Lailoken
Lailoken was a Northern Brythonic fool or prophet of the late 6th century. The Life of St Kentigern[1] talks of A certain foolish man, who was called Laleocen who lived at or near the village of Peartnach (Partick) within the Kingdom of Strathclyde. Laleocen prophesied the death of King Rhydderch Hael.
Because of the description of him as a wild man and seer living in the forests of Southern Scotland he is sometimes identified with Myrddin Wyllt, the prototype for the wizard Merlin of Arthurian legend.[2] Myrddin is particularly associated with the Battle of Arfderydd in Cumberland (now Cumbria) and the area just to the north, over the border in modern Scotland. Myrddin fought for the losing side and after the battle went insane.
In the Welsh text Cyfoesi Myrddin a Gwenddydd ei Chwaer (The Conversation of Merlin and Gwendydd his sister), Gwenddydd refers to Merlin as Llallawg and its diminutive Llallogan. A.O.H. Jarman also associates Llallogan ~ Laloiken with the primitive character Myrddin Wyllt that would give birth to the Arthurian Character Merlin.[3] There was also a late-15th-century story Lailoken and Kentigern which states: "...some say he was called Merlynum".
[edit] References
- ^ Jocelyn of Furness (1989) The Life of St Kentigern Lampeter: Llannerch Enterprises
- ^ Bromwich, R. (1978) (2nd edn.) 'Trioedd Ynys Prydein: The Welsh Triads'. Cardiff: University of Wales Press
- ^ Jarman, A.O.H. (1967) 'Ymddiddan Myrddin a Thaliesin'. Caerdydd: Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru
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