Tallwch: a Cymric Arthurian hero, also known as Talorc (Sloping Brow)

Synonyms: Talorc
Cym: Sloping Brow

Tallwch is a rather shadowy figure in Cymric mythos, known primarily in the patronymic as the father of the hero, Drystan. In the Trioedd Ynys Prydein he is mentioned only in Triad 26 as the father of Drystan, 'One of the Three Powerful Swineherds of the Island of Britain'. This triad also introduces the figures of March mab Meirchiawn, Esyllt and Arthur hinting at the relationship between Arthur and the other protagonists and the love triangle between Drystan, March and Esyllt.

This Drystan is the same character as the tragic hero Tristan of the tale of Tristan et Iseolt. Only a single Cymric fragment of the orinal romance has survived (the Ystoria Trystan) and this is included at the end of my attempt to re-construct the original Cymric version of the story, which can be found here. Though Tallwch is not mentioned explicitly in this tale it would seem that Drystan was sent for fostering with March. This was a common practice in early Cymric society with uncles fostering their nephews and served to strengthen familial ties. This would suggest that Tallwch and March were brothers, a supposition that is confirmed when Drystan runs away with Esyllt (who had been promised to March) and March goes to Arthur's court and entreats him:

Meanwhile, Drystan mab Tallwch and Esyllt, wife of March ab Merichion fled into the depths of the Celyddon woods along with Golwg Hafddydd and Bach Bychan who brought wine and pastries for them and within the depths of the woods a bower of leaves was made for the lovers. March mab Meirchiawn went to complain to Arthur or his treatment at Drystan's hand, to entreat Arthur to avenge him for the insult offered to him; for he was nearer kin to Arthur than Drystan. March mab Meirchion being a first cousin to Arthur whereas Drystan was his cyfyrdar; the nephew-son of a first cousin.

Thus, according to this tale at least, March and Tallwch were brothers. Moreover they were also the brothers of Arthur's father Uthr Pendragon (Uther) and Arthur's kinsmen.

This would also seem to place Tallwch as one of the Heroes of the 'Old North': the border-lands between modern Scotland and England which were originally ruled by the Brython. In reality there is only one instance of the name Tallwch in all of Cymric literature and this reference is to Tallwch, Drystan's father. However, in the lands neighbouring the northern extent of the Brythonic leaders' realms several references to Talorcan are known from early documents relating to the Picts. Indeed, there is a Drust filius Talorcan known as a ruler from the eighth century. However, the Cymric heroes Drystan and Tallwch probably lived somewhere aroun the first half of the fifth century and the known Pictish pairing is to late to correspond to them. However, it does seem likely that both Drystan and Tallwch were Pictish rulers that may have been clinets or supporters of the Brython in their battles agaist the Saxons (hence the association with Arthur) and they becam incorporated into the legends of the 'Old North' and thus the legends of the Cymry. Some commentators have commented that Tallwch and Talorcan are not exact linguistic contents. However, given that Brythonic and Pictish were distinct languages the borrowing need not have been exact.

Any interpretation of Tallwch's name rests on the suppositon that it is derived from Pictish Talorc (or a closely related form) and that Pictish was a Celtic language. If these assumptions are correct then the name Talorc can be derived from the following proto-Celtic elements: *talo- (forehead) and *org-e/o- (fall). This can be interpreted as 'Falling Forehead' or perhaps more sensibly as the descriptor 'Sloping Brow'.

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