The Court of Arthur in “Culhwch and Olwen”
The court of King Arthur, as described in "Culhwch and Olwen", teems with legendary heroes, bards, queens, and mysterious figures.
Introduction#
The court of King Arthur, as described in Culhwch and Olwen, is remarkable for its sheer scope and variety. The poem names hundreds of figures, including warriors, pets, craftsmen, kings, queens, daughters, and even mythically significant animals. Many names appear in multiple manuscripts with variant spellings, reflecting the rich and sometimes inconsistent tradition of Middle Welsh.
Editorial note on layout and duplication#
This list follows the manuscript tradition of Culhwch and Olwen. Duplicate entries and variant spellings are intentionally preserved, as they reflect scribal prictice and the fluid nature of early Welsh onomastics. For readability, the names are arranged alphabetically and displayed in three columns (A-C, D-F, etc.). Brief glosses are provided where a plausible translation or traditional interpretation exists; where meanings are uncertain or debated, this is noted explicitly.
It highlights not only the central heroes of Arthurian legend, such as Bedwyr and Gwalchmei, but also the lesser-known figures whose presence enriches our understanding of early Welsh storytelling. Among these are female characters, often identified as daughters of prominent figures, who remind us that women played symbolic and narrative roles in the court alongside warriors and bards.
A#
- Amren son of Bedwyr
Name possibly meaning “troubled” or “burdened”, uncertain. Another interpretation is “The One Who Perishes / Laments”. - Annyanniawc son of Menw son of Teirgwaedd
“The Disorderly One”. - Anoeth Veidawg
“The Maddened Wanderer” (anoeth = madness, frenzy) - Ardderchawg Prydain
“Chief Champion of Britain / The Illustrious One of Britain” - Aunwas Adeiniawc
“The Unruly One, Adeiniawc”
- Amren son of Bedwyr
Arthur (Artur, Arthwyr)
High king and central figure of the court; son of Uther Pendragon. In the tale and the triads, Arthur is rarely counted among others. He is the fixed point of the court — king, war-leader, and axis of the heroic world.
B#
- Bedwyr (Bedivere)
“Grave-knower / Wise warrior”, see below. - Bedyw son of Seithved
- Berth son of Cado
Possibly “bright / high”, uncertain. - Berwyn son of Gerenhir
Possibly “White Hill”, uncertain. - Blwch
“Gap / Opening”, uncertain as a name. - Bradwen son of Iaen
“Fair-breast” - Bratwen son of Moren Mynawc
“Fair-breast” - Bryss son of Bryssethach
“Swift / Hasty”
- Bedwyr (Bedivere)
Bedwyr (Bedivere)
One of Arthur’s most trusted warriors. Renowned for loyalty and valor, Bedwyr is a steadfast companion and a symbol of the knightly ideal within the heroic court.
