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Taliesin

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Taliesin was a sixth-century British poet whose work has possibly survived in a Middle Welsh manuscript, The Book of Taliesin. He was a renowned bard who is believed to have sung at the courts of at least three kings. Poems attributed to him were included in the fourteenth-century Llyfr Taliesin.

In 1960, Ifor Williams identified eleven of the medieval poems ascribed to Taliesin as possibly originating as early as the sixth century, and so possibly being composed by a historical Taliesin. The bulk of this work praises King Urien of Rheged and his son Owain mab Urien, although several of the poems indicate that Taliesin also served as court bard to King Brochfael Ysgithrog of Powys and his successor Cynan Garwyn, either before or during his time at Urien's court. Some of the events to which the poems refer, such as the Battle of Arfderydd , are referred to in other sources.

In legend and medieval Welsh poetry, he is often referred to as Taliesin Ben Beirdd . He is mentioned as one of the five British poets of renown, along with Talhaearn Tad Awen , Aneirin, Blwchfardd, and Cian Gwenith Gwawd , in the Historia Brittonum, and is also mentioned in the collection of poems known as Y Gododdin. Taliesin was highly regarded in the mid-12th century as the supposed author of a great number of romantic legends.

According to legend, Taliesin was adopted as a child by Elffin, the son of Gwyddno Garanhir, and prophesied the death of Maelgwn Gwynedd from the Yellow Plague. In later stories he became a mythic hero, companion of Bran the Blessed and King Arthur. His legendary biography is found in several late renderings , the earliest surviving narrative being found in a manuscript chronicle of world history written by Elis Gruffydd in the 16th century.

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Taliesin

Taliesin

Books from Taliesin

The Book of Taliesin: Poems of Warfare and Praise in an Enchanted Britain

Taliesin Poems

The Poems of Taliesin

Armes Prydein: The Prophecy of Britain from the Book of Taliesin

The Poet's House

Poems from the Book of Taliesin

Taliesin: Or, the Bards and Druids of Britain. a Tr. of the Remains of the Earliest Welsh Bards, and an Examination of the Bardic Mysteries, by D.W. Nash

Poems