Pennod 8 – Dau Frawd a Thair Gormes

Two Brothers and Three Invasions

The Tale of Lludd and Llefelys is under our microscope in this episode. Although it’s a very short tale, it’s a big story, and one which can be seen as a bridge between Welsh legendry and Welsh historiography. By looking fancifully at history, this text engages a theme central to Welsh identity, namely the fact that the Welsh are the descendants of the original inhabitants of the island before foreign nations invaded.
Lludd is king of Britain and his brother Llefelys marries the king of France’s daughter. But when three foreign invasions threaten Lludd’s rule, he has to take advantage of his brother’s wisdom. You’ll learn some of the story behind the Red Dragon on the Welsh flag and hear Richard Wyn Jones clown it up as he imagines the French Welshman Llefelys. You’ll also learn the meaning of cyfranc, the word describing the tale itself.