Taliesin: the Cymric Master Bard and hero (Radiant Brow)

Synonyms: Talyesin, Talyessin, Taliessin
Cym: Radiant Brow

Taliesin is probably the most famous of the cynfeirdd (the early bards); the first bards to write in Old Cymric. As such he has assumed an almost mythic status. So much so that two distinct Taliesins have emerged: the historic figure of the late sixth century and an entirely mythological figure whose legends were chronicled into the Ystoria Taliesin (Tale of Taliesin) by Elis Gruffydd in the mid sixteenth century. His name is derived from the reconstructed proto-Celtic elements *talo- (forehead) and *jes-t-īn-o- (bright) and has been iterpreted as 'radiant brow'. It is possible that this relates to his bein blonde-haired but it is equally possible that represents the radiance of his gift of poetry, his awen.

Apart from the works purported to be by Taliesin himself, one of the first accounts we have of him is in Nennius' Historia Brittonum where the cynfeirdd are named as Taliesin, Aneirin Gwawtryd Awenydd Mechdeyrn Beirdd (Aneirin of the Flowing Verse, Prince of Poets), Bluchfardd, Cian Gweinth Gwawd (Cian Servant of Satire) and Talhaearn Tad Awen (Iron-brow, Father of the Muse). Of these only the works of Aneirin and Taliesin survive. Almost nothing is known for certain about Taliesin's early life, though in the end-notes to her edition of the Mabinogion Charlotte Guest qotes several short extracts that attempt to give a fairly plausible biography of Taliesin. Unfortunately, tough these extracts purport to originate from several parent manuscripts they Guest's translations are all derived from the manuscripts of Iolo Morgannwg and thus are of suspect provenance. The parent MSS, if they existed at all, are now lost to us. Three of thses supposed parent manuscirpts: Anthony Powel of Llwydarty MSS, Thomas Hopkyn of Coychurch MS and a MS of the Hafod Uchtryd Collection broadly agree in giving Taliesin's parentage as the son of Sant Henwg of Caerleon who was the son of Fflwch Llawdrwm, son of Cynin, son of Cynfarch son of Sant Clydog of Eywas, son of Gwynnar son of Caid, son of Cadren, son of Cynan son of Cyllin, son of Brân, son of Llyr Lledieith. The Hafod Uchtryd MS also tells us that Taliesin erected the chruch of Llanhenwg which he dedicated to the memory of his father. Taliesin is also named in Aneirin's Gododdin which describes the battle of Catraeth (Catterick) which occurred circa 600CE:

Mi na vi aneirin
ys gwyr talyessin
ovec kywrenhin
neu chein(t) e ododin

I – not I, Aneirin –
as is known by Taliesin
of the powerful inspiration
I sang the Gododdin

If genuine, and not a later addition to Aneirin's Gododdin, then this section of the Gododdin would probably have been written close to the time of the historical Taliesin's death, and gives us a strong indication of the bard's fame even during his own lifetime. It is little surprise that Taliesin became mythologized by subsequent generations.

Whatever the veracity of these traditions, much of what we know about the later life of Taliesin comes from the poems in the Llyfr Taliesin. Though the book itself was transcribed in the fourteenth century it contains a total of fifty-six complete or nearly complete poems which seem to have been written down for the first time during the tenth century, though of the verses originate in the sixth or seventh centuris. Linguisting and stylistic analysis suggests that a corpus of twelve of these poems are the work of Taliesin himself. These are all praise poems and they effectively trace the bard's poetic history. The poems ascribed to Taliesin indicate that he came to prominence as the prifardd chief or court bard of Brochfael, ruler of Powys (circa 555CE). Taliesin next writes of Brochfael's successor, Cynan Garwyn (who was ruler of Elmet in Yorkshire). If the tale of Taliesin's origins in Gwent is correct, then it makes some sense that he would come to prominence in neighbouring Powys. Some corroborating evidence for Taliesin's origins in Powys comes from David Parry's Chwedl Taliesin, an early eighteenth century copy of Elis Gruffudd's Cronicl and his Ystoria Taliesin that associates the bard's origin with Bala in Meirionnydd. However, this is a late ammendment and its veracity is by no means certain though it does show the tradition of Taliesin's association with Powys.

