|
Dreon
A Cymric Hero, also known as Dryon: Host
Dreon (Dryon) is a Cymric hero known from a single poem in the Welsh Triads which names Dreaon as the son of Nudd, a battle leader of Britain. He seems to have been a battle leader of the old North and part of the tale of Myrddin (Merlin). |
|
Cym: Host
Dreon is known from a single Triad in the Trioedd Ynys Prydein. Triad 31 names the 'Three Noble Retinues of the Island of Britain'; one of which is the host of Dreon son of Nudd. Interestingly, the Llyfr Gwyn Rhydderch version of this triad names the host as that of Dreon Lew (Dreon the Lion, Dreon the Brave) at the Dyke of Arfderydd.
The reconstructed tale of Myrddin Wyllt places him as a warrior in the Old North whose patron was a certain Gwenddoleu of the region. Gwenddoleu mab Keidyw was a leader in the region of Longtown, Cumberland whose frotress may have been the old Roman fortress at Netherby (originally Castra Exploratorium). It would seem that enmity existed between Gwenddoleu and Rhydderch Hael of Strathclyde whith Rhydderch representing the christianizing forces of the Old North and Gwenddoleu representing the older pagan beliefs. Though this is not explicitly stated in the Myrddin sources it would seem that matters came to a head between Gwenddoleu and Rhydderch and this led to the conflict of Arfderydd (which the Annales Cambriae dates to c 573 CE). Thus it would seem that Dreon was the leader of a war band at the battle of Arfderydd.
The relationship between Dreon and the other combatants in the battle hinges on who Dreon's father was. His father is given as Nudd in the triad and the only Nudd extant circa 570 CE was Nudd Hael who was a descendant of Dyfnwal Hen and thus a kinsman of Rhydderch Hael. Thus it would seem that Dreon was probably fighting on the side of Rhydderch Hael against Gwenddoleu.
If Dreon's parentage is correct then this would make him a brother of Tegau Eurfron and a brother of a certain Dingat who is named only from a single reference in the Genealogical tract Bonedd y Seint: Dingat mab Nud Hael mab Senyllt mab Kedic mab Dyuyniwal Hen mab Edneuet mab Maxen Wledic.
It should be noted that one version of Triad 31 names Dreon as Dryon; however the Llyfr Gwyn Rhydderch version names him as Dreon and the version with medial 'e' corresponds to the older form of the name, which is preserved here. Etymologically, the name is probably related to the Middle Cymric dron (host); as would befit a child raised to be a battle leader.
If you would like to try the foods of the time of the ancient Celts, then why not have a look at the ancient recipes section of this site. For the foods of the time when some of these tales were written down, take a look at the Medieval recipes section of the site and, in particular, the recipes from The Forme of Cury.
Couldn't find what you were looking for? Search the web:
