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 
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
»» Medieval Welsh 1 , Medieval Welsh 2
»» English
»» Portugese / Portugués
»» Dutch / Nederlands |