C#
- Cadwy son of Geraint
- Call
Possibly a weapon name (“hard / callous”), but could also be a personal epithet. - Cairnedyr son of Gofynion Hen
“Little Cairn / Stone Heap”, possible duplicate in the manuscript (see Carnedyr son of Gofynion Hen). - Canastyr Kanllaw
“Hundred Hands” - Carnedyr son of Gofynion Hen
“Little Cairn / Stone Heap”, possible duplicate in the manuscript (see Cairnedyr son of Gofynion Hen). - Cas son of Saidi
Cas = hateful, hostile, likely an epithet. - Casnar Wledic
“The Imperial One” - Cavall
Arthur’s hound, but in some traditions, “Cavall” can also appear as a sword’s name in triads or poetic variants (though this is debated). - Caw / Kaw
Manuscript spelling variant of Caw of Prydyn. - Caw of Prydyn (also Kaw)
Personal name; meaning uncertain. - Cei (Kay)
Arthur’s seneschal; name possibly related to cai = keen, sharp, uncertain. - Cleddffy Difwlch
A weapon; “Sword of Un-cleftness” - Cleddffy Kyuwlch
A weapon; “Sword of the Narrow Cut” - Clust son of Clustveinad
“Ear, son of Ear-knower” - Cors Cant-Ewin
“Fen of a Hundred Hoofs” - Corvil Bervach
“Sharp-speared” - Cradawc son of Iaen
- Creiddylad daughter of Lludd Llaw Ereint
“Pearl / Jewel”; Creiddylad is a mythic figure. - Cuall
- Cubert son of Daere
- Cubert son of Nes
- Culhwch son of Cilydd
Hero of the tale. - Cyflwch (Eheubryt daughter(?) of Cyflwch)
Personal / place-name, uncertain. - Cynchwr son of Nes
- Cyndelic Kynarwyd
- Cyndrwyn
Duplicate manuscript entry, uncertain. - Cyndrwyn son of Erbin
- Cyngarwyn
Possibly “white / blessed / holy”, uncertain. - Cynghyl
- Cynthric Kynarwyd
- Cynwas Curvagyl
- Cynwyl Sant
“Holy Cynwyl / Saint Cynwyl”.
Cei (Kay)
Arthur’s seneschal and one of the chief warriors of the court. Known for his loyalty, wit, and sharp tongue, Cei exemplifies both martial skill and courtly service, bridging the heroic and everyday worlds of Arthur’s companions.
D#
- Dalldav son of Kimin Côv
“Blind Ox” (dall = blind, daf = ox) - Datweir Dallpenn
“Blind-Head” - Devon
Place-name used as a person. - Digon son of Alar
“Enough / Sufficient” - Dirmyg son of Caw
“Contempt / Disdain / Pride” - Drem son of Dremidyd
“Sight” - Drudwas son of Tryffin
“Hard-servant” - Drustwrn Hayarn
“Iron Fist” (dwrn = fist, haearn = iron) - Drwg Ddyddwg
“Evil Day-vision” - Duach, Bratach, and Nerthach
“Black One, Speckled One, Strong One” - Dunart brenhin y Gogled
“King of the North” - Duran son of Iaen
Name uncertain; appears alongside other sons of Iaen. - Dygyflwng
Possibly “Wandering / Drifting”, uncertain. - Dyvynwal Moel
“Bald Deep-ruler” - Dywel son of Erbin
- Dalldav son of Kimin Côv
E#
- Echel Morddwyd Twll
“Hollow-thigh” - Edeyrn son of Nudd
- Eddyol son of Ner
Possibly “idol / image”, uncertain. - Eheubryt daughter(?) of Cyflwch
- Eiddon Fawrfrydig
“Great-hospitable” - Eiddon son of Nudd
Variant patronymic preserved in some witnesses. - Eidyol son of Ner
Possibly “Idol / Image”, uncertain. - Eiladyr son of Pen Llarcan
- Elidyr Gyvarwydd
“Generous Prince” - Ellylw daughter of Neol Kynn-Crog
- Ely Amyr and Eli Thracmyr
Possibly the same person. - Eneuawc daughter of Bedwyr
Possibly “Soul-like / Spirited”, uncertain. - Enrydrec daughter of Tutuathar
- Erbin
Personal name; meaning uncertain. - Erdudyl daughter of Tryffin gwynn dorliud
- Ermid son of Erbin
- Esgeir Gulhwch Govynkawn
- Essyllt Vinwen
“White-Fair Isolde” - Essyllt Vingul
“White-Clad Isolde” - Eus son of Erim
