Caradawg Freichfras

Caradawg Freichfras [ ka'radaug 'vreixvras ] ("Caradawg with the strong arm"), also Caradoc Vreichvras , in French stories Karadues Briebras , is the name of a legendary figure from Welsh mythology .

Welsh tales

In the legend of Breuddwyd Rhonabwy ("Rhonabwy's Dream"), Caradawg Freichfras is King Arthur's chief advisor . In the Trioedd Ynys Prydein ("Triads of the Isle of Britain") he is mentioned as an important person ("one of the three knights of the Isle of Britain"), as is his wife Tegau Eurfron ("one of the three beautiful women at Arthur's court") as well as their marriage ("one of the three unsurpassed love affairs of the island of Britain"). He also plays a role in some Welsh saint legends. Its nickname is derived from the Cymric breich ("arm") and bras ("strong").

He is also sometimes associated with the British King Caratacus , but there is no evidence to support this theory.

French stories

In the courtly literature of France, some stories about Caradawg have also been preserved in the Arthurian novels. Here his nickname is interpreted as “short sleeve”, from the French bref (“short”) and bras (“arm”). Chrétien de Troyes handed down the spelling of Karadues Briebras . He plays the title role in the anonymous tale Livre de carados from the 13th century, which Chrétien de Troyes used in his work Li Contes del Graal . Based on the trioedd Ynys Prydein, his happy marriage is discussed again and again.

See also

• Myths and legends from Wales and Britain
• List of Celtic gods and legendary figures
• Celtic mythology

literature

• Helmut Birkhan : Celtic stories from the emperor Arthur. Part 2, Lit-Verlag, Vienna 2004, ISBN 3-8258-7563-6 .
• Bernhard Maier : Lexicon of Celtic Religion and Culture (= Kröner's pocket edition . Volume 466). Kröner, Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-520-46601-5 , p. 68.