes Elffin unwisely 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. Thus did Taliesin aid Elffin in gaining an advantage over Maelgwn.

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