- Eurneit daughter of Clydno Eiddin
- Eurolvyn daughter of Gwdolwyn Gorr
- Echel Morddwyd Twll
F#
- Fflam son of Nwyfre
“Flame” - Ffleudor son of Naf
Possibly “Ruler / Leader”, uncertain. - Ffewdwr Fflam Wledic
“Fiery Lord / Ruler of the Flaming Host” (interpretive but plausible)
- Fflam son of Nwyfre
G#
- Gallcoyt Govynynat
Possibly “Foreign Wood”, uncertain. - Gallgoic
Possibly “Foreign Warrior”, uncertain. - Garanwyn son of Cei
Possibly “Fair-spear”, uncertain. - Garselit Vydel
Possibly “Irish Exile”, uncertain. - Garwyli son of Gwythawg Gwyr
- Gawdyn Odyeith
- Gereint son of Erbin
Personal name; meaning uncertain. - Gilla Coes Hydd
“Stag-leg” - Glas
- Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr
“Mighty-grip” - Glessic
- Gleisad
Possibly “Listener / Observer”, uncertain. - Gluydyn Saer
“Builder / Craftsman” - Gobrwy son of Echel Morddwyd Twll
- Goreu son of Custennin (Goreu fab Custennin)
Name possibly “the Best / the Upright”, uncertain. - Gormant son of Ricca
Possibly “Great Protector”, uncertain. - Grudlwyn Gorr
- Gwadyn Ossol
- Gwalchmei (Gawain)
“Hawk of May” (traditional etymology) - Gwalchmei son of Gwyar
- Gwalhaved son of Gwyar
Possibly “Summer Hawk”, uncertain. - Gware Gwallt Euryn
“Golden-hair” - Gwawrddur Kyruach
Possibly “Morning Spear”, uncertain. - Gweir Dathar Wenidawc
“White-Blessed Father” (interpretive) - Gweir Gwrhyd Ennwir
“Long Spear-shaft” (or “Great True Valor” or “Falsevalor” depending on manuscript interpretation) - Gweir Paladyr Hir
“Long / White Spear-shaft” - Gweir son of Cadell son of Talaryant
- Gwenabwy daughter of Caw
- Gwenhwyfar (Guenevere) Chief of Queens
- Gwenhwyvach
Sister of Gwenhwyfar. - Gwenllian Teg
“Fair Gwenllian” - Gwenn Alarch daughter of Kynwyl Canbwch
“White Swan” - Gwennwledyr daughter of Gwaledyr Kyrvach
- Gwevyl son of Gwestad
- Gwiawn Llygad Cath
“Cat-eye” - Gwrbothu Hên
“The Old Helper” - Gwrddinal son of Ebrei
- Gwrhyr Gwarthegvras
“Gwrhyr of the Fat Cattle” - Gwrhyr Gwastawd Iethoedd
“Gwrhyr, Interpreter of Tongues” - Gwrvan Gwallt Avwyn
“River-haired” or “Hair like flowing water” - Gwyddawg son of Menestyr
Possibly “Wood-wise”, uncertain. - Gwydden Astrus
Pup of Rhymi. - Gwyddrud
Pup of Rhymi. - Gwydre son of Llwydeu
- Gwynn Goyuron
Possibly “white giant”, uncertain - Gwynn son of Ermid
“White / Blessed” - Gwyn son of Esni
- “White / Blessed”
- Gwyn son of Nudd
“White / Blessed” - Gwyn son of Nwyfre
“White / Sacred” - Gwynnhyvar, maer of Cornwall
Possibly “White phantom”, uncertain. - Gwystyl son of Nwython
- Gwytawg Gwyr
- Gwythyr son of Greidawl
- Gallcoyt Govynynat
H#
- Henbedestyr
“Old Pedestrian / Old Wayfarer”, uncertain. - Hengydymdeith
“Old Companion / Fellow Traveller” - Henwas Adeiniawg
“Old Winged One” (interpretive; Adeiniawg uncertain) - Henwyneb
“Old Face” - Hir Amreu
“Tall / Long Amreu” - Hir Eiddyl
“Tall / Long Eiddyl” - Hirerwm and Hiratrwm
“The Tall Ones” (pair; names descriptive) - Huarwor son of Halwn
- Hueil son of Caw
Personal name; sometimes glossed as “youthful”, uncertain. - Hunabwy son of Gwryon
Possibly “young death” or “early fate”, debated. - Hwyr Ddyddwg
“Late Day-vision” - Hyfaidd Unllen
“Single-cloak”
- Henbedestyr
I#
- Idawc Cord Prydein
“The Agitator of Britain”; cord = inciter. - Indeg daughter of Garwy Hir
- Iona, king of France
Personal name; geographic title. - Isgofan Hael
“The Generous Smith” - Isperyr Ewingath
- Iscawin son of Banon
Possibly “White hawk”, uncertain.