From the poems in the Llyfr Taliessin, however, the majority of the poems linked with Taliesin himself are praise poems for Urien of Rheged and his son, Owein fab Urien. This has led many to the conclusion that Taliesin was the chief bard of the house of Rheged. However, in the Taliesin poem Ardwyre reget (Rheged Arise!) which is a praise poem to Urien of Rheged we have the line neu ti rygosteis kyn bwyf teu (I have watched over you; though I am not one of yours) which suggests that Taliesin came only as a visitor to Urien's court. This supposition is supported by Triad 11 of the Trioedd Ynys Prydein which names Tristfardd bardd Urien as one of the 'Three Red-speared Bards of the Island of Britain', another being Dygynnelw bardd Owein mab Urien suggestig that Tristfardd and not Taliesin was Urien's personal bard and that the bard of Owein, Urien's successor was Dygynelw. Of course, this does not preclude the possibility that Taliesin supplanted Tristfardd and poetically covered the peiroid of the Rheged succession with Dygynelw taking over as Owein's bard after Taliesin's death. Regardless of the precise details the progression of Taliesin's patrons gives us a fascinating insight into the peripatetic nature of the bards during the late sixth century with Taliesin moving from Powys all the way up to Elmet (Yorkshire) and then across to Rheged (the western Scottish borders). The list of Taliesin's patrons also give us an indication of the bounds of Taliesin's life which can be placed at circa 534–599 ±5 years. This firmly establishes Taliesin as a bard of the latter half of the sixth century.

The final element of the true historical Taliesin's tale concerns his son, Afaon who is known from the Breuddwyd Rhonabwy as 'The most eloquent and wise young lad within this realm; Addaon son of Telesin' (medial 'f' and 'dd' are interchangeable in Middle Cymric). Afaon is also mentioned as a battle leader in Triads 3 and 25 of the Trioedd Ynys Prydein where he is named as the poet Taliesin's son and his death is alluded to in Triad 33. It therefore seems probable that Taliesin did indeed have a son and that the boy's name was Afaon.

From the historical poet we now move to the mythological Taliesin. There is evidence that Taliesin came to be considered as a semi-mythological character at a very early date. By the tenth century he (like many other prominent figures from the Old North) he had already been brought into the mythological orbit of Arthur as evidenced by a reference to him as A Theliessin penn beird (and Taliesin chief of bards) amongst the notables of Arthur's court in the Mabinogion of Culhwch ac Olwen. The same relationship is also aluded to in Triad 87 of the Trioedd Ynys Prydein where Taliesin and two forms of Myrddin are named as the 'Three Skilful Bards of Arthur's Court'. A certain Talyessin also figures as one of the seven survivors of the battle betweeen Brân Fendigaidd and Matholwch in the Mabinogi of Branwen ferch Llŷr. It has been proposed that the tale of Branwen actually represents a rationalization of the events protreyed in the Llyfr Taliesin poem, Preiddeu Annwn (The Spoils of Annwfn; a raid made by Arthur and his men on the netherworld) where the narrator (presumed to be Taliesin himeslf) claims to have been present. During the time of the writing of the aforementioned tales (tenth and eleventh century) Taliesin also gained the popular reputation as a prophet or seer (which explains the number of prophetic poems attributed to him within the Llyfr Taliesin). Other such poems are also to be found in the Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin (such as Ymdidan Myrtin a Talyessin [The Discourse of Myrddin and Taliessin]). This poem, or something very like it also seems to have formed part of the source material for Geoffrey of Monmouth's Vita Merlinii where he describes a discourse between Telgesinus and Merlinus.

A number of the poems in the Llyfr Taliesin allude to the bard's mythic personality. However, the entire mythological cycle of Taliesin is only preserved in a much later manuscript, the late sixteenth century Ystoria Taliesin as recorded by Elis Gruffudd. Despite the late date of this MS there is sufficient corroberative evidence from the Llyfr Taliesin, Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin and the Trioedd Ynys Prydein to suggest that what Elis Gruffudd recorded represents a genuine tradition. The tale itself is summarized below:

During the early days of Arthur's reign there lived in the region of Penllyn, by Llyn Tegid, Bala a man called Tegid Foel and his wife, Cerridwen. Between them they had a daughter, Creirwy, the fairest maiden in the world and a son, Morfrân, who because of his dark skin and hideous aspect was also known as Afagddu.

Morfrân was the least favoured of all men and to compensate for his looks Cerridwen, who was versed in all three of the magical arts: mage-arts, witchcraft and sorcery, decided to create a special brew in her Cauldron of Inspiraton so that her son would gain clear sight, poetic majesty and knowledge of the future.

