The Mabinogi

 
 
 

Introduction

The Mabinogi is a collection of folklore tales from medieval Welsh manuscripts. The name 'Mabinogion' is sometimes (incorrectly) used to refer to the stories after it was used in error by The Mabinogi's first English translator, Lady Charlotte Guest.

The stories of The Mabinogi appear in either or both of two Medieval Welsh manuscripts: the White Book of Rhydderch (Llyfr Gwyn Rhydderch) dating from about 1350, and the Red Book of Hergest (Llyfr Coch Hergest) dating from about 1382–1410. Texts or fragments of some of the tales have been preserved in earlier 13th century and later manuscripts. Scholars agree that the tales are older than the existing manuscripts, but disagree over just how much older. It is clear that the different texts included in The Mabinogi originated at different times.

Debate has focused on the dating of the Four Branches of the Mabinogi. Sir Ifor Williams offered a date prior to 1100, based on linguistic and historical arguments, while later Saunders Lewis set forth a number of arguments for a date between 1170 and 1190; T.M. Charles-Edwards, in a paper published in 1970, discussed the strengths and weaknesses of both viewpoints, and while critical of the arguments of both scholars, noted that the language of the stories best fits the period between 1000 and 1100.

The importance of The Mabinogi as records of early myth, legend, folklore, culture, and language of Wales is immense.

The Four Branches of the Mabinogi

The Four Branches of the Mabinogi (Pedair Cainc y Mabinogi) are the most mythological stories contained in The Mabinogi collection:

  • Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed (Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed)
  • Branwen Ferch Llŷr (Branwen, Daughter of Llŷr)
  • Manawydan Fab Llŷr (Manawyddan, son of Llŷr)
  • Math Fab Mathonwy (Math, son of Mathonwy)

Introduction adapted from Wikipedia External link: Opens in a new window


Further information

  »»  Places mentioned in The First Branch of the Mabinogi

  »»  Places mentioned in The Second Branch of the Mabinogi

  »»  Places mentioned in The Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi

  »»  Text Translations of each of the tales of the Four Branches of The Mabonigi

  »»  The Main Divisions of Wales in the Middle Ages

  »»  The setting of the tales of the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi

In other languages

  »»  French / Francais Linc allanol: Agorir mewn ffenestr newydd

  »»  Medieval Welsh 1 Linc allanol: Agorir mewn ffenestr newydd, Medieval Welsh 2 Linc allanol: Agorir mewn ffenestr newydd

  »»  English Linc allanol: Agorir mewn ffenestr newydd

  »»  Portugese / Portugués Linc allanol: Agorir mewn ffenestr newydd

  »»  Dutch / Nederlands Linc allanol: Agorir mewn ffenestr newydd

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