- Idawc Cord Prydein
K#
- Kaw / Caw of Prydyn
Personal name, see Caw of Prydyn. - Kelemon daughter of Cei
- Keli and Kueli
Paired names; meaning uncertain. - Kethcrwm Offeirad
“Bent Priest” - Kilydd Canhastyr
Possibly “Hundred Strong”, uncertain. - Kynedyr Wyllt son of Hettwn Talryant
“Wild Kynedyr” - Kynuelyn Keudawc, Pwyll Hanner Dyn
- Kynyr Keinvarvawc
- Kyuwlch
Possibly related to Culhwch.
- Kaw / Caw of Prydyn
L#
- Llacheu son of Arthur
Arthur’s son; name meaning uncertain. - Llary son of Casnar Wledig
- Llawnrodded Farfawg
“The Generous (or Bountiful) Bearded One” - Llawr eil Erw
- Llud Llaw Ereint
“Silver-Handed Llud” - Llenlleawg Wyddell
“The Irishman of the Headland” - Lloch Llawwynnyawc
“Blessed-Handed” (interpretive) - Lluber Beuthach
- Llud Llaw Ereint
- Llud son of Beli
Personal name; meaning uncertain. - Lluydeu son of Kelcoed
- Llwydeu son of Nwython
- Llwng
Possibly “oath” or “vow”, uncertain. - Llwyr Ddyddwg
“Complete / Perfect Day-vision” - Llawnrodded Farfawg
“The Generous Bearded One” (duplicate preserved) - Llysgadrudd Emys
Possibly “Fierce Dragon”, uncertain.
- Llacheu son of Arthur
M#
- Mabon son of Modron
“Divine Youth, son of the Divine Mother”, see below. - Mael son of Roycol
“Bald / Tonsured” (mael = bald, often ecclesiastical) - Maelwys son of Baeddan
“Prince Bald-one” - Manawydan son of Llyr
Name associated with the sea; probably meaning “Man of the Sea”. - Medyr son of Methredydd
Possibly “Skilled / Wise”, uncertain. - Menw son of Teirgwaedd
Possibly “Mind / Intellect”, uncertain. - Moren Mynawc
“Courteous / Noble” - Moren son of Iaen
- Morgant Hael
“Morgan the Generous” - Morvran son of Tegid
“Sea Raven” - Morvudd daughter of Urien Rheged
Possibly “great fury” or “famed”, uncertain.
- Mabon son of Modron
Mabon son of Modron
The youthful warrior of legend, often rescued as part of Culhwch’s quest. Mabon represents the hidden, ancient knowledge and skill; a symbol of youthful prowess and the continuity of heroic tradition.
N#
- Naw son of Seithved
- Nerth son of Kedarn
“Strength” - Noddawl Farf Twrch
“Boar-bearded Noddawl” - Nwython
Possibly “sky-being” or “divine”, uncertain.
O#
- Ol son of Olwydd
- Olwen daughter of Ysbaddaden
“Fair Foot / White Foot”, see below. - Osla Gyllellfawr / Gyllellvawr
“Great Knife”, “Broad-Blade”
Olwen
Heroine of the tale, daughter of the giant Ysbaddaden. Fair-footed and radiant, Olwen’s beauty and virtue inspire Culhwch’s quests. She is both the prize and moral compass, around whom the narrative of the court unfolds.