Such a powerful brew required careful tending as the potion had to seep for a year and a day. As a result Cerridwen appointed the blind man, Morda, to tend the fire whilst Gwion Bach was set to stir the brew. After a year and a day of tedious stirring and Gwion approached exhausion, Cerridwen placed Morfrân next to the cauldron in readiness and prepared herself for sleep. Annoyed that Morfrân was in his shadow Gwion shoved him out of the way and as he did so three drops of the brew accidentally flew from the cauldron and fell on Gwion’s finger, scalding him. Instinctively he placed his finger in his mouth to suck at the burn and immediately he gained the knowledge of all things and the potion remaining in the cauldron was converted to poison. With seething toxin within, the cauldron immediately burst and Afagddu had to remain ill-favoured.

Hearing the cauldron burst Cerridwen awoke as if from a trance. Touched by the potion's power Gwion immediately saw the dangers that would befall him and he immediately feld to his own lands where he tried to hide himself against Cerridwen's wiles. Cerridwen now came across the scene of the shattered cauldron. With some difficulty she managed to persuade Morfrân to tell herwhat had happened. Flying into a rage she chased after Gwion He quickly used the powers gained from the brew and changed himself into a hare and hopped off as quickly as his legs would carry him. Cerridwen took the form of a greyhound and followed in swift pursuit. But just as She was about to catch him, he changed into a fish and slipped into a river. Cerridwen quickly became an otter and continued after Gwion. About to be caught again, he once more changed his form, this time into a bird and flew off into the sky, only discovering the Cerridwen was close behind, having taken the shape of a hawk. Fearing for his life, Gwion noticed a pile of wheat on the land below and changing himself into the tiniest of grains, dropped into the pile. Cerridwen's sharp eyes saw what he had done and taking the form of a black crested hen, She pecked at the grain until She found and ate the seed that had been Gwion. But the tiny seed took root within her womb and began to grow. For nine months, Cerridwen proclaimed that on the day that Gwion would be reborn She would destroy him, but when that day arrived She relented. She placed him in a leather sack and threw him into the raging waters of the river, this just two days before the first of May.

Now it so happened that in the lands to the west, knwn as the realm of the Cymry there was a prince, Elffin, son of Gwyddno Garanhir who was described as the unluckiest prince in the history of the Cymry. He is given the realm of Canolbarth to take care of, but under his stewardship the sea breaks through the defensive walls of his new estate and it's washed into the sea.

Feeling sorry for his son, Gwyddno presents him with the annual salmon catch from his weir (fish trap) between Aberystwyth and the Dyfi estuary on Calan Mai (May Eve, when the catch is purportedly especially valuable). But Elffin is so unlucky that when the river-keeper hauls in the nets there is not a single fish within them. Indeed, the only thing in the net is a large leather bag which ther riverman gives to Elffin. Within this sack is the reborn Gwion Bach and when Elffin sets eyes on him the light seems to shine from the boy's face and he exclaims: "Dyma dâl iesin!" (what a radiant brow!). The child responds with "Taliesin bîd" (let it be Taliesin); thus the child names himself.

As he rides home with the boy on his horse the child begins to speak and then starts reciting poetry. The poem he sings tells Elffin that the boy, Taliesin, has been sent as his guide and that the child is not only a trulty great poet but also a prophet and that by using his gifts all Elffin's enemies will be defeated.

From that day Elffin's luck changes and he prospers in all he does. As was the custom of the day Elffin fostered the boy until he was thirteen years old.

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. Taliesin told Elffin that this was both payment and reward for having saved him from the weir. On this spot now stands a pool of water, called Pwllbair (Pool of the Cauldron).

This tale can only be considered as folklore, for Maelgwn Gwynedd lived in the early part of the sixth century and could only have been a contemporary of the child, Taliesin and not of the grown poet. However, the early date of the tale is further corfirmed by a number of the gogynfeirdd (bards later than the earliest) who allude to Taliesin's contest with Maelgwn's bards. Tough in later tradition Myrddin became the bard and seer par excellence it seems that the early tradition ascribed this role to Taliesin who was only supplanted by Myrddin after the publication of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Vita Merlinii. Perhaps it is time that Taliesin regained his place as the first and foremost amongst the pantheon of Brythonic bards.

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