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the Strife Of Camlann
the Strife of Camlann in which Arthur and Medraut fell, and there was plague in Britain and in Ireland. (Annals of Wales)
First the Unrestrained Ravaging then Medraut came to Arthurs Court the Harmful Blow the Futile Battle triads
'Medraut stirred up the strife of Camlan and Arthurs men perished' a bards lament
The final battle is represented as brought about by the treachery of one of Arthur's men called Iddawg Cord Prydein, who meets Medrod in Nanhwynain, now sometimes called Nant Gwynant, between Pen y Gwryd and Gelert in the neighbourhood of Snowdon. He betrayed Arthur's secrets to Medrod and subsequently misrepresented Arthur's messages to him just before the battle of Camlan, when Arthur had appealed to him as his uncle. All this and more Iddawg is represented confessing, to have done from the love of war, and he adds that he escaped from the field of slaughter three nights before it was over to undertake a seven years penance and to obtain forgiveness of his sins. Rhys
'There was a sad battle, provoked by wanton passion,
Camlan through slaughter and pursuit; Wm Llyn
Sandde [Bryd Angel] drive the crow Arthur sang it.
There are also three englynions which refer to the Arthurian trio. The following three stanzas were found by Jenny Rowland
[Gwenhwyfar speaks:] [Arthur speaks:] A surgeon has never seen a scar
From Etienne de Rouen’s
“Draco Normanicus” (1167–70):
the Death of Arthur 1 A single combat led to Mordred being slain, but not before he had inflicted a mortal wound upon his father. One version of his end claims that Sir Mordred survived Camlann and was only later defeated by Sir Lancelot. Having executed Guinevere for compliance in plot against Arthur, the Knight of the Lake then incarcerated Mordred in the dead queen's tomb. He cannibalized his former lover before dying of starvation! His rebellion was continued for a while by his two sons, Melehan and Melou, until they were hunted down and slaughtered by Constantine, who, disguised as an abbot, entered the church where the young princes and their tutors were at prayer and did them to death. Gildas also accused him of parricide which implies that he killed his father Cato.
the Death of Arthur 2 The group of Arthurian legends prevalent on the borders of the counties of Perth and Forfar, north of the Sidlaw Hills, in Scotland. Besides a stone called the Stone of Arthur, in the parish of Cupar Angus, and such names as Arthurstone, Arthur's Fold, and Arthur's Seat scattered over a considerable area, ' a confused tradition prevails of a great battle having been fought on the East Mains of Dunichen [in Forfarshire], between Lothus king of the Picts, or his son Modred, and Arthur king of the Britons, in which that hero of romance was slain .' Further, on a height called Barry Hill, formerly Dunbarre, not far from Alyth, are the remains of a fortification in which the Pictish king Modred is said to have kept Gwenhwyvar or Wanor, called Wander in that neighbourhood, as his mistress, after defeating her husband in a great battle. The story goes on to say that Arthur, on recovering possession of his wife, was so enraged at her conduct, that he had her put to death in a most barbarous manner, and that a well-known sculptured stone at the neighbouring kirk of Meigle marks her burial place. It was visited by the poet Gray in September, 1765, as he states in a letter to Dr. Wharton dated three days later at Glamis Castle : some women at Meigle spoke to him of the tomb of ' Queen Wanders that was riven to dethe by staned horses for nae gude that she did ; ' and one reads in Bellenden's Boece that 'all wemen abhorris to strampe on that sepulture ' The people have a tradition which makes Queen Wander, not only into a badly behaved wife but a malignant giantess. Rhys
the Death of Arthur 3 Arthur and his following set out from Dinas Emrys and cross Hafod y Borth mountain for a place above the upper reach of Cwmllan, called Tregalan, where they found their antagonists. From Tregalan the latter were pushed up the bwlch or pass, towards Cwm Dyli; but when the vanguard of the army with Arthur leading had reached the top of the pass, the enemy discharged a shower of arrows at them. There Arthur fell, and his body was buried in the pass so that no enemy might march that way so long as Arthur's dust rested there. That, he says, is the story, and there to this day remains in the pass, he asserts, the heap of stones called Carnedd Arthur, 'Arthur's Cairn': the pass is called Bwlch y Saethau, 'the Pass of the Arrows.' His killers name is recorded as Eda Elyn Mawr. After Arthur's death on Bwlch y Saethau, his men ascended to the ridge of the Lliwed and descended thence into a vast cave called Ogof Llanciau Eryri, 'the young Men of Snowdonia's Cave,' which is in the precipitous cliff on the left-hand side near the top of Llyn Llydaw. This is in Cwm Dyli, and there in that cave those warriors are said to be still sleeping in their armour and awaiting the second coming of Arthur to restore the crown of Britain to the Kymry. For the saying
is:-- Snowdonia's youths with their white hazels will win it. the True History of the Death of Arthur (4) (Vera Hystoria De Morte Arthuri) c. 1300 After the battle Arthur leans on his shield suffering from exhaustion and, knowing himself to be mortally wounded, drops to the ground and orders his followers to disarm him in case his armaments should cause him pain and worsen his injury. As this is done, a handsome youth on horseback appears
carrying an elm shaft in his right hand. The unnamed youth heads straight for Arthur and hurls
the elm shaft at him, then flees; The injury caused by the spear has only added to Arthur's already serious wounds and, aware that he is not long for this world, Arthur tells his followers that he is soon to die. There is despair and anguish among those gathered around and lamentation for the safety of the Britons. the Funeral of Arthur Takes place at a chapel dedicated to the Virgin, the entrance was so narrow that the mourners had to enter by first forcing their shoulder into the gap and then dragging the rest of their body through the opening. While the funeral took place inside the chapel, a large storm blew up and a mist descended, so that it was impossible to see the body of Arthur - which had been left outside, as it would not fit into the chapel. Following the storm, when the mourners emerged, they found that the body had gone and the tomb which had been prepared was sealed shut such that it rather seemed to be one single stone.
******* the Death of Arthur 5 Three Dishonoured Men who were in the Island of Britain: The third and
worst was Medrawd, This is the answer that Arthur gave to the emperor's
messengers:
And then Arthur mustered the most select warriors of his
kingdom
When Medrawd heard that Arthur's host was dispersed, he
turned against Arthur, And then there took place the Battle of Camlan between
Arthur and Medrawd, Triads 1
I prophesy that there shall come again, Medrawd and Arthur, ruler of hosts, to Camlan on Thursday; only seven came from the engagement. -Avallenau
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The Seven Survivors of Camlann Traditionally only seven (or three) of the combatants survived: Sandde Bryd Angel, so beautiful all thought him an angel, Morfran ap Tegid, so ugly all thought him a devil, St. Cynfelyn/Cynwyl who escaped on Arthur’s horse Hengroen, St. Cedwyn who escaped by luck, St. Pedroc by the strength of his spear, Derfel Gadarn by his strength alone and Geneid Hir by his speed.
Here are the names of the seven men that escaped the Battle of Camlan: Sandde Bryd Angel because of his beauty was thought to be an Angel; Morfran ap Tegid because of his ugliness was thought to be a devil; St Cyfelyn (Kynvelyn) (Cynwyl) who escaped by the speed of his horse; St Cedwyn by the worlds blessing; St Petrog by the strength of his spear; Derfel Cadarn by his strength; Geneid Hir by his speed. The year of Christ when the battle of Camlan took place: 542
*******
Kynwyl the saint Because of his red horse, Kethin Kiflym, the
ruddy one.
Saint Kynwyl, who was one of the last three men to escape from Camlan; he was the last to leave Arthur, on his horse Hengroen. Kullwch and Olwen HenGroen is remembered in the township of Dinhengroen (fort of hengroen) known today as Castell y Gawr near Abergale.
******* St Petroc Petroc of the Splintered Spear, Petroc
Palardrthllt, 'One of them is a saint because of his spear: precious Petroc was renowned with his weapon at the death of Arthur' bard Daffydd Nantmor (15thc) Petrocs spear survived at the church of Llanbedrog (last mentioned 1535)
Three Just Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
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Derfel Cadarn Derfel is said to have been a noted warrior in medieval Welsh poetry.
After Camlan, Derfel is unanimously held in Welsh tradition to have entered the religious life. After a possible stint as a hermit, he is said to have entered the monastery of Llantwit. He was also associated with Llandderfel in Gwynedd, named after and said to have founded by him. He is also said to have served as the abbot of Ynys Ensi, Bardsey Island, succeeding his cousin St. Cadfan. He is said to have died of natural causes on April 6, 560. A wooden image was revered in the church of Llanderfel until 1538 when it was removed and burnt at Smithfield in London |