P#
- Panawr Pen Badad
“Head of the Host / Troop” - Paris king of France
Classical name; title applied anachronistically. - Percos son of Poch
Possibly “Piercer”, uncertain. - Peredur son of Efrawg
Later Grail hero; name possibly “hard spear”, uncertain. - Pwyll Hanner Dyn
“Half-man”
- Panawr Pen Badad
R#
- Rathtyeu (only) daughter of Clemenhill
- Rhacymwri
- Rheiddwn Arwy
Possibly “Smooth spear”, uncertain. - Rheiddwn son of Beli
- Rheu Rhwyd Dyrys
“Rheu of the Difficult Net / Entangling Net” - Rhun Rhudwern
- “Red-Alder” (rhudd = red, gwern = alder)
- Rhun son of Nwython
- Rhymi and her pups Gwyddrud and Gwydden Astrus
Possibly “Bitch / Hound”; pups’ names uncertain. See also Gwydden Astrus and Gwyddrud. - Ruawn Pebyr son of Dorath
Possibly “Bright / Ruddy”, uncertain.
S#
- Samson Finsych
“Samson Dry Lip / Fine-lipped / Thin-lipped” - Sandde Bryd Angel
“Angel-minded” - Saranhon son of Glythwyr
- Sawyl Penn Uchel
“Sawyl of the High Head” - Scilti Yscawntroet
- Sefwlch
- Sel son of Selgi
- Selyf son of Smoit
- Siawn son of Iaen
- Sinnoch son of Seithved
- Sol
- Sons of Caw
Collective; see Caw of Prydyn. - Sugyn son of Sugnedydd
- Sulyen son of Iaen
- Samson Finsych
T#
- Taliesin, chief of the bards
“Radiant Brow”, see below. - Tannwen daughter of Gweir Dathar Wenidawc
“White Fire” - Tathal Twyll Goleu
“Deceit of Light” - Tegvan Gloff
- Tegyr Talgellawg
“Strong with the Sharp Edge” - Teithi Hen
“The Old Guide” - Teleri daughter of Peul
- Teyrnon Twryf Bliant
“Prince of Turbulent Youth” - Trystan son of Tallwch
Tristan; name possibly “tumult / sorrow”, debated. - Twrch
“Boar” - Twrch son of Annwas
“Boar” - Twrch son of Perif
“Boar”
- Taliesin, chief of the bards
Taliesin
Chief of the bards, keeper of knowledge and song. Taliesin embodies inspiration, wisdom, and the voice of legend, linking heroic deeds with memory and prophecy in Arthur’s court.
U#
- Uchtryd Ardywad Kad
“Exalted, Battle-ready” - Uchtryd son of Erim
“Exalted, Battle-ready” - Uchtryd Varyf Draws
“Slanted Bear” - Uchtryd Varyf Draws
Duplicate as in manuscript.
- Uchtryd Ardywad Kad
W#
- Wadu son of Seithwved
- Wenn Alarch daughter of Kynwyl Canbwch
“Fair / White Swan”; sometimes spelled “Gwenn Alarch”.
Y#
- Yscawin son of Banon
- Yscudydd
- Yskyrdav
- Ysperni son of Fflergant king of Armorica
♦ Note: Some figures appear variably across manuscripts or later tradition; spellings and inclusion can differ between editions.
A Conclusion#
Taken together, this alphabetical register of Arthur’s court offers a window into the complexity and imagination of Welsh heroic literature. The names preserve traces of personal traits, family connections, and mythic symbolism, providing insight into both narrative structure and cultural values of the time.
By exploring the full range of characters – from mighty warriors and clever poets to queens, daughters, and even mythically significant animals – we gain a more complete picture of the legendary world that inspired Culhwch and Olwen and, ultimately, the broader Arthurian tradition